Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada 50TH SPRING MIGRATION COUNT IN 2024 Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 19, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 1 Turkey Vulture 4 4325 7828 Osprey 0 16 16 Bald Eagle 0 35 98 Northern Harrier 2 25 50 Sharp-shinned Hawk 18 421 483 Cooper's Hawk 2 98 164 American Goshawk 0 0 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 22 241 Broad-winged Hawk 31 454 454 Red-tailed Hawk 5 217 797 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 4 Golden Eagle 0 1 10 American Kestrel 0 24 31 Merlin 0 3 10 Peregrine Falcon 0 3 4 Unknown Accipiter 0 2 6 Unknown Buteo 2 14 26 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 1 9 Unknown Raptor 0 23 46 Total: 64 5686 10280 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 14:15:00 Total observation time: 6.75 hours Official Counter: Katherine Stoltz Observers: Visitors: Marcie Jacklin and Peter Thoem. Peter kept me company for the last 2 hours of the count. Weather: The day began with full cloud cover, rain and dense fog. The rain ended by 10:45 EST, but full cloud deck until midafternoon. Negligible winds early, switching from SW to E to S to W and gradually increasing in strength to 25 km. The skies cleared, and the flight shut down. Most of the flight was to the north or over the tower. Many birds easily seen with naked eye, but during the 11-12 hour, some Broad-Wings played hide and seek high in the clouds, visible at limit of naked eye. Raptor Observations: Looks like Braddock Bay hogged the Broad-Wings with almost 1100 tallied. Broad-Wings took the gold today, Sharpies the silver, and Redtails, the bronze. Local Coops escorted many raptors out. Local Redtails and Turkey Vultures were seen, as well as a Merlin heading east. Non-raptor Observations: Nothing new for the season. Predictions: Raptors, hard to say. Cooler temperatures and moderate west winds forecast. It is the 50th anniversary of the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch. I can confidently predict that there will be cake tomorrow. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Katherine Stoltz (Katherine Stoltzstoltz.katherine@gmail.com) 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!!!