Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 21, 2021 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 261 1018 1018 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 11 40 40 Northern Harrier 0 2 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 20 20 Cooper's Hawk 3 33 33 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 38 162 162 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 44 350 350 Rough-legged Hawk 0 7 7 Golden Eagle 2 6 6 American Kestrel 0 9 9 Merlin 0 4 4 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 2 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 4 8 8 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 368 1662 1662 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Catherine Manschot Observers: Lauren Booker Visitors: In order to comply with COVID safety provisions we remind you that the size of gatherings is restricted and so we do not encourage visitors. Access to the tower is restricted to the official counter and one assigned spotter, whose names have been provided in advance to the appropriate authorities. Please cooperate by keeping yourself and others safe. Weather: Sunny all day with no cloud cover. The morning had a gentle westerly breeze, shifting to northerly mid-day, then easterly for the last two hours of the day. With all the warm sunshine and the shifting winds, in the afternoon the birds were migrating primarily high in the sky and south of the tower over the farm house and beyond. Raptor Observations: The flight picked up each hour peaking between 11 and 2 EST. There were 11 BE's today. Between 10 and 11 there were 3 BE's, 1 Juvenile and 2 Sub-Adult's, one of which was most likely in Sub-Adult III (year 3-4) due to osprey-like dark and smudgy eye-line. Between 12 and 1 there were 3 BE's, all Adults. Between 1 and 2 pm, there was 1 Sud-Adult. Between 2 and 3 pm, there were 2 Adult's, 1 Sub-Adult, and 1 too distant to age. Notably, we had 2 GE's, 1 Sub-Adult at 1:30 and 1 Sub-Adult at 3:55 pm. The latter was approaching adulthood with only a few white feathers in the outer rectrices and in the underwing coverts. This bird was molting but secondary bulge and pinching into the tail was still apparent. Roughly 2/3rds of today's count were TV's, but 44 RT, 34 RS and a total of 8 SS's and CH's made for some nice variety. Non-raptor Observations: Nothing atypical in terms of other birds, however we had a Pileated Woodpecker flyover in the morning, which was fun. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Catherine Manschot (dboyd9@cogeeco.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. 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!!!