Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 13, 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 407 415 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 16 16 Northern Harrier 0 5 6 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 11 11 Cooper's Hawk 0 24 24 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 74 74 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 53 53 Rough-legged Hawk 0 4 4 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 0 2 2 Merlin 0 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 2 Unknown Accipitrine 0 1 1 Unknown Buteo 0 2 2 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 1 1 Total: 0 603 612 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 10:30:00 Total observation time: 3 hours Official Counter: Chris Escott Observers: Visitors: Marco came up the tower for a little while to help scan the sky for raptors, and several people with dogs (not on leashes) walked by, but there were no other visitors up the tower. Weather: Count started early with forecast bad weather on the way. The first two hours were chilly, and rather windy, with solid overhead cloud. Wind-driven snow began around 9:30 AM (EDT) and by 10:00 was starting to accumulate on the ground. Forecast and radar both suggested heavy snow continuing for much of the remainder of the count period, so the count was terminated early. Raptor Observations: No raptors observed, not even any of the local birds. They clearly knew the Alberta clipper was about to hit! Non-raptor Observations: Numerous American Robin and Dark-eyed Junco, but few other songbirds. Two pair of Wood Duck flew over, but the best sighting of the morning, shortly before 8:00 AM (EDT) was a small fly-over flock of geese that included five Canada Goose and four Cackling Goose. Predictions: Cold temperatures and a very strong west wind is forecast, but with no precipitation, so results should be better than today! However, posted results in the HMA website show low numbers of migrant raptors both yesterday and today in New York State counts, so any flight that does occur may be rather limited. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Chris Escott (chris@escott.ca) 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!!!