Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 24, 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 21 2311 6606 Osprey 0 29 34 Bald Eagle 4 34 75 Northern Harrier 0 32 41 Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 725 825 Cooper's Hawk 0 47 117 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 10 357 Broad-winged Hawk 31 2236 2236 Red-tailed Hawk 8 222 492 Rough-legged Hawk 0 3 7 Golden Eagle 0 5 7 American Kestrel 0 30 39 Merlin 0 2 5 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 5 Unknown Accipitrine 0 4 10 Unknown Buteo 2 6 27 Unknown Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 18 33 Total: 73 5718 10918 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 14:30:00 Total observation time: 7.5 hours Official Counter: Katherine Stoltz Observers: Randy McClelland Visitors: A few families climbed the tower. Tony Dobson visited briefly. Weather: It did not feel like late April on the tower today. Temps dropped as the day progressed from a high of 8 degrees to 6 degrees. Strong NNE winds, sustained at 20 km for much of the day, with 35 km gusts made it feel like mid-March. Cloud covered fluctuated between 90% to 10% by the end of the count. Raptor Observations: We were on a strict raptor diet today with only 73 birds of 5 species. Many sightings of local Turkey Vultures and Red-tails as well as several loops by Gary, the local Cooper's Hawk. Non-raptor Observations: No new species. Predictions: Rain is predicted. Although our pipeline sites have not yet filed a report, the weather is not conducive to a good flight, and our numbers tailed off the last 3.5 hours. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Katherine Stoltz (Katherine Stoltzstoltz.katherine@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!!!