Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 25, 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 1043 2135 2143 Osprey 0 1 1 Bald Eagle 5 35 35 Northern Harrier 1 7 8 Sharp-shinned Hawk 12 30 30 Cooper's Hawk 7 37 37 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 100 336 336 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 104 208 208 Rough-legged Hawk 0 4 4 Golden Eagle 0 2 2 American Kestrel 1 6 6 Merlin 0 2 2 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 2 Unknown Accipitrine 3 4 4 Unknown Buteo 9 12 12 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 7 7 Total: 1285 2828 2837 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: John Blanchard Observers: Gianpiero Tondina, Jean Iron, Katherine Stoltz, Shannon Hingston, Susan Fraser Visitors: Many visitors passed through and helped out for a few hours, John H spent most of the day counting hundreds of vultures passing well south with his scope. Dave Archibell and Marco both spent a few hours with us. Weather: The day started with fairly clear skies and temps of 2 degrees C and a very light south wind. The wind gradually picked up and shifted throughout the the day to the East and then North. By 2pm clouds had moved in and the sun was gone. Raptor Observations: A good day for raptors with over 1200 counted. Majority TV, but over 100 each Red-shouldered and Red-tailed hawks. Many of the vultures were seen using a spotting scope and counting a very steady flight well to the south. 5 Bald eagles were seen, 3 adult, one juvenile, and one 4th yr. Non-raptor Observations: 3 Great blue herons and one small flock of tundra swans. Predictions: Rain is in the forecast, although there may be a short window in the morning before it arrives. ======================================================================== 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!!!