Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 18, 2023 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 18 2403 5969 Osprey 0 15 16 Bald Eagle 1 27 77 Northern Harrier 0 22 37 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 887 935 Cooper's Hawk 1 54 88 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 53 374 Broad-winged Hawk 0 123 123 Red-tailed Hawk 3 406 981 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 8 Golden Eagle 0 0 5 American Kestrel 0 27 36 Merlin 0 5 7 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 4 Unknown Accipiter 0 10 13 Unknown Buteo 0 10 22 Unknown Falcon 0 2 2 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 22 27 Short-eared Owl 0 0 1 Total: 25 4070 8726 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 5 hours Official Counter: Tom Thomas Observers: Gianpiero Tondina Visitors: No Visitors. Thanks to Gianpiero Tondina for sticking it out. Weather: Plus 3 degrees at the start of the count with a stiff wind out of the west. A real mixed bag weather wise, with banks of storm clouds threatening, but always veering to the south or north of the tower, so we only got the odd raindrop or snowflake. By mid morning the weather was getting rather unpleasant and the chill was setting in. With showers forecast for the afternoon, we closed down early. Raptor Observations: Not much happening today, just odds and sods. Mostly Turkey Vultures, but after a while it was obvious that we were watching local birds, and almost the same with Red-tails and Cooper's Hawks. We did have a Bald Eagle around the 10:30 mark, which we thought was a two year bird. Non-raptor Observations: Very quiet with just gulls and cormorants flying through. It was so quiet hawk wise, that I took a stroll around and found several Fox Sparrows in the south west corner in the green shrubbery there. Predictions: Sun and cloud with lighter west winds, it has to be better than today. ======================================================================== 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!!! -- Ontbirds and Birdnews are moderated email Listservs provided by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) as a service to all birders in Ontario. Birdnews is reserved for announcements, location summaries, first of year reports, etc. To post a message on Birdnews, send an email to: [email protected]. 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