Report created by Erin Brown, Shorebird Counter and Public Educator for the Shorebird Conservation and Education Project with the Saint John Naturalists Club.
Public Engagement
- There were 17 people on the beach during the shift and 1 was approached particularly because he was walking through the birds. He seemed interested in the birds but was unwilling to change his walking pattern.
- 2 leashed dogs were observed on the beach.
Counts
Saints Rest – Main Beach
- 859 “peeps” were counted roosting on the beach. Most were higher up the beach rather than being close to the water.
- Other birds included 7 Gulls.
Saints Rest – East Beach
- A much larger number of shorebirds were observed here than is usually present. 859 shorebirds were counted including 5 “peeps,” 790 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 60 Semipalmated Plovers, and 4 Sanderlings.
- Other birds included 2 Peregrine Falcons, 5 Common Eiders, and 1 Common Loon.
Flats
- An estimate of peeps feeding across the mud flats was 2,185.
- 3 Black Bellied Plovers were counted.
- Other birds included: 215 Gulls, 23 Cormorants, 4 Great Blue Herons, 1 Peregrine Falcon, 1 Common Eider, and 5 unidentified ducks (too distant).
Pocket Beaches
- A: No shorebirds observed.
- B: No shorebirds observed.
- C: No shorebirds observed.
- D: 8 Semipalmated Plovers.
- Beach between D and E: 3 Semipalmated Plovers and 1 Spotted Sandpiper.
- E: 1 Semipalmated Plover.
- Seal Cove Inaccessible Beaches: 13 Semipalmated Plovers and 1 Spotted Sandpiper.
Marsh
- Only 12 “peeps” were seen flying down the marsh. It seems most had already gone to the beach.
- Other birds counted included 6 Crows, 3 Great Blue Herons, 11 Gulls, 1 Great Egret, 7 Cormorants, and 12 Savannah Sparrows.
This project was made possible with the support from our funders at the Environment and Climate Change Canada. We would like to thank our partners at Irving Nature Park and NatureNB.