Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 08, 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 52 71 79 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 4 8 8 Northern Harrier 1 4 5 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 2 2 Cooper's Hawk 1 5 5 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 6 16 16 Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 1 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 0 1 1 Merlin 1 2 2 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipitrine 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 66 110 119 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Catherine Manschot Observers: Krista Miller Visitors: We had a steady trickle of visitors and plenty of questions about the hawk migration from adults and children. Weather: A comfortable above zero temperature today with a sometimes brisk wind. Cloud cover began at 100 percent but non by early afternoon. Winds were from the SW for most of the day. Raptor Observations: The flight was pretty good for early March with at least one hawk per hour covering seven species. The local Cooper's Hawk couple were making appearances throughout the day as well the local Red-tail Hawks. Of the seven Bald Eagles we saw, 3 were determined as local birds. The last two hours brought in 48 Turkey Vultures so they are coming! Non-raptor Observations: Plenty of American Robins, Common Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds today along with Slate-coloured Juncos that haven't left yet. Three Northern Cardinals were singing their hearts out in the morning which is always enjoyable to hear. We had four Sandhills Crane fly overhead which was a treat! Predictions: The forecast is suggesting the winds will be similar to today (SW) with sun and some cloud cover so I expect the flight to be similar to today with perhaps even more Turkey Vultures. ======================================================================== 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!!!