Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area (25 Mar 2026) 1285 Raptors
40 views
Skip to first unread message
rep...@hawkcount.org
Mar 25, 2026, 8:24:19 PM (11 days ago) Mar 25
to hamilt...@googlegroups.com
Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS
Visitors:
Many visitors passed through and helped out for a few hours, John H spent most of the day counting hundreds of vultures passing well south with his scope. Dave Archibell and Marco both spent a few hours with us.
Weather:
The day started with fairly clear skies and temps of 2 degrees C and a very light south wind. The wind gradually picked up and shifted throughout the the day to the East and then North. By 2pm clouds had moved in and the sun was gone.
Raptor Observations:
A good day for raptors with over 1200 counted. Majority TV, but over 100 each Red-shouldered and Red-tailed hawks. Many of the vultures were seen using a spotting scope and counting a very steady flight well to the south. 5 Bald eagles were seen, 3 adult, one juvenile, and one 4th yr.
Non-raptor Observations:
3 Great blue herons and one small flock of tundra swans.
Predictions:
Rain is in the forecast, although there may be a short window in the morning before it arrives.
Report submitted by John Blanchard (John.Bl...@treehousefoods.com)
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: Mar 25, 2026 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 1043 | 2135 | 2143 |
| Osprey | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Bald Eagle | 5 | 35 | 35 |
| Northern Harrier | 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 12 | 30 | 30 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 7 | 37 | 37 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 100 | 336 | 336 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 104 | 208 | 208 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| American Kestrel | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Merlin | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Unknown Buteo | 9 | 12 | 12 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Total: | 1285 | 2828 | 2837 |
| Observation start time: | 08:00:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:00:00 |
| Total observation time: | 7 hours |
| Official Counter | John Blanchard |
| Observers: | Gianpiero Tondina, Jean Iron, Katherine Stoltz, Shannon Hingston, Susan Fraser |
Visitors:
Many visitors passed through and helped out for a few hours, John H spent most of the day counting hundreds of vultures passing well south with his scope. Dave Archibell and Marco both spent a few hours with us.
Weather:
The day started with fairly clear skies and temps of 2 degrees C and a very light south wind. The wind gradually picked up and shifted throughout the the day to the East and then North. By 2pm clouds had moved in and the sun was gone.
Raptor Observations:
A good day for raptors with over 1200 counted. Majority TV, but over 100 each Red-shouldered and Red-tailed hawks. Many of the vultures were seen using a spotting scope and counting a very steady flight well to the south. 5 Bald eagles were seen, 3 adult, one juvenile, and one 4th yr.
Non-raptor Observations:
3 Great blue herons and one small flock of tundra swans.
Predictions:
Rain is in the forecast, although there may be a short window in the morning before it arrives.
Report submitted by John Blanchard (John.Bl...@treehousefoods.com)
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!!!
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages