Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada 50TH SPRING MIGRATION COUNT IN 2024 Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 20, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 130 936 946 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 1 46 46 Northern Harrier 0 19 20 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 16 17 Cooper's Hawk 1 40 40 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: 132 1593 1616 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Bill Lamond Observers: Kevin Empey Visitors: Phil (failed to get last name) from Toronto was there specifically to photograph Red-shouldered Hawks. Unfortunately not a buteo day. Phil was great fun with his stories and helped pass the time during the non-TV intervals. Weather: brisk WSW winds all day but tower protected somewhat by trees to the south and west of us- 100% overcast for the first two hours but variably sunny for extended periods- 0 degrees Celsius with temperature decreasing as day progressed -2 Celsius at 3 pm. At times almost pleasant when the wind diminished at times. Snow flurries for a few minutes perhaps 3-4 times during day. We witnessed a large prominent snow squall to the S at 3 pm. Raptor Observations: TV were the order of the day with movement strong in the first hour, slowing somewhat before noon, and picking up again in the afternoon. The TVs seemed hardly affected by the high winds as other species obviously were by their absence. One juvenile Bald Eagle powered through in the morning and a Cooper's Hawk flew by the edge of the Escarpment quickly in the afternoon. One of the resident pair of Cooper's Hawks was seen giving the display flight at least 4 times during the course of the day. One non-migrant Red-tailed Hawk observed. If not for the TVs it would have been a pretty empty, although pretty sky (at times). Non-raptor Observations: Very little passerine movement. No visible migration of any non-raptor species. The high winds kept most passerines grounded it seemed. Zero highlights other than the dramatic snow squall to the south in mid-afternoon. Predictions: Weather forecast is not favorable...to say the least. Chilly in the morning at -5 Celsius at 8 a.m. with a high of -1 at 3 p.m. Strong NW winds all day at 28 km/hr with gusts up to 40 km/hr. Mainly sunny in morning with increasing clouds as day progresses. 20% chance of some snow in every hour. Sounds like another TV day...if even they are flying. But you never know! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Bill Lamond (bill-lamond@hotmail.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!!!