Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS Daily Raptor Counts: May 13, 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 2 Turkey Vulture 0 209 6858 Osprey 1 7 47 Bald Eagle 0 20 98 Northern Harrier 0 7 52 Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 121 1032 Cooper's Hawk 0 10 136 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 357 Broad-winged Hawk 4 120 2571 Red-tailed Hawk 1 30 532 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 7 Golden Eagle 0 1 8 American Kestrel 0 3 44 Merlin 0 0 6 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 7 Unknown Accipitrine 0 0 12 Unknown Buteo 0 1 28 Unknown Falcon 0 0 1 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 3 37 Total: 9 534 11835 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 5 hours Official Counter: Simon Carter Observers: Visitors: None. Weather: None of the promised thunder and showers, instead a few sunny intervals and brisk SSW wind, temperatures 12-16C. Became more overcast in the last hour, and showers threatening. Raptor Observations: Slow day, with just 9 migrants of four species. 8 local Turkey Vultures were active over the escarpment, and 3 local Red-tailed Hawks were active over the park and south of Ridge Road. Only one bird during most of the last two hours, an Osprey. Non-raptor Observations: A good warbler fallout, I counted 14 species, including Cape May, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia and American Redstart. A cuckoo flew north over the quarry and down the escarpment, too fast to ID which species. A pair of White-crowned Sparrows were enjoying the birdseed. Predictions: Similar to today. ======================================================================== 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!!!