Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada 50TH SPRING MIGRATION COUNT IN 2024 Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 13, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 1 Turkey Vulture 133 3856 7359 Osprey 0 6 6 Bald Eagle 0 18 81 Northern Harrier 0 11 36 Sharp-shinned Hawk 12 264 326 Cooper's Hawk 3 64 130 American Goshawk 0 0 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 21 240 Broad-winged Hawk 0 4 4 Red-tailed Hawk 2 169 749 Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 3 Golden Eagle 0 0 9 American Kestrel 0 17 24 Merlin 0 3 10 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 3 Unknown Accipiter 0 2 6 Unknown Buteo 0 8 20 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 8 Unknown Raptor 0 6 29 Total: 150 4452 9046 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Gianpiero Tondina, Phil Waggett Observers: Gianpiero Tondina, Phil Waggett, Sarah Stover Visitors: Today the Hawkwatch hosted a group of 25 birders and interested visitors with Katy Sokoloski, Special Programs Outreach and Engagement Assistant, with the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. It was a privilege to explain our activities at the Niagara Hawkwatch and the details surrounding hawk migration. I invited Katy to do this again next year. Also visiting was Alan Meijer from North Carolina who helped with spotting the birds. A huge shout-out to Gianpiero Tondina who held the fort on the tower while I was speaking to the visitors. Sarah Stover also dropped him and helped with the spotting. Weather: Overcast until noon and then a mix of sun and cloud. Winds were WNW in the 38 km/h range with gusts up to 70 km/h. Temperatures ranged up to 10 celsius. Raptor Observations: Primarily a vulture flight but a very difficult day--while the birds were low, they were constantly flying back and forth trying to make headway into the high winds making for a difficult count. Local TV's were active as well adding to the confusion. Local coops were active. At 2:21 an adult bald eagle passed the tower quite high but it was flying east and not counted. Non-raptor Observations: Not much in the way of migratory activity with a purple martin being the highlight. Several northern flickers were active around the park. Also noted were two common loons, a common raven, and several small groups of cormorants. Predictions: Given the rain that was to our south and east, little migratory activity was noted at the NY hawkwatches. I had the sense that the pipeline is very thin at present. In additon, another day of rain is predicted tomorrow so I don't expect there will be a count. Tuesday is looking like the next possible good day. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Phillip Waggett (philip waggett <philipwaggett@hotmail.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. &copy;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!!!