Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada 50TH SPRING MIGRATION COUNT IN 2024 Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 25, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 829 2249 2259 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 51 51 Northern Harrier 0 20 21 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 16 17 Cooper's Hawk 4 51 51 American Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 6 164 164 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 19 414 425 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 2 Golden Eagle 0 8 8 American Kestrel 0 6 6 Merlin 1 5 5 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Accipiter 0 1 1 Unknown Buteo 0 7 7 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 4 4 Unknown Raptor 0 11 11 Total: 859 3011 3034 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Clive Hodder Observers: Bouwe Bergsma, Gianpiero Tondina Visitors: Sean Bates (Hamilton), Larry Blight (Niagara-on-the Lake), Marco Decarolis, Chris Escott, Rick Naves (Hamilton), Kat Stolz and Phil Vriend. Weather: A sunny day with 5-20% cloud cover for most of the day increasing to 75% in the last hour of the count. Temperature 3C rising to 7C in the afternoon. A light breeze from the east at the start of the count veering to ENE in the afternoon. Raptor Observations: Turkey Vultures led the charge today, as predicted, with 678 counted in the 2 hour period from 10-12, and 829 counted in total. 4 Cooper's Hawks, 6 Red-shouldered Hawks, 19 Red-tailed Hawks and a Merlin rounded out the count. In the first two hours the flight line was low and close to the tower but for the rest of the count it was often far to the south, sometimes at the limit of binocular range. Many thanks to Gianpiero Tandino, Bouwe Bergsma, Sean, Larry, Marco, Chris, Rick, Kat and Phil for their great help in spotting birds today. Non-raptor Observations: 3 Wood Ducks, 3 Common Ravens and 2 Tundra Swans, but very little non-raptor activity of note otherwise. Predictions: Their are lots of birds in the pipeline (according to reports from Braddock Bay and Derby Hill) so the morning could see another push. If the rain forecast for the afternoon moves in any flight will likely close down. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Clive Hodder (clive.hodder@sympatico.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!!!