Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada 50TH SPRING MIGRATION COUNT IN 2024 Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 30, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 312 3339 3349 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 4 63 63 Northern Harrier 1 24 25 Sharp-shinned Hawk 22 60 61 Cooper's Hawk 9 63 63 American Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 36 216 216 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 81 555 566 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 2 Golden Eagle 0 9 9 American Kestrel 0 7 7 Merlin 0 7 7 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Accipiter 0 4 4 Unknown Buteo 2 11 11 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 5 5 Unknown Raptor 0 13 13 Total: 467 4382 4405 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Philip Waggett Observers: Sarah Stover Visitors: Ryk Naves, Joanne Pritchard, Marco Decarolis, Shannon, and Gina Turone all helped with spotting the birds; Sarah Stover was a big help during the watch. It was good to have so many eyes as the birds were quite high and difficult to spot. Weather: Mostly high overcast above and to the south of the hawkwatch but clear towards the north; clouds gradually thinkened by the end of the watch with light rain moving in. Winds were light starting off in the NW and shifting to the NE and E as the watch progressed. Temperatures were pleasant in the low single digits. Raptor Observations: As expected, today's flight was dominated by the turkey vultures but good numbers of buteos and accipiters were seen throughout the day. Bald eagles at 11:27 were an adult and a one-year old bird; bald eagles at 12:15 were an adult and a two-year old bird. Viewing was difficult especially in the afternoon as the birds were very high with poor lighting conditions. Local coops, vultures, and red-tails were active today. Non-raptor Observations: Three sandhill cranes, a male pileated woodpecker, two northern flickers, a few song sparrows, an eastern phoebe and a large number of blue jays were observed during the hawkwatch. Predictions: The small front has passed but I think by later tomorrow morning, we'll see a resumption of today's flight. Birds will continue to move ahead of a very unsettled week ahead--rain and precipitation is predicted for Tuesday through to next Friday. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Phillip Waggett (philip waggett <philipwaggett@hotmail.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. &copy;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!!!