Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 27, 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 42 3032 6498 Osprey 0 23 28 Bald Eagle 2 29 75 Northern Harrier 0 18 29 Sharp-shinned Hawk 16 647 767 Cooper's Hawk 1 47 98 American Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 17 232 Broad-winged Hawk 4 1953 1953 Red-tailed Hawk 5 294 699 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 9 Golden Eagle 0 0 3 American Kestrel 0 20 23 Merlin 0 7 9 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 4 Unknown Accipitrine 0 11 13 Unknown Buteo 0 7 19 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 2 2 Unknown Raptor 0 3 5 Total: 70 6115 10468 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:45:00 Observation end time: 14:45:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Katherine Stoltz Observers: Visitors: Lots of kids with families. I fielded lots of questions regarding raptor migration, which passed the time. Weather: Brilliant sun all day with some high haze to the south, AKA Sky of Death. Brisk NW winds of 19 km with gusts of 30 km early in the day tapering to 9km from the NW in the afternoon. Temps ranging from 7 degrees to 16 degrees. Raptor Observations: Not the best wind conditions and not much in the pipeline. The flightpath was predominantly north and over the tower, with fewer than 10% taking the far south route. All the larger species were visible to naked eye, but some of the Sharpies were only picked up with binoculars. 6 species tallied including 2 Bald Eagles in the afternoon. The local vultures became intrusive by late morning and there were several sightings of the local RT and CH. Non-raptor Observations: No new passerine migration Predictions: The wind direction is more favorable and our pipeline sites had higher counts, so hopefully better than today. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Katherine Stoltz (Katherine Stoltzstoltz.katherine@gmail.com) 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. 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!!!