Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: May 09, 2022 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 10 172 8190 Osprey 1 5 31 Bald Eagle 1 15 96 Northern Harrier 0 15 63 Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 87 983 Cooper's Hawk 2 19 157 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 413 Broad-winged Hawk 3 181 1503 Red-tailed Hawk 7 53 1138 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 22 Golden Eagle 0 0 11 American Kestrel 0 2 37 Merlin 0 0 23 Peregrine Falcon 0 3 6 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 7 Unknown Buteo 0 4 33 Unknown Falcon 0 0 2 Unknown Eagle 0 0 2 Unknown Raptor 0 0 12 Short-eared Owl 0 0 1 Total: 28 556 12730 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:45:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 8.25 hours Official Counter: John Stevens Observers: Bouwe Bergsma, Gianpiero Tondina Visitors: Only the designated counter and spotters are permitted to drive into the area and use the tower but others are welcome to enjoy the flight from the ground. Weather: Beautiful! Mostly sunny with a moderate wind from the east that shifted to northeast in the afternoon. Cool on the tower with the wind. A few high cirrus clouds for contrast. Raptor Observations: The TVs went round and round all day after 9 EDT. Local CHs seen flying together frequently and local RTs patrolled along the escarpment edge. Lack of migrants was extremely disappointing considering the favourable winds. Non-raptor Observations: Not really much. A fair number of male Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and at least one female. A single Baltimore Oriole and at least one Great Crested Flycatcher, two Gray Catbirds, a couple of distant unidentified warblers but few singing birds other than the usual suspects. Predictions: Virtually the same weather conditions as today, which should be good, but then look at today's results. ======================================================================== Report submitted by John Stevens () 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. 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. 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