Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS Daily Raptor Counts: May 10, 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 1 Turkey Vulture 6 214 6870 Osprey 0 4 33 Bald Eagle 0 11 92 Northern Harrier 1 5 38 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 71 855 Cooper's Hawk 0 19 126 American Goshawk 0 1 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 232 Broad-winged Hawk 0 19 1986 Red-tailed Hawk 0 28 741 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 9 Golden Eagle 0 0 4 American Kestrel 0 3 26 Merlin 0 0 9 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 5 Unknown Accipitrine 0 0 13 Unknown Buteo 0 0 21 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 2 Unknown Raptor 0 1 6 Swainson's Hawk 0 1 1 Total: 7 377 11072 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 4 hours Official Counter: Catherine Manschot Observers: Visitors: Intermittent visitors popping up on the tower for a brief look at the area. Weather: Cool breeze coming from the West to start, then no winds to speak of for the rest of the day. There was some cloud cover first thing but that quickly disappeared ramping up the temperature and sun exposure to 100%. Raptor Observations: "All quiet on the escarpment front" is how I would sum up the day. I had only a few Turkey Vultures seemingly migrating through plus one juvenile Northern Harrier. The local Red-tailed Hawk floated around for a large part of the day as well. Non-raptor Observations: Plenty of passerines around the park with little migrating through. Predictions: Light winds again tomorrow. I suspect there may be a few raptors coming through, but no significant numbers at this time of year...maybe a rarity? ======================================================================== 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!!!