Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 23, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 51 1224 1224 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 35 35 Northern Harrier 0 10 10 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 12 12 Cooper's Hawk 1 13 13 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 4 106 106 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 226 226 Rough-legged Hawk 0 5 5 Golden Eagle 0 4 4 American Kestrel 0 0 0 Merlin 0 0 0 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Accipiter 0 2 2 Unknown Buteo 0 3 3 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 58 1641 1641 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:45:00 Total observation time: 5.25 hours Official Counter: Sandy Darling Observers: Clive Hodder Visitors: Four female members of a family from U.K. who were expanding their life-list. Weather: One hour drizzle (no migrants), one hour rain (no count), some clear weather, thirty minutes rain (no count), no precipitation, but sun in forecast did not appear before count concluded. Wind from northern sector and brisker from NW as front came in. One clap of thunder after which we cleared the tower for 20 minutes. Raptor Observations: Given the weather, we were happy to record 58 birds, of which 26 came in a ten-minute spell. Local Red-tailed Hawk flying around. Clive Hodder gave great support and company on a day when I did not expect him to come. Non-raptor Observations: 2 American Crows carrying nesting material as start of count and 2 more in last hour. Flight of 5 Wood Ducks (FOY for me) and 1 Rusty Blackbird. 2 Great Blue Herons and 18 other non-raptor species. Predictions: Weather should be clearer, and there are birds in the pipeline given the bursts of activity during our periods without rain. There could be an up-flight of TVs, given movement east before the count terminated ======================================================================== Report submitted by Sandy Darling (darlinga@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!!!