Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada 50TH SPRING MIGRATION COUNT IN 2024 Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 21, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 112 1048 1058 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 2 48 48 Northern Harrier 0 19 20 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 16 17 Cooper's Hawk 1 41 41 American Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 150 150 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 4 358 369 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 2 Golden Eagle 1 7 7 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: 121 1714 1737 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Sandy Darling Observers: Alicia Dobson, Lyn Hanna-Folkes Visitors: Phil Vrent came from Toronto to try to photo a Red-shouldered Hawk and left to try to find one seen perched by the two observers. He returned with great shots of a Cooper's Hawk just before it captured a Towhee, and of Peregrine Falcons copulating by 10th Road quarry. Weather: Below freezing with wind from N/NW. Cloudy with only short breaks in cloud. Snow in 11:00 to noon hour (EST) - only two migrants. Raptor Observations: As predicted yesterday, today was a Turkey Vulture day. Relief was provided by a sub-adult GOLDEN EAGLE that flew close the tower giving great views and a life bird for Alicia. 2 Bald Eagles came in around 150 - 200 feet and circled to gain height and left at height of "at limit of binoculars" - adult and year 5. Non-raptor Observations: Birds were quiet and those seen have been seen already this year. Counter and observers were greeted by 25 American Robins on the entry path. Predictions: Given the absence of raptors in the pipeline and poor weather, count will probably be low and mainly TVs. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Sandy Darling (darlinga@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!!!