Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 08, 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 212 1432 5727 Osprey 0 12 17 Bald Eagle 4 7 48 Northern Harrier 1 8 17 Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 69 169 Cooper's Hawk 2 9 79 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 4 6 353 Broad-winged Hawk 1 1 1 Red-tailed Hawk 44 103 373 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 4 Golden Eagle 0 3 5 American Kestrel 1 5 14 Merlin 1 1 4 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 4 Unknown Accipitrine 0 0 6 Unknown Buteo 0 0 21 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 15 Total: 273 1657 6857 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: John Blanchard Observers: Gianpiero Tondina Visitors: Karen Hand and Gard Otis from Guelph passed by the tower to chat on their way out to hawk watch from the point. Many dog walkers and young children in the afternoon. Weather: Very nice morning with clear skies and very light winds, -2 deg C. Skies remained clear all day with mostly unbroken blue skies, wind progressively gained strength and shifted fro SE to NE Raptor Observations: Not tremendous numbers, but good variety with 10 sp. 1 adult Broadwinged hawk, first of the year, flew close over the tower for some pictures. 4 Bald eagles passed through, as well as a juvenile Northern Harrier. Non-raptor Observations: Team Fox sparrow was crushing it today, with 6 individuals observed simultaneously in the morning, and a few pretty much always in view the entire day. 2 male Eastern Towhees were also seen, as well as Eastern Phoebe. Predictions: Tomorrow is sunny, warmer and south winds which should result in some birds before it clouds over with rain forecast mid afternoon. ======================================================================== Report submitted by John Blanchard (John.Blanchard@treehousefoods.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!!!