Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada 50TH SPRING MIGRATION COUNT IN 2024 Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 19, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 57 806 816 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 2 45 45 Northern Harrier 0 19 20 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 16 17 Cooper's Hawk 0 39 39 American Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 149 149 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 354 365 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 2 Golden Eagle 0 6 6 American Kestrel 0 3 3 Merlin 0 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: 59 1461 1484 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 5.25 hours Official Counter: Chris Escott Observers: Gianpiero Tondina Visitors: A few hardy dog walkers passed by, but no visitors to the tower. Weather: Overcast with low cloud and strong SW winds, gusting at times, all day. Visibility OK early but snow started at 10 AM (EST) and continued for the remainder of the count, often driven horizontally by the wind, and becoming more like sleet in the last hour or so. Given that wet snow continued into mid-afternoon, and radar indicated it would not abate until evening, the count was terminated early at 2:00 PM (EST). Raptor Observations: Steady trickle of Turkey Vultures fighting the winds and keeping low until the snow started, flight line initially to the south but soon switched to north. A brief break in the snow around 11 AM (EST) produced a handful more, plus a surprising two Bald Eagles (an adult and a first year immature) flying by together at treetop level along the edge of the escarpment, flapping madly, at 11:03 AM. Non-raptor Observations: Very few birds, and nothing noteworthy. Predictions: Overnight looks dry so birds in the pipeline should be able to dry out. However, the forecast is calling for high west winds all day tomorrow, with very strong gusts at times, and possible flurries early and late (with about three hours in the middle of the day with less chance of precipitation). Based on that, it looks like it might be a rather slow day. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Chris Escott (chris@escott.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!!!