Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
50TH SPRING MIGRATION COUNT IN 2024 Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 29, 2024 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 2 Turkey Vulture 4 4640 8143 Osprey 0 22 22 Bald Eagle 0 53 116 Northern Harrier 0 32 57 Sharp-shinned Hawk 9 617 679 Cooper's Hawk 0 112 178 American Goshawk 0 1 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 22 241 Broad-winged Hawk 6 1162 1162 Red-tailed Hawk 5 262 842 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 4 Golden Eagle 0 1 10 American Kestrel 1 29 36 Merlin 0 5 12 Peregrine Falcon 0 3 4 Unknown Accipiter 1 5 9 Unknown Buteo 0 19 31 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 1 9 Unknown Raptor 1 33 56 Total: 27 7022 11616 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:45:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8.25 hours Official Counter: Gianpiero Tondina, John Stevens Observers: Bouwe Bergsma, Gianpiero Tondina Visitors: Lots in the park but not up the tower Weather: Northeasterly wind the entire period that brought very low thin clouds moving quickly across the site. Higher cirrus clouds were fairly thick in the morning but cleared considerably in the afternoon. Temperature was fairly steady around 10 but felt much cooler in the breeze on the tower. Raptor Observations: The resident TVs were very active except around midday. Both local Cooper's were active particularly the male in the morning. Local RTs seen numerous times along the escarpment edge and down the gulley. Non-raptor Observations: Brown Thrasher sang briefly a couple of times from the top of a tree to the north and a Great Crested Flycatcher called repeatedly from various perches (which Merlin did not register). Several Double-crested Cormorant flocks flew north. Predictions: Not promising with light rain forecast in the morning but Wednesday is looking like it could be quite good. ======================================================================== Report submitted by John Stevens ([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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