Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 27, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 159 2082 2082 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 39 39 Northern Harrier 1 13 13 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 19 19 Cooper's Hawk 0 25 25 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 7 235 235 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 6 471 471 Rough-legged Hawk 0 6 6 Golden Eagle 0 5 5 American Kestrel 0 5 5 Merlin 0 2 2 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Accipiter 0 3 3 Unknown Buteo 0 6 6 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 174 2912 2912 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours Official Counter: Bill Lamond Observers: Bouwe Bergsma, Gianpiero Tondina, Sheldon McGregor Visitors: Sheldon McGregor was a big help on the tower. Also visiting was Reuben and Matthew Klassen. Young and keen Reuben was celebrating his 12th birthday and was happy to show us a photo of a Barn Swallow he had taken at Fifty Point earlier in the day, one of the earliest ever for Hamilton (his best birthday present - my words). Weather: Day began with moderate to brisk NE winds, 100 % cloudy the whole period. Winds maintained pace and direction throughout. Temperature was about 3 degrees Celsius. Expected precipitation at beginning of count did not materialize until later. Some precipitation started at 12:30 p.m. and changed to light mixed snow/rain precip at 1:30 p.m. Count concluded at 2:00 p.m. when hawk flight ceased and weather forecast for next two hours was grim. Raptor Observations: A good flight of vultures for the first 4 hours, totally unexpected based on weather forecast. In the mix were a few buteos with Red-shouldereds outnumbering Red-taileds which was nice. OK day, as it turned out, as we were half-expecting to see no raptors. Non-raptor Observations: Great Blue Herons were the non-raptor bird-of-the-day with 14 observed in flocks of 3, 5 and 6, none of the expected singles. Also a good number of Robins were seen migrating along the Escarpment and some blackbirds as well. Groups of Hooded Mergansers flew past on three occasions and likely the same Pileated Woodpecker was seen flying west and later flying east. Predictions: Chilly start to morning with moderate N winds and overcast skies, but day warms up to 7 degrees Celsius with a mix of sun and clouds with continuing moderate N winds. Could be ok for hawks. Hard to be certain. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Bill Lamond (bill-lamond@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. ©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!!!