Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area (15 Mar 2026) 166 Raptors
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rep...@hawkcount.org
Mar 15, 2026, 7:52:10 PMMar 15
to hamilt...@googlegroups.com
Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS
Visitors:
Thanks to Marcos D. (3 hours) and Joedy Girolx (2.25 hours) for spotting and identifying the raptors, especially between 12 noon -2 pm, when, at times, the raptors flew in quick succession. Other visitors include Rob from Grimsby; Rachel and Cameron from Hamilton; three visitors from Hamilton; two from Grimsby,E and Ted from Grimsby; Maggie from Orillia; Anna from Guelph stopped by. Some stayed for a bit and watched the Raptors. It is the beginning of March break, and so, a few young people, along with their parents, visited the tower.
Weather:
In the morning, there was snow followed by ice pellets. So, the raptor count began at 11:45 am. It was a cloudy day, but visibility was good. No precipitation in the afternoon. The temperature ranged between 3C and 6C with 24km/hr east-northeast wind. The wind chill made it uncomfortable at times. The visibility was 10-14 km.
Raptor Observations:
We were happy to see 166 raptors in less than four hours: predominantly Turkey Vultures, followed by Red-shouldered Hawks. One mature Bald Eagle flew west of the tower and gave us good views. In the last 30 minutes, only two Turkey Vultures and one red-shouldered Hawk were counted.
Non-raptor Observations:
Two local Cooper’s Hawks made rounds. The local Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed Hawks flew around. Two Great Blue Herons and 17 Red-breasted Mergansers flew toward the Lake. The passerines, including 10 American Robins, 16 Dark-eyed Juncos, a pair of Song Sparrows, many Common Grackles, a Downy Woodpecker, and a Red-bellied Woodpecker, were heard or seen.
Predictions:
Showers are forecasted tomorrow. Wind southwest 50 km/h gusting to 80. High 16 with temperature falling to plus 2 in the afternoon. Today, the Derby Hill Bird Observatory (USA/NY) had 495 raptors. With the raptors in the pipeline, and the prediction of southwest winds, and temperatures in the teens, the conditions look favourable for raptor migration tomorrow.
Report submitted by Deena Errampalli (deenaer...@bell.net)
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 15, 2026 | |||
| Species | Day's Count | Month Total | Season Total |
| Black Vulture | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Turkey Vulture | 76 | 523 | 531 |
| Osprey | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bald Eagle | 0 | 18 | 18 |
| Northern Harrier | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| Sharp-shinned Hawk | 0 | 11 | 11 |
| Cooper's Hawk | 2 | 26 | 26 |
| American Goshawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | 66 | 141 | 141 |
| Broad-winged Hawk | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 16 | 70 | 70 |
| Rough-legged Hawk | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Golden Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| American Kestrel | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Merlin | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Peregrine Falcon | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Accipitrine | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Unknown Buteo | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Unknown Falcon | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Eagle | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Raptor | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| Total: | 166 | 813 | 822 |
| Observation start time: | 11:45:00 |
| Observation end time: | 15:30:00 |
| Total observation time: | 3.75 hours |
| Official Counter | Deena Errampalli |
| Observers: | Joedy Groulx |
Visitors:
Thanks to Marcos D. (3 hours) and Joedy Girolx (2.25 hours) for spotting and identifying the raptors, especially between 12 noon -2 pm, when, at times, the raptors flew in quick succession. Other visitors include Rob from Grimsby; Rachel and Cameron from Hamilton; three visitors from Hamilton; two from Grimsby,E and Ted from Grimsby; Maggie from Orillia; Anna from Guelph stopped by. Some stayed for a bit and watched the Raptors. It is the beginning of March break, and so, a few young people, along with their parents, visited the tower.
Weather:
In the morning, there was snow followed by ice pellets. So, the raptor count began at 11:45 am. It was a cloudy day, but visibility was good. No precipitation in the afternoon. The temperature ranged between 3C and 6C with 24km/hr east-northeast wind. The wind chill made it uncomfortable at times. The visibility was 10-14 km.
Raptor Observations:
We were happy to see 166 raptors in less than four hours: predominantly Turkey Vultures, followed by Red-shouldered Hawks. One mature Bald Eagle flew west of the tower and gave us good views. In the last 30 minutes, only two Turkey Vultures and one red-shouldered Hawk were counted.
Non-raptor Observations:
Two local Cooper’s Hawks made rounds. The local Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed Hawks flew around. Two Great Blue Herons and 17 Red-breasted Mergansers flew toward the Lake. The passerines, including 10 American Robins, 16 Dark-eyed Juncos, a pair of Song Sparrows, many Common Grackles, a Downy Woodpecker, and a Red-bellied Woodpecker, were heard or seen.
Predictions:
Showers are forecasted tomorrow. Wind southwest 50 km/h gusting to 80. High 16 with temperature falling to plus 2 in the afternoon. Today, the Derby Hill Bird Observatory (USA/NY) had 495 raptors. With the raptors in the pipeline, and the prediction of southwest winds, and temperatures in the teens, the conditions look favourable for raptor migration tomorrow.
Report submitted by Deena Errampalli (deenaer...@bell.net)
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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