Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area (06 May 2026) 3 Raptors
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rep...@hawkcount.org
May 6, 2026, 5:02:28 PM (7 days ago) May 6
to hamilt...@googlegroups.com
Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS
Visitors:
Whilst waiting for the fog to clear, I joined Mike McLeod on a walk towards the quarry - he found most of the warblers. Otherwise, a few hikers and dog-walkers in the park in the two fog-free hours.
Weather:
Fog and drizzle until 10.30am, when the cloud began to lift. Mostly cloudy with occasional light NW winds. Cool, with occasional warmth when the clouds thinned. Around 1pm cloud cover increased, fog descended again, and rain started at 1.30pm.
Raptor Observations:
Only three migrant raptors, one each of Sharp-shinned, Broad-winged and Red-tailed Hawks, during the midday hour. Six or seven local Turkey Vultures got airborne after 10.30am, and made a couple of circuits. The local male Coopers Hawk appeared once giving a good display west of the tower, and a Merlin, presumed to be local, flew from the quarry into the woods to the west.
Non-raptor Observations:
Lots of song despite the morning's fog. Blue-headed Vireo, Ovenbird, Black and White Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, and Nashville Warbler are possibly new, and the Brown Thrasher was very vocal and eventually showed nicely. Over thirty White-throated sparrows were enjoying the seed.
Predictions:
The morning's forecast is for dry conditions and light winds, showers in the afternoon, so the flight should be better than today.
Report submitted by Simon Carter ()
Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area information may be found at: http://nphawkwatch.ca/
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
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!!!
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS
| Daily Raptor Counts: May 06, 2026 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Turkey Vulture | 0 | 82 | 6731 |
| Osprey | 0 | 3 | 43 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 3 | 81 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 5 | 50 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 1 | 35 | 946 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 0 | 3 | 129 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 0 | 0 | 357 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 1 | 49 | 2500 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 1 | 16 | 518 |
| 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: | 3 | 198 | 11499 |
| Observation start time: | 11:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 13:15:00 |
| Total observation time: | 2.25 hours |
| Official Counter | Simon Carter |
| Observers: |
Visitors:
Whilst waiting for the fog to clear, I joined Mike McLeod on a walk towards the quarry - he found most of the warblers. Otherwise, a few hikers and dog-walkers in the park in the two fog-free hours.
Weather:
Fog and drizzle until 10.30am, when the cloud began to lift. Mostly cloudy with occasional light NW winds. Cool, with occasional warmth when the clouds thinned. Around 1pm cloud cover increased, fog descended again, and rain started at 1.30pm.
Raptor Observations:
Only three migrant raptors, one each of Sharp-shinned, Broad-winged and Red-tailed Hawks, during the midday hour. Six or seven local Turkey Vultures got airborne after 10.30am, and made a couple of circuits. The local male Coopers Hawk appeared once giving a good display west of the tower, and a Merlin, presumed to be local, flew from the quarry into the woods to the west.
Non-raptor Observations:
Lots of song despite the morning's fog. Blue-headed Vireo, Ovenbird, Black and White Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, and Nashville Warbler are possibly new, and the Brown Thrasher was very vocal and eventually showed nicely. Over thirty White-throated sparrows were enjoying the seed.
Predictions:
The morning's forecast is for dry conditions and light winds, showers in the afternoon, so the flight should be better than today.
Report submitted by Simon Carter ()
Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area information may be found at: http://nphawkwatch.ca/
More information at hawkcount.org: [Site Profile] [Day Summary] [Month Summary]
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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