Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 14, 2021 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 14 473 473 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 3 26 26 Northern Harrier 0 2 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 7 7 Cooper's Hawk 2 21 21 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 68 68 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 10 217 217 Rough-legged Hawk 0 5 5 Golden Eagle 0 4 4 American Kestrel 2 8 8 Merlin 0 3 3 Peregrine Falcon 1 1 1 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: 33 838 838 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Rob Spaul Observers: Liam Thorne Visitors: COVID safety provisions restrict gatherings, so we do not encourage visitors. For the safety of volunteers, access to the tower is currently restricted to the day's official counter and an assigned spotter, whose names are provided in advance to the appropriate authorities. Please cooperate by keeping yourself and others safe. Weather: Beautiful day all around, but variable cloud cover and persistent North-northeast winds, made for poor thermal development and flight conditions. Despite a cold morning, with brief snow, the sun prevailed by midday, but the NNE winds built throughout the day, and migrants faced a stiff headwind that largely shut the modest flight down. Raptor Observations: The few migrants generally struggled against a headwind. Lots of local adult Bald Eagle traffic, with singles and pairs looking like clear migrants...only to double back 5-10 minutes later. Plenty of local Red-tailed Hawks displaying and foraging along the escarpment. An eastbound adult Peregrine Falcon was a clear migrant, moving high and fast. A seemingly local Merlin, made two passes harassing other raptors. Non-raptor Observations: Two modest Tundra Swan flocks were the most interesting birds today. Mostly typical birds otherwise, including Common Raven, Horned Lark, Common Redpoll and Cedar Waxwing. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rob Spaul () 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!!!