Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 10, 2018 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 7 Turkey Vulture 200 4758 6099 Osprey 0 11 11 Bald Eagle 2 5 35 Northern Harrier 1 6 8 Sharp-shinned Hawk 18 62 86 Cooper's Hawk 0 20 45 Northern Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 54 203 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 24 235 706 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 7 Golden Eagle 0 0 2 American Kestrel 0 5 10 Merlin 0 3 5 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 5 Unknown Accipiter 0 2 2 Unknown Buteo 0 9 15 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 2 2 Total: 245 5177 7249 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours Official Counter: Tom Thomas Observers: Andy Morgan, Jim Watt, John Hogeveen Visitors: Andy Morgan, Jim Watt, John Hogaveen. Weather: The weather was bright and sunny with no clouds and even slightly warm at the start of the count. As the day wore on small clouds turned into bigger clouds and then around noon dark menacing clouds moved in. Beamer itself seemed to be an oasis in a sea of darkness, but as the south winds started to gust it just got plain cold, and soon there was the odd snow shower and I headed for cover. Raptor Observations: There was a good up flight of Turkey Vultures taking advantage of the good weather, but as the winds grew stronger from the south it was clear the flight was to the north along the Escarpment and we counted birds as they popped up at various stages along their flight path. most of the Sharp-shin flight was over the tower or there abouts, along with two Bald Eagles, one adult, and one two year old immature. I had good looks at a beautiful male Northern Harrier to the west of the tower just before snow flurries moved in. Non-raptor Observations: Great looks at a male Pileated Woodpecker, as it flew east and then later it passed closer going back west. Two small flocks of Bonaparte's Gulls, Cedar Waxwings, Killdeer, Common Loons, Sandhill Crane, Great Blue Heron, Eastern Meadowlark, Pine Siskin, Golden-crowned Kinglet. Predictions: Could be a repeat of today, but with stronger wind gusts from the south. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Tom Thomas (tthomas@cogeco.ca) Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area information may be found at: http://www.niagarapeninsulahawkwatch.org/ More site information at hawkcount.org: http://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. 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 park vehicles (along the road) and 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. Parking is normally available inside the park. 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. ©2018 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch. 2) Vehicular traffic is again allowed into the park, 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!!!