Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 22, 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 129 1886 1886 Osprey 0 1 1 Bald Eagle 1 37 37 Northern Harrier 0 9 9 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 103 103 Cooper's Hawk 0 36 37 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 206 206 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 3 354 354 Rough-legged Hawk 0 6 6 Golden Eagle 0 1 1 American Kestrel 1 3 3 Merlin 0 2 2 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 2 Unknown Accipitrine 0 2 2 Unknown Buteo 0 12 12 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 2 2 Total: 136 2662 2663 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Phil Waggett Observers: Joedy Groulx, Wylan Clitheroe Visitors: Joedy and Wylan were very helpful spotting migrants today.A few people visited the tower,including a family from Smithville (sorry I didn't get their names). Weather: Overcast until noon when the skies became a mix of sun and cloud. Rain during the first hour. Moderate SW winds for the first two hours before shifting to the northwest; this shift resulted in a significant decline in temperature falling to 1 degree celsius by mid afternoon with a strong windchill. Raptor Observations: Primarily a turkey vulture flight characterized by a good upflight in the second hour but somewhat sporadic for the rest of the day. Very little buteo migration today into that strong NW wind. The local TV's were very active today. Also noted were the local coops and redtails. Non-raptor Observations: Joedy spotted two fox sparrows in the feeder area--the most significant sighting today. Very few other migrants were noted today although a song sparrow and a white-throated sparrow were briefly in the feeder area. Predictions: The wind will shift into the east Sunday morning which will benefit Beamer. Unfortunately, Ripley NY had zero migrants today and Hamburg only recorded 80 birds so I have to think the pipeline will be relatively light. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Phillip Waggett (philip waggett <philipwagg...@hotmail.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!!! -- 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: birdnews@ontbirds.ca. 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