Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 12, 2021 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 38 427 427 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 2 18 18 Northern Harrier 0 2 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 7 7 Cooper's Hawk 11 17 17 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 20 33 33 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 24 182 182 Rough-legged Hawk 0 5 5 Golden Eagle 1 2 2 American Kestrel 3 6 6 Merlin 1 3 3 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 2 2 2 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 102 705 705 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Catherine Manschot Observers: Katherine Stoltz Visitors: In order to comply with COVID safety provisions we remind you that the size of gatherings is restricted and so we do not encourage visitors. Access to the tower is restricted to the official counter and one assigned spotter, whose names have been provided in advance to the appropriate authorities. Please cooperate by keeping yourself and others safe. Weather: The day began as warm and sunny with a nice SW wind. The count increased each hour and peaked between 11 am and 1 pm. As the afternoon progressed, the winds picked up and began to shift to the west. The day began with blue skies with only minimal cloud cover forming in the afternoon. Raptor Observations: There was at least one migrating COHA each hour between 8 am and 2 pm and a significant turn out of RSHA peaking at 10 between 12 and 1 pm. Between 1 and 9 RTHA's passed through hourly between 8 am and 2 pm. We had 2 SA Eagles between 11 and 12, and one SA Golden Eagle at 3:40 pm. We also had a few AMKE and 1 Merlin over the course of the day. Non-raptor Observations: The morning included flyovers of 90 Canada Geese, 7 European Starlings, 36 Red-winged Blackbirds, 9 American Robins, 3 Common Grackles, a Killdeer, 7 duck sp. and 35 American Crows. Things slowed down in the afternoon as the winds picked up. There were also American Crows, a Downy Woodpecker, a Northern Cardinal, and a couple of Blue Jays present on site. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Catherine Manschot ([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. 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 park vehicles (along the road) and 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. Parking is normally available inside the park. 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. 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