Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS Daily Raptor Counts: May 08, 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 2 Turkey Vulture 10 104 6753 Osprey 0 4 44 Bald Eagle 2 12 90 Northern Harrier 0 7 52 Sharp-shinned Hawk 35 73 984 Cooper's Hawk 3 8 134 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 357 Broad-winged Hawk 7 89 2540 Red-tailed Hawk 3 22 524 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 7 Golden Eagle 0 0 7 American Kestrel 0 1 42 Merlin 0 0 6 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 7 Unknown Accipitrine 0 0 12 Unknown Buteo 0 1 28 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 1 35 Total: 60 324 11625 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Katherine Stoltz Observers: Visitors: Vanessa and Erika from Toronto stopped in on their way to Long Point. Marco from Smithville helped out greatly in the afternoon. The usual dogs and their bipeds. Weather: The weather was all over the map today. Residual cloud from pre-dawn rain dissipated and cloud cover fell to zero, then increasing cumulus cloud spreading from the south with a brief patch of grey low-lying cloud which shut down migration temporarily. Winds varying from calm in the morning to light winds from the northwest, swinging to the south and increasing in velocity to 17 km with gusts of 23 km. It felt colder in the afternoon even though the temperature rose from a low of 6 to a high of 12. Raptor Observations: A very slow start with a small upflight of 12 birds in the first 90 minutes, followed by 4 hours of only 4 birds. Then Marco arrived and brought the hour of power from 1-2 pm EST. 61 individuals of 6 species. Non-raptor Observations: Several passerine migrants including a flock of >20 White-throated Sparrows, a very chatty Blue-headed Vireo and Palm Warbler and American Redstart. 3 Sandhill Cranes passed through. Predictions: Difficult to predict. It's the second week of May, so light migration expected. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Katherine Stoltz (Katherine Stoltzstoltz.katherine@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!!!