Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada 50TH SPRING MIGRATION COUNT IN 2024 Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 10, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 1 Turkey Vulture 236 3699 7202 Osprey 1 6 6 Bald Eagle 5 18 81 Northern Harrier 1 10 35 Sharp-shinned Hawk 41 250 312 Cooper's Hawk 1 60 126 American Goshawk 0 0 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 21 240 Broad-winged Hawk 3 4 4 Red-tailed Hawk 30 165 745 Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 3 Golden Eagle 0 0 9 American Kestrel 5 17 24 Merlin 0 3 10 Peregrine Falcon 1 2 3 Unknown Accipiter 0 2 6 Unknown Buteo 1 8 20 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 8 Unknown Raptor 0 6 29 Total: 326 4272 8866 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Simon Carter Observers: Bill Lamond, Denys Gardiner, John Niewiadomski, Katherine Stoltz, Matt Mills, Sheldon McGregor Visitors: Debbie Wright, Shannon Hingston, and Diane Werezak did excellent spotting most of the morning. A few dozen hikers and dog-walkers were enjoying the pleasant weather. Weather: Generally sunny day, with varying amounts of high cirrus cloud. Winds light and northerly throughout, temperatures in the high single digits in the morning climbing to low twenties at the end. A band of heavy rain south of the Niagara Peninsula in the morning cut off the movement of most of the birds that were in the pipeline late yesterday towards Beamer, and reports from Braddock Bay in the afternoon suggested these birds moved mainly up the eastern shore of L. Ontario. Raptor Observations: In the first hour or so, the flight tracked mostly north of the tower, becoming more spread out during the course of the morning, and higher in altitude. Most of the afternoon's birds tracked well south of the tower and at considerable height, scopes were helpful in identifying many of the latter. Lower numbers than yesterday with Turkey Vultures, Sharp-shinned Hawks and Red-tailed Hawks dominating, and only singles of Cooper's Hawk, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, Northern Harries and Red-shouldered Hawk. Non-raptor Observations: Many species of passerine migrants today. Highlights were Eastern Bluebird, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Purple Martin, Eastern Phoebe, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Great Blue Heron, Winter Wren and Hermit Thrush. Predictions: Heavy rain forecast, with thunderstorm risk. Depending on how the storms and heavy rain track, there could be some movement in the morning or middle hours. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Simon Carter () 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!!!