Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 14, 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 62 1930 6225 Osprey 1 16 21 Bald Eagle 2 13 54 Northern Harrier 0 13 22 Sharp-shinned Hawk 18 203 303 Cooper's Hawk 2 16 86 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 353 Broad-winged Hawk 4 13 13 Red-tailed Hawk 2 136 406 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 6 Golden Eagle 0 3 5 American Kestrel 2 9 18 Merlin 0 2 5 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 4 19 Total: 93 2367 7567 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 10:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours Official Counter: Catherine Manschot, Gianpiero Tondina Observers: Carol Teed, Gianpiero Tondina, Randy McLelland Visitors: Just one additional visitor popped up for ten minutes or so and two young gentlemen came up for a quick look at the end of the day. Weather: The day started with rain and a high risk of thunderstorms so the count started late. Gianpiero Tondino got there at 10 am standard time and I arrived an hour later. The SW winds carried on for most of the day, trailing off in the last two hours of the official count. It was warm and the cloud cover was mostly just the right amount. Raptor Observations: The bulk of the flight came through between 10 and 2 standard time, then trailed off as the winds died down. We had two 4th cycle Bald Eagles (Calendar Year 4), which was great to see, a decent number of Sharp-shinned Hawks, an Osprey, and a couple of Cooper's Hawks as well as the local pair showing. We also had four Red-tails and Broad-winged Hawks, plus two American Kestrels. There was just enough to keep things fun! Non-raptor Observations: There was a fair number of passerine species seen on sight with two male Eastern Towhees and the Fox Sparrow out on the grass showing nicely. Flyovers included the usuals plus a Common Loon. The ebird list is: https://ebird.org/checklist/S321759933. Predictions: The weather looks okay with continuing SW winds. There is a 40% chance of thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon but that may blow over. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Catherine Manschot (hitthetrail.manschot@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!!!