Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 26, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 452 1923 1923 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 39 39 Northern Harrier 0 11 11 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 18 18 Cooper's Hawk 7 25 25 Northern Goshawk 1 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 5 228 228 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 26 465 465 Rough-legged Hawk 0 6 6 Golden Eagle 0 5 5 American Kestrel 5 5 5 Merlin 2 2 2 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Accipiter 1 3 3 Unknown Buteo 3 6 6 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 504 2738 2738 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:45:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Katherine Stoltz Observers: Dave Don, Gianpiero Tondina, Markus Legzdins, Sarah Stover Visitors: Many helped with the count. Those who stayed > 1 hour include Gianpiero Tondina, Markus Legzdins, Jody Groulx, Dave Don, John Black, Marc Gaudet and Elly and Jeff. Weather: Sunny with few clouds. Light winds starting from the northwest and later switching to southwest. Raptor Observations: The raptor dam burst, and after a rainy, windy Saturday, the birds came. TV were the main course, with sides of many other species. Local TV, ME, CH, RT and BE. Multiple observers provided much needed assistance as the birds took multiple flightlines, sometimes at the same time. Special shout-out to Markus, for spotting a SEOW in the a.m. Non-raptor Observations: Northing Mockingbird serenaded us briefly. Flybys of SACR, COLO. Predictions: Rain/snow mix 70 %, so not promising. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Katherine Stoltz (kstoltz5@cogeco.ca) 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!!!