Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 10, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 5 247 247 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 9 9 Northern Harrier 0 1 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 1 1 Cooper's Hawk 0 2 2 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 1 1 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 47 47 Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1 Golden Eagle 0 1 1 American Kestrel 0 0 0 Merlin 0 0 0 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 2 2 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 5 312 312 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 09:00:00 Total observation time: 1 hours Official Counter: Lyn Hanna-Folkes Observers: Visitors: Two walkers braved the snowstorm. Weather: Snowfall warning shortened the count to one hour today, from 8 to 9 am. At the start, light snow was falling and visibility was under 1 km. Thick clouds covered the sky. The temperature was -2C with a colder wind chill. A steady 20+ km/hr wind blew from the East with strong gusts to 40+ km/hr. Although forecasts predicted heavy snow to begin at 10 am, by 8:45 am conditions deteriorated very quickly, visibility was less than 500 m and the snow was predicted to continue into the evening. Therefore, the count was ended at 9 am due to heavy snowfall, increasingly strong wind/gusts, poor visibility and the expectation that this winter snowstorm will continue past 4 pm. Continuing poor weather (at about noon currently) confirms that there will definitely be no further flight today. Raptor Observations: Just after 8 am, while weather conditions were still decent, 6 TUVU flew over heading directly west with the wind pushing them by quickly. A short time later, one TUVU passed back over and flew south reducing the total count to 5 birds. Flight height was 1, not too high above the trees for all birds seen today. Non-raptor Observations: The highlight was a low flock of 60 vocal Tundra Swans moving NW. Four Grackles, 2 Robins, 13 Canada Geese and a flock of 10 American Crows flew over the tower. A cheerily singing male Cardinal lightened the mood, and other usuals cursed me as I wasn't able to fill the feeder. Predictions: Much better than today, with lighter winds and no precipitation in Saturday's forecast. The count may be quite good with birds possibly backed up after today's storm, and more precipitation expected Sunday and Monday. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Lyn Hanna-Folkes (lhfolkes8112@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!!!