Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada 50TH SPRING MIGRATION COUNT IN 2024 Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 17, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 1 Turkey Vulture 5 4301 7804 Osprey 0 14 14 Bald Eagle 0 35 98 Northern Harrier 0 23 48 Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 389 451 Cooper's Hawk 2 90 156 American Goshawk 0 0 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 22 241 Broad-winged Hawk 9 402 402 Red-tailed Hawk 0 209 789 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 4 Golden Eagle 0 1 10 American Kestrel 0 23 30 Merlin 0 3 10 Peregrine Falcon 0 3 4 Unknown Accipiter 0 2 6 Unknown Buteo 0 12 24 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 1 9 Unknown Raptor 0 23 46 Total: 19 5555 10149 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:30:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours Official Counter: Simon Carter Observers: Carol Teed Visitors: Carol Teed spotted most of the migrants, through patchy mist. There were no other observers or visitors to the tower. A few dog-walkers braved the rain. Weather: Persistent moderate to light rain throughout the morning, tapering off in the last hour before noon, cloud cover was high enough not to restrict visibility. Cloud ceiling lowered from 1:45pm and visibility declined quickly to 100m at 2:30pm, with light rain, at which point the count was stopped. Raptor Observations: A few stragglers from yesterday's flight, four species, were able to move west from noon until 1:45pm, north and south of the tower. A local Cooper's Hawk and two local Red-tailed Hawks were seen briefly during the same period, along with a few local Turkey Vultures. Non-raptor Observations: Lots of migrant passerine activity in the surrounding bush, with good numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers, Purple Finches, both Kinglet sp. and six species of woodpecker. Eight Common Loons overhead, heading both North and South. Predictions: Probably a better flight than today, with drier weather forecast from mid-morning, but moderate to strong south-westerly winds may limit the numbers moving west from Buffalo. ======================================================================== 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!!!