Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
OVER 50 YEARS Of ANNUAL SPRING COUNTS
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 23, 2025
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Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 246 2132 2132
Osprey 0 1 1
Bald Eagle 3 40 40
Northern Harrier 1 10 10
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 103 103
Cooper's Hawk 1 38 39
American Goshawk 0 0 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 2 208 208
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 0
Red-tailed Hawk 5 359 359
Rough-legged Hawk 0 6 6
Golden Eagle 2 3 3
American Kestrel 0 3 3
Merlin 0 2 2
Peregrine Falcon 0 2 2
Unknown Accipitrine 0 2 2
Unknown Buteo 0 12 12
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 2 2
Total: 260 2923 2924
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Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 7.67 hours
Official Counter: Carol Teed, Deena Errampalli
Observers: Alicia Dobson, Bob Curry, Carol Teed, Dave Don,
Glenda Slessor, Lyn Hanna-Folkes
Visitors:
Tyler from 88.5 The Lake CKLK FM, the local radio station; Adam, Monika,
Axel, Isla, Lily, August, April, and Tim, and sorry we did not get the name
of the town they were from. E and Ted from Grimsby.
Thanks to the excellent observers for helping with the count: Alicia Dobson
(1.75 hours), Lyn Folks (1.75 hours), Dave Don (1.3 hours), Bob Curry (1
hour), and Glenda Slessor (1 hour).
Weather:
It was a cloudy day. The cloud cover increased from 25- 50% and cleared to
10% around 11 a.m. Then, from 1 pm to 4 pm, there was 90 % cloud cover. The
temperature was between -1C and 2C with 14 -20 km/hr east-northeast wind.
The wind chill made it very uncomfortable at times. The visibility was
10-14 km.
Raptor Observations:
We were happy to see 260 raptors: predominantly turkey vultures, followed
by red-tailed hawks. Three bald eagles, including an adult, flew over the
tower and gave us good views. It was our lucky day to see two golden
eagles. In the last hour, we counted six Turkey Vultures only.
Non-raptor Observations:
Local Cooperâs Hawk made territorial calls. The local turkey vultures and
red-tailed Hawks flew around. Six unidentified ducks flew toward the Lake,
and two ravens flew east. 12 gulls, including Ring-billed (calls), flew
over the tower. The passerines include 20 American Robin, 12 Dark-eyed
Junco, a pair of Fox Sparrow, a White-throated Sparrow, a pair of Song
Sparrow, many Common Grackle, and a pair of White-breasted Nuthatch.
Predictions:
The weather forecast for tomorrow is a mix of sun and clouds, with a 40
percent chance of showers. The wind is southwest at 40 km/h, gusting to 70.
The high will be 7 C, falling to 5C in the afternoon. The conditions look
favourable for raptor migration
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Report submitted by Deena Errampalli (deenaerrampa...@bell.net)
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. ©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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