Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 15, 2025 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 63 309 309 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 20 20 Northern Harrier 0 5 5 Sharp-shinned Hawk 9 22 22 Cooper's Hawk 1 17 18 American Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 7 34 34 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 24 140 140 Rough-legged Hawk 1 2 2 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 0 0 0 Merlin 0 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Accipitrine 0 2 2 Unknown Buteo 0 1 1 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 105 553 554 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours Official Counter: Phil Waggett Observers: Joedy Groulx, Wylan Clitheroe Visitors: Joedy Groulx helped with the spotting during the first hour of the hawkwatch. In the afternoon, Antti Tuomala, a local birder, dropped in to the tower for a few hours. Weather: The hawkwatch was interrupted for 3 hours between 9am and noon due to strong rain as a storm system passed through Beamer; skies were mostly overcast for most of the day. Winds were very strong out of the south for the entire day, likely pushing many migrating raptors below the escarpment where they weren't observable at Beamer. Temperatures were quite mild reaching 10 degrees. Raptor Observations: Raptors fought their way west at tree-top height for most of the day. A good mix of turkey vultures, buteos, and sharp-shins today. Local TV's and red-tails were active. Anecdotally, when I left the hawkwatch and proceeded below the escarpment at Fifty Road, I counted 28 TV's and 3 redtails from the escarpment to the QEW reflecting I suspect many raptors that migrated below the escarpment. Non-raptor Observations: Quite a few passerines moving around in the strong south winds, primarily blackbirds and robins. Three killdeers and two bluebirds were noted. Also seen were a group of 4 ravens. A single great blue heron also flew through the hawkwatch. Predictions: A probable washout as rain is forecasted to last all day tomorrow. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Phillip Waggett (philip waggett <philipwaggett@hotmail.com>) 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. &copy;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!!!