Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada 50TH SPRING MIGRATION COUNT IN 2024 Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 24, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 247 1420 1430 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 3 51 51 Northern Harrier 1 20 21 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 16 17 Cooper's Hawk 6 47 47 American Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 7 158 158 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 27 390 401 Rough-legged Hawk 5 7 7 Golden Eagle 0 8 8 American Kestrel 3 6 6 Merlin 1 4 4 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 1 Unknown Buteo 0 7 7 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 3 4 4 Unknown Raptor 3 11 11 Total: 306 2152 2175 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:45:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8.25 hours Official Counter: Deena Errampalli Observers: Gianpiero Tondina, Mourad Jabra, Nick Conski, Sandy Darling, Sarah Stover Visitors: Bruce and Laurie Mackenzie led a nature walk for the Pipets group at the Beamer Conservation Area. Diana from Grimsby, who heard about the Hawkwatch, Dave and his family from Smithville, and two other families came up the tower. Weather: It was a sunny day with temperatures between -3 C and 0 C and a 14 -20 km/hr northeast wind. Visibility was 10-12 km. The morning started off cool but was pleasant once the sun warmed up the tower. Raptor Observations: We were happy to see over 300 raptors on a clear, sunny day: predominantly Turkey Vultures, followed by Red-tailed Hawks. Two mature Bald Eagles flew over the tower and gave us good views. Merlin was a treat to watch. Non-raptor Observations: Local Cooper Hawks and Red-tailed Hawks pairs showed midair courtship behavior a few times. The local Turkey Vultures flew around. 45 unidentified ducks and 3 Double-breasted Cormorants flew towards the Lake. One Glaucous Gull with white wingtips and head sparkled against the blue sky. One local Red-tailed Hawk sat on a treetop for 8 minutes and preened itself under the sun. The passerines, including 30 American Robins, that were already seen were observed. Predictions: The weather forecast of sunny and 7C and southeast 20 km/h gusting to 40 wind looks favourable for raptor migration. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Deena Errampalli (deenaerrampalli@bell.net) 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!!!