Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada 50TH SPRING MIGRATION COUNT IN 2024 Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 18, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 74 749 759 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 1 43 43 Northern Harrier 2 19 20 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 16 17 Cooper's Hawk 2 39 39 American Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 149 149 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 354 365 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 2 Golden Eagle 1 6 6 American Kestrel 0 3 3 Merlin 2 3 3 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 1 Unknown Buteo 0 7 7 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 1 1 Unknown Raptor 0 8 8 Total: 83 1402 1425 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: John Stevens Observers: Bouwe Bergsma, Gianpiero Tondina Visitors: One couple visiting from Toronto were very interested in learning what we were doing. Weather: Partly clear to start but clouding over early and becoming thicker in the pm. Flurries occurred off and on from about 8:30. Wet snow started about 2:15, greatly reducing visibility. Pretty cold with a steady wind from the west. Raptor Observations: Only RT seen was a local and local CH seen a couple of times. TVs seemed to come in three waves. Two Merlins seen interacting in the air, with one dragging a leg at times. At one point, one called. Non-raptor Observations: Very few birds around. No woodpeckers at all! Only robins, gulls and crows made a decent showing. Predictions: My crystal ball seems to be obscured. Must be the light snow in the forecast for tomorrow with conditions similar to today. ======================================================================== Report submitted by John Stevens (jrstevens@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!!!