Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada 50TH SPRING MIGRATION COUNT IN 2024 Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 24, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 2 Turkey Vulture 22 4584 8087 Osprey 0 20 20 Bald Eagle 0 49 112 Northern Harrier 0 28 53 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 583 645 Cooper's Hawk 0 108 174 American Goshawk 0 1 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 22 241 Broad-winged Hawk 0 981 981 Red-tailed Hawk 0 231 811 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 4 Golden Eagle 0 1 10 American Kestrel 0 27 34 Merlin 0 5 12 Peregrine Falcon 0 3 4 Unknown Accipiter 0 3 7 Unknown Buteo 0 18 30 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 1 9 Unknown Raptor 0 32 55 Total: 23 6700 11294 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:30:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours Official Counter: Simon Carter Observers: Visitors: John Caethlin, Sean Bates and Sarah Stover kept me company and helped spotting at various times between 9:30 and 2. Weather: Cool temperatures, light northerly winds and intermittent rain for the first three hours, followed by stronger northerly winds and a decrease in temps to 5C. Raptor Observations: Local Turvey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawks and a male Cooper's hawk were active throughout the day, mostly along the escarpment, the Red-tailed Hawks making the most of the lift to hover almost stationary north of the tower. Migrants were confined to a few Turkey Vultures in the morning, two kettles of the same species and a single Sharp-shinned Hawk in the afternoon, all to the north of the tower. An adult Bald eagle strayed west at 13:25, returning East a few minutes later. After an hour with no migrants, the count was stopped at 14:30. Non-raptor Observations: Nothing of note, the woods were relatively subdued. Predictions: Today's US counts suggest there are almost no birds in the pipeline. Another cool, hopefully sunnier, day tomorrow with moderate to light NE winds. ======================================================================== 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!!!