Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area (21 Mar 2023) 553 Raptors

R
reports@hawkcount.org
Wed, Mar 22, 2023 3:27 AM

Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 21, 2023

Species            Day's Count    Month Total  Season Total


Black Vulture                0              0              0
Turkey Vulture            377            947            947
Osprey                      0              0              0
Bald Eagle                  8            25            25
Northern Harrier            5              9              9
Sharp-shinned Hawk          2              8              8
Cooper's Hawk                4              9              9
Northern Goshawk            0              0              0
Red-shouldered Hawk        40            47            47
Broad-winged Hawk            0              0              0
Red-tailed Hawk            114            202            202
Rough-legged Hawk            2              3              3
Golden Eagle                1              2              2
American Kestrel            0              0              0
Merlin                      0              0              0
Peregrine Falcon            0              1              1
Unknown Accipiter            0              2              2
Unknown Buteo                0              2              2
Unknown Falcon              0              0              0
Unknown Eagle                0              0              0
Unknown Raptor              0              0              0

Total:                    553          1257          1257

Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end  time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours

Official Counter:        Tom Thomas

Observers:        Clive Hodder, Dave Sked, Peter Booker

Visitors:
Lots of visitors, Larry Blight, Bob Stamp, and many others including some
very cute children who are hawk watchers to be.
Thanks to Peter Booker, Clive Hodder and David Sked their excellent help
spotting the birds today.

Weather:
A cool morning with often brisk south westerly winds. lots of dark cloud
cover early on, but a much more warmer afternoon with just enough clouds to
pick out the birds that were coming in at a great height.

Raptor Observations:
Just a great day of hawk watching. a nice little up flight in the first
hour with my first seasonal look at a Red-shouldered Hawk that flew in low
and landed in a nearby tree. A good flight of Turkey Vultures,
Red-shouldered Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, Bald Eagles, a Golden Eagle and a
Black Vulture that unfortunately flew east and couldn't be counted

Non-raptor Observations:
Lots of Killdeer, Sandhill Cranes, Great Blue Herons, Common Ravens (5) and
a small flock of Cedar Waxwings.

Predictions:
Today was just great, and tomorrow could be interesting, but cloudy.


---======
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.  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.

  1. 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!!!
Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 21, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 377 947 947 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 8 25 25 Northern Harrier 5 9 9 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 8 8 Cooper's Hawk 4 9 9 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 40 47 47 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 114 202 202 Rough-legged Hawk 2 3 3 Golden Eagle 1 2 2 American Kestrel 0 0 0 Merlin 0 0 0 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Accipiter 0 2 2 Unknown Buteo 0 2 2 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 553 1257 1257 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Tom Thomas Observers: Clive Hodder, Dave Sked, Peter Booker Visitors: Lots of visitors, Larry Blight, Bob Stamp, and many others including some very cute children who are hawk watchers to be. Thanks to Peter Booker, Clive Hodder and David Sked their excellent help spotting the birds today. Weather: A cool morning with often brisk south westerly winds. lots of dark cloud cover early on, but a much more warmer afternoon with just enough clouds to pick out the birds that were coming in at a great height. Raptor Observations: Just a great day of hawk watching. a nice little up flight in the first hour with my first seasonal look at a Red-shouldered Hawk that flew in low and landed in a nearby tree. A good flight of Turkey Vultures, Red-shouldered Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, Bald Eagles, a Golden Eagle and a Black Vulture that unfortunately flew east and couldn't be counted Non-raptor Observations: Lots of Killdeer, Sandhill Cranes, Great Blue Herons, Common Ravens (5) and a small flock of Cedar Waxwings. Predictions: Today was just great, and tomorrow could be interesting, but cloudy. ======================================================================== 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. 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!!!