Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS
Daily Raptor Counts: May 04, 2026
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 2
Turkey Vulture 30 78 6727
Osprey 0 2 42
Bald Eagle 0 2 80
Northern Harrier 1 5 50
Sharp-shinned Hawk 18 30 941
Cooper's Hawk 2 3 129
American Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 357
Broad-winged Hawk 10 42 2493
Red-tailed Hawk 4 10 512
Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 7
Golden Eagle 0 0 7
American Kestrel 0 1 42
Merlin 0 0 6
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 5
Unknown Accipitrine 0 0 12
Unknown Buteo 0 1 28
Unknown Falcon 0 0 1
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 34
Total: 65 174 11475
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Observation start time: 07:30:00
Observation end time: 16:15:00
Total observation time: 8.75 hours
Official Counter: John Stevens
Observers: Bouwe Bergsma, John Blanchard, Marco D, Markus Legzdins,
Susan Fraser
Visitors:
Donna from near Palo Alto, California who was visiting before heading to
Pelee on a tour.
Weather:
Clear and warm although with quite strong southwesterly winds that gusted
throughout the count period. High aircraft traffic left numerous
contrails, often from horizon to horizon.
Raptor Observations:
Resident CH and RT active early in the day with TVs active after 9 EST. PF
made a close pass to the tower from north before heading east and later
returning to the west, so never counted. Brown NH went east at 8:01 EST,
later brown NH went west about 11:45 EST then one went east about 11:55
EST. Only recorded one bird.
Non-raptor Observations:
One each of Great Blue Heron, Baltimore Oriole and Sandhill Crane. Few
warblers or other dickey birds in the woods.
Predictions:
Not promising weather as showers or rain are forecast throughout the day.
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Report submitted by John Stevens ([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!!!
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