Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 13, 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 104 1868 6163 Osprey 0 15 20 Bald Eagle 0 11 52 Northern Harrier 4 13 22 Sharp-shinned Hawk 38 185 285 Cooper's Hawk 2 14 84 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 353 Broad-winged Hawk 4 9 9 Red-tailed Hawk 4 134 404 Rough-legged Hawk 1 2 6 Golden Eagle 0 3 5 American Kestrel 1 7 16 Merlin 1 2 5 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 4 19 Total: 159 2274 7474 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Bill Lamond Observers: Gianpiero Tondina, Susan Fraser Weather: A very changeable day. It was quite windy from the SW but trees towards the parking lot blocked the wind to a large degree. It was largely overcast but with several sunny breaks but never cloudless - maybe a minimum of 50% cloud. Light rain in the first hour and a heavy shower at the beginning of the last hour. Warm. I started with 5 layers but was down to a T-shirt at the end. Overall it was pleasant. Raptor Observations: A better than expected day. SSHA were prevalent and of course TVs. Not many buteos in the strong winds and cloudy skies, although 3 species observed. Four NOHA, all but one moving W to E with the other seemingly moving S. The strongish winds kept the flight low until the wind dropped in the late afternoon and the flight got quite high until the heavy shower pretty much grounded the flight for the day. Non-raptor Observations: It was Sparrow Day at the Hawkwatch. Many sparrows fed on the seeds put out on the lawn. DEJU (26), FOSP (4), WTSP (4), SOSP (4), FISP, CHSP, ATSP and two EATO entertained the counters for much of the day. Several Tree Swallows went over as well as two Barn and one Rough-winged Swallow. Other typical early April migrants in the park included PIWA, YRWA, RCKI and EAPH. Three Common Loons went over as did many Cormorants. Predictions: Hard to predict. May be similar to today but winds stronger and potential for thunderstorms during the day. Perhaps more rain? ======================================================================== Report submitted by Bill Lamond (bill-lamond@hotmail.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!!!