Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada 50TH SPRING MIGRATION COUNT IN 2024 Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 29, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 272 3027 3037 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 2 59 59 Northern Harrier 1 23 24 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 38 39 Cooper's Hawk 0 54 54 American Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 180 180 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 23 474 485 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 2 Golden Eagle 0 9 9 American Kestrel 0 7 7 Merlin 2 7 7 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Accipiter 0 4 4 Unknown Buteo 0 9 9 Unknown Falcon 1 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 5 5 Unknown Raptor 0 13 13 Total: 303 3915 3938 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Katherine Stoltz Observers: Peter Booker Visitors: Fewer than anticipated, considering that it's a holiday. Likely put off by the weather. Jean Iron and Eric Baldo were especially helpful, calling out birds from below the tower. Sandy Darling, Keith Diering, Sarah Stover, Phil Waggett, John Hannah, Joedy Groulx amongst others, dropped by. Weather: The weather forecast was a mix of sun and cloud with a high of 8 degrees. Sure fooled us. We had a tease of blue sky from 9-10 EST, but much of the day we were blanketed in thick grey cloud with a damp northwest wind, which made the high of 3 degrees seem much cooler. Raptor Observations: A TUVU day, mostly. In the morning, most of the flight was to the north, hugging the treeline. In the afternoon, there was no clear flight path, even for the TUVU. Even with the heavy cloud, many birds, especially RTHA, took the high road. No migratory accipitors. Several locals, including RTHA, COHA and TUVU. It is increasingly more difficult to tell the local vultures from the migrators. Joedy Groulx captured a small upflight of 20 TUVU and 1 COHA between 6:45-7:30 EST. Non-raptor Observations: Pileated Woodpecker perched briefly in a nearby tree, and a second bird was heard. Pine Siskins heard. 1 raven being chased by 2 crows. Predictions: Birds in the pipeline and lighter cloud cover should give better results. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Katherine Stoltz (Katherine Stoltzstoltz.katherine@gmail.com) Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area information may be found at: http://www.niagarapeninsulahawkwatch.org/ More site information at hawkcount.org: https://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=389 Site Description: Hawk migration monitoring at the Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in Grimsby, Ontario is conducted by the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch (NPH). All counting is done by volunteers. Not all members are counters nor does a counter have to be a member. Typically one person is the designated counter for each day but other observers present assist with the spotting and identification. Counting is done from a steel observation tower with a wooden floor. For wind protection on cold days, particularly in March, a black plastic wind guard is installed around the tower's platform. This platform easily accommodates ten people but on most busy days, no more than five or six observers would be on it. The site lies within a publicly accessible property owned by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. There is no charge for admittance. Only the counter and designated spotters can drive into and park in the conservation area; there is a parking lot outside for visitors. The tower stands in the centre of a mowed area with a gravel ring road near the outer edge. This provides lots of room to set up lawn chairs, telescopes and cameras. Toilet facilities are present. During the counting season, the NPH erect a counting board to display seven day's worth of observation data for the public. The box enclosing the sign contains brochures and silhouette sheets for the public as well as bulletin boards with news and historical sighting records. Directions to site: To get to Beamer CA, take the QEW to Exit 71/72, follow Christie St./Mountain St. to the top of the escarpment, turn right on Ridge Road West, and go 1.6km to Quarry Rd. Turn right on Quarry Rd. and drive 100m to the conservation area. If parking at the entrance or on the roads, do NOT leave valuables in your car. Please note: 1) Data in this report is not official until reviewed and finalized after the end of the season. ©2020 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch. 2) Vehicular traffic into the park is allowed, but visitors are asked to have their cars outside the gate by 3PM. If parking at the gate DO NOT LEAVE VALUABLES IN YOUR VEHICLE!!!