Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 12, 2026 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 19 1764 6059 Osprey 0 15 20 Bald Eagle 0 11 52 Northern Harrier 0 9 18 Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 147 247 Cooper's Hawk 0 12 82 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 6 353 Broad-winged Hawk 0 5 5 Red-tailed Hawk 0 130 400 Rough-legged Hawk 0 1 5 Golden Eagle 0 3 5 American Kestrel 0 6 15 Merlin 0 1 4 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: 21 2115 7315 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 06:45:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 9.25 hours Official Counter: Chris Escott Observers: Keith Dieroff Visitors: Jody from Welland helped search the skies for raptors for much of the morning. Keith Dieroff joined for a couple of hours, chatting as well with a group of hikers from the Bruce Trail Association. Yash and his wife Tajal, from Toronto, came up the tower to learn about hawk watching, and Tom from Stoney Creek did likewise later in the afternoon. Weather: A cool gray day with late morning light rain for half an hour, and heavier rain in the afternoon for an hour, all in all preventing any kind of decent flight from developing. Raptor Observations: A handful of birds struggled through in between the periods of rain, but nothing of any significance. Non-raptor Observations: A good day for non-raptor species. All of their recently noted migrants, as well as all of the regular resident species, were seen. Four Fox Sparrow continue as well as a very vocal Eastern Towhee. Other interesting species included a singing Ruby-crowned Kinglet, a pair of vocal, Brown-headed Cowbird, and a Yellow-rumped Warbler. Predictions: Temperatures will be much warmer but morning showers might make for a slow start. An afternoon flight is possible and counts to the south indicate significant numbers of Turkey Vulture and Red-tailed Hawk in the pipeline. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Chris Escott ([email protected]) 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!!! -- Ontbirds and Birdnews are moderated email Listservs provided by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) as a service to all birders in Ontario. 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