Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 10, 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 9 134 134 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 5 17 17 Northern Harrier 0 1 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 8 8 Cooper's Hawk 2 6 7 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 3 3 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 9 37 37 Rough-legged Hawk 1 1 1 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 0 0 0 Merlin 0 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipitrine 0 0 0 Unknown Buteo 0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 31 208 209 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 7.5 hours Official Counter: Tom Thomas Observers: Bouwe Bergsma, Carol Teed, Dave Sked, Gianpiero Tondina, Phil Waggett Visitors: It's March Break, so there were lots of families around. Many came up on the tower. I didn't manage to catch all of their names, But Dinara, and Barry Cherriere I noted. Weather: Clear blue skies all day. Temperatures ranged from plus one to plus ten. Unfortunately there were strong gusty winds coming out of the south, south west for most of the day. Raptor Observations: Not a great many raptors, but again we had five Bald Eagles four adults, with one out over the escarpment that we were unable to age. With strong crosswinds many of the birds had a tough go of it. both Red-shouldered Hawks at different times, flew in and perched in nearby trees seemingly to catch their breath, very strange indeed. Non-raptor Observations: Many geese flocks early morning. Cedar Waxwings, Horned Larks, A Northern Shrike flew across the entrance to the viewing area and then vanished. Two Brewer's Blackbirds flew into a tree near the washrooms, and allowed me to get up close to take some photos. I ruled out similar species. Predictions: It's probably more of the same, but you never know it could be better. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Tom Thomas (tthomas@cogeco.ca) Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area information may be found at: http://www.niagarapeninsulahawkwatch.org/ 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!!!