Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 28, 2023
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 663 2745 2745
Osprey 0 0 0
Bald Eagle 4 43 43
Northern Harrier 0 13 13
Sharp-shinned Hawk 6 25 25
Cooper's Hawk 3 28 28
Northern Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 73 308 308
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 50 521 521
Rough-legged Hawk 0 6 6
Golden Eagle 0 5 5
American Kestrel 1 6 6
Merlin 0 2 2
Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1
Unknown Accipiter 0 3 3
Unknown Buteo 0 6 6
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 0
Total: 800 3712 3712
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter:
Observers: Gianpiero Tondina, Peter Booker, Tim Foran
Visitors:
Lots of visitors, including, Doug Peters, Johnathan Harper, Nina S. and Big
John and his nephew.
Big Thanks to Peter Booker, Gianpiero Tondina, and Tim Foran for
being a great help with todays count.
Weather:
winds from the north for most of the day, brisk at times.
A mixed bag of weather early on with some light rain, followed by ice
pellets. Mostly cloudy with sunny breaks, but there were some heavy dark
clouds off and on.
Raptor Observations:
Turkey Vultures again were the impact bird, with several kettles appearing
as the day wore on. A good showing of Red-shoulders and Red-tails, but they
were a challenge to the counters as they were coming in at a great height.
Four Bald Eagles, all adult, and an immature Bald Eagle headed East.
Non-raptor Observations:
Five Wood Ducks in a flock, Common Loon, several Common Ravens, the
Pileated Woodpecker(s) are still flying around the tower area, 2 Sandhill
Cranes, 1 Great Blue Heron.
Predictions:
It could be good?
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Report submitted by Tom Thomas ([email protected])
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!!!
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