Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada 50TH SPRING MIGRATION COUNT IN 2024 Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 05, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 1 Turkey Vulture 40 167 3670 Osprey 0 1 1 Bald Eagle 0 1 64 Northern Harrier 0 0 25 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 4 66 Cooper's Hawk 0 0 66 American Goshawk 0 0 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 2 221 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 2 15 595 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 2 Golden Eagle 0 0 9 American Kestrel 0 0 7 Merlin 0 1 8 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 4 Unknown Buteo 0 0 12 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 8 Unknown Raptor 0 0 23 Total: 45 191 4785 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 12:30:00 Total observation time: 5.5 hours Official Counter: Katherine Stoltz Observers: Visitors: Very few. Brief visits from Marco from Smithville and Bob from Burlington Weather: There were 3 different weather predictions from various sites; mix of sun and cloud with 30% chance of precip, cloudy all day with 30% chance of precip, and rain/snow mix all day. Unfortunately, it was option #3. Mostly cloudy with off and on snow/rain. I packed it in at 12:30, when the radar showed persistent precipitation for the remainder of the day. Raptor Observations: Not a lot of migration, but the same 5 Turkey Vultures kept recycling themselves. Local COHA pair displaying and 1 local RTHA. 3 BAEA, all heading east, and nonmigratory. All migrating raptors took the north flightpath except for a gorgeous adult Red-shouldered, that flew low over the tower. Non-raptor Observations: No new passerine migrants. The biggest news of the day is the long-term closure of the women's washroom as someone torched it Wednesday night. Also, Beamer will be closed to the public on Monday (AKA eclipse day). Predictions: Has to be better than today. Lots of birds in the pipeline and no precipitation. ======================================================================== 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!!!