Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS Daily Raptor Counts: May 07, 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 1 Turkey Vulture 13 185 6841 Osprey 0 3 32 Bald Eagle 1 5 86 Northern Harrier 0 4 37 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 68 852 Cooper's Hawk 1 19 126 American Goshawk 0 1 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 232 Broad-winged Hawk 1 17 1984 Red-tailed Hawk 0 19 732 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 9 Golden Eagle 0 0 4 American Kestrel 0 3 26 Merlin 0 0 9 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 5 Unknown Accipitrine 0 0 13 Unknown Buteo 0 0 21 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 2 Unknown Raptor 1 1 6 Total: 19 325 11020 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 14:30:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Simon Carter Observers: Gianpiero Tondina, John Niewiadomski Visitors: None to the tower, a few dog-walkers and visitors to the park. John Niewiadomski joined us for the last 30 minutes. Weather: Warm throughout, 12-20C+ and mostly sunny. Wind was moderate to breezy, westerly throughout, northerly in the morning, stronger & southerly from around noon. Cloud cover increased during the morning, which would have made spotting hawks easier, had there been any. Raptor Observations: Almost no flight to speak of. An immature Cooper's hawk was our first migrant at 10:38. An unidentified raptor (possibly an owl) passed north of the tower at 10:58 (see hour notes for details). A few Turkey Vultures migrated north of the tower in the late morning, and a few migrated high overhead in the early afternoon. Two Sharp-shinned hawks, a single adult Broad-winged Hawk, and a subadult Bald Eagle passed over the tower between midday and 14:00. Count was stopped at 14:30, by which time it had become clear the forecast easterly winds were not going to happen. The local Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed hawks were active throughout the day, and a local Cooper's hawk was seen once. An Adult Bald Eagle flew SE around noon. Non-raptor Observations: Lots of migrant passerines; Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Nashville, Yellow and Black-and-white warblers, Northern Parula, White-crowned Sparrows, and at least two Great-crested Flycatchers. A Yellow-throated Vireo was singing from and foraging in the canopy on the eastern side of the park throughout the morning. Many White-throated sparrows. Predictions: Unclear what is in the pipeline, but forecast North-easterly winds are more favourable to a flight at Beamer. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Simon Carter () 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!!!