Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 19, 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 35 2683 6149 Osprey 0 19 24 Bald Eagle 0 17 63 Northern Harrier 0 13 24 Sharp-shinned Hawk 21 307 427 Cooper's Hawk 0 27 78 American Goshawk 0 1 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 11 226 Broad-winged Hawk 26 131 131 Red-tailed Hawk 1 241 646 Rough-legged Hawk 0 2 9 Golden Eagle 0 0 3 American Kestrel 1 12 15 Merlin 0 3 5 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 3 Unknown Accipitrine 0 7 9 Unknown Buteo 0 5 17 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 1 1 Unknown Raptor 0 2 4 Total: 84 3483 7836 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 13:30:00 Total observation time: 5.5 hours Official Counter: Phil Waggett Observers: Visitors: Diana & Rick Werezak (Welland) and John & Cynthia McAllister (Parry Sound) spent some time on the tower asking about the hawkwatch. Vanessa Schiefer (Markham) also visited; Vanessa had taken Catherine's hawk-identification seminar and was interested in seeing Beamer and the migration. Weather: Heavy southwesterly winds for the entire count period, mostly overcast with rain developing at 2 pm. Temperatures were quite warm for mid-April. Raptor Observations: Only a few raptors--TV's, shins, and broad-wings, were flying against the south-west winds. Local TV's were active and the local coop was occasionally seen. Non-raptor Observations: Only a few spring arrivals were noted--local towhee was calling, a few purple martins flew over, along with one eastern bluebird. Predictions: Winds northerly shifting to northeast with a mix of sun & cloud with cooler temperatures should be good flight conditions. However, rain to the east likely disrupted the pipeline and a huge push of migrants headed out to Derby Hill with the favourable south-west winds. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Phillip Waggett (philip waggett <philipwaggett@hotmail.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. &copy;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!!!