Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 17, 2021 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 88 635 635 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 28 28 Northern Harrier 0 2 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 12 12 Cooper's Hawk 1 26 26 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 42 122 122 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 29 262 262 Rough-legged Hawk 2 7 7 Golden Eagle 0 4 4 American Kestrel 0 8 8 Merlin 0 3 3 Peregrine Falcon 1 2 2 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: 168 1114 1114 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Tom Thomas Observers: Peter Booker Visitors: This is only my opinion and not official Park policy, but since the park is open to visitors. Hawk watchers should not be actively discouraged from visiting, as long as they follow social distancing and realizing that there is limited parking and no toilet facilities. In the coming weeks when there will be big flight days I don't think two people will be enough to cover and more eyes will be needed. Weather: Total cloud cover at the start of the count with skies clearing a few hours later. Winds were from the north east and little gusty at times, but it was a calm day for the most part. Raptor Observations: A good day for Red-shouldered Hawks, with a small kettle of seven at one time. It was a steady flight for most of the day, with not a lot of variety on view, but if you stuck it out there was a Peregrine and a couple of Rough-legged Hawks and Red-shouldered Hawks giving a good show. Non-raptor Observations: Not a lot of birds around, but we did see three Wood Ducks and a Great Blue Heron ======================================================================== Report submitted by Tom Thomas (tthomas@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. 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 park vehicles (along the road) and 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. Parking is normally available inside the park. 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!!!