Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada 50TH SPRING MIGRATION COUNT IN 2024 Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 14, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 1 Turkey Vulture 194 4050 7553 Osprey 5 11 11 Bald Eagle 8 26 89 Northern Harrier 8 19 44 Sharp-shinned Hawk 77 341 403 Cooper's Hawk 3 67 133 American Goshawk 0 0 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 22 241 Broad-winged Hawk 28 32 32 Red-tailed Hawk 5 174 754 Rough-legged Hawk 1 2 4 Golden Eagle 1 1 10 American Kestrel 2 19 26 Merlin 0 3 10 Peregrine Falcon 1 3 4 Unknown Accipiter 0 2 6 Unknown Buteo 1 9 21 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 1 1 9 Unknown Raptor 11 17 40 Total: 347 4799 9393 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 9 hours Official Counter: Keith Dieroff Observers: Carol Teed, Gianpiero Tondina Visitors: A good number of visitors. George Bryant, Bob Stamp, Joedy Groulx, Dominic Stones, plus many dog walkers and families. Marco helped with the count but I didn't catch his last name. Weather: Rain to start, varying amounts of cloud throughout the day. Cool and windy in the morning. Wind died down around noon and then picked up again later in the afternoon. By the end of the day, it was quite warm. Raptor Observations: Peaks and valleys throughout the day. 13 species in total. Flight path was directly above the tower early in the day, moving south in the afternoon. By the end of the day, birds were high and at the limit of binocular vision. There was also a late day rally after 5pm EDT, ending off with a Peregrine Falcon while exiting the park. Non-raptor Observations: 32 non-raptor species, including 13 Common Loons, going this way and that, two pairs of Sandhill Cranes, Eastern Phoebe, Pileated Woodpecker, Purple Martin, Wood Duck, and more. Predictions: Could be a good day tomorrow, as there could be birds south waiting to make a move. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Keith Dieroff (kdieroff@yahoo.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!!!