Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 05, 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 1 1033 5328 Osprey 0 12 17 Bald Eagle 0 3 44 Northern Harrier 0 6 15 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 61 161 Cooper's Hawk 0 4 74 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 2 349 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 43 313 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 4 Golden Eagle 0 2 4 American Kestrel 0 4 13 Merlin 0 0 3 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 4 Unknown Accipitrine 0 0 6 Unknown Buteo 0 0 21 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 15 Total: 2 1171 6371 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:45:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 4.25 hours Official Counter: Sarah Stover Observers: Visitors: The Conservation Area had a steady stream of visitors with four groups visiting the tower for the view. Weather: Overcast throughout the count with a consistent temperature of six degrees Celsius feeling like below zero with the windchill. WSW winds at speeds ranging 27-30km/hr and gusts upwards of 50km/hr. Approx. 5% precipitation from 9am - noon as scattered showers moved through area. Raptor Observations: Two raptors total counted in +4 hour period. The first bird at the start - and the most unexpected given the strong Westerly winds - was a brave Sharp-shinned Hawk. Possibly roosted nearby overnight. The second a lone Turkey Vulture. The flight path for both was low over the quarry. Local birds spotted: Cooper's Hawk, Turkey Vultures making the usual rounds. Non-raptor Observations: Red-winged Blackbird, Norther Flicker, Chickadees, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Song Sparrows, Fox Sparrow, Dark-eyed Juncos, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, American Robins, Golden-crowned Kinglets, White-breasted Nuthatch and Eastern Towhee all active in the park. A pair of Ravens heard and spotted flying North with one returning for a circle over the tower. Predictions: Forecast calls for similar weather to today but milder wind speeds. Flight conditions will be a challenge given lower temps and a westerly wind. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Sarah Stover (stoversaraha@gmail.com) Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area information may be found at: http://nphawkwatch.ca/ 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!!!