Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 22, 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 995 1003 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 22 22 Northern Harrier 0 5 6 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 16 16 Cooper's Hawk 0 29 29 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 230 230 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 94 94 Rough-legged Hawk 0 4 4 Golden Eagle 0 1 1 American Kestrel 0 3 3 Merlin 0 2 2 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 2 Unknown Accipitrine 0 1 1 Unknown Buteo 0 3 3 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 7 7 Total: 0 1414 1423 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 12:30:00 Total observation time: 5 hours Official Counter: Chris Escott Observers: Visitors: One young birder and his father from Hamilton stopped by briefly early in the day, and Diane from Burlington climbed the tower later on for a chat about birding in general and hawkwatching in particular, but no other visitors. Weather: A rather miserable day! In anticipation of rain later on, the count was started a bit early under grey skies with a light SW breeze. Other than a brief shower at 8 AM (all times EDT), conditions seemed OK for a couple of hours. However, light rain started around 9:30 AM, it became a steady heavier rain by 10:30 AM, and continued heavy for a couple of hours. Rain stopped, but a thick fog reduced visibility to near zero for a while before the rain started up again. By then, there was no end in sight (or predicted online) so the count was terminated at 12:30 PM. Raptor Observations: None, including zero observations of local birds. Non-raptor Observations: Nothing at all unusual, local birds or migrants. Predictions: Colder than today, with a dry morning but snow flurries in the afternoon, and little evidence of birds in the pipeline yesterday, so probably a slow day tomorrow. ======================================================================== 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!!!