Report created by Paul Martin, Shorebird Counter and Educator for the Shorebird Conservation and Education Project with the Saint John Naturalists Club.
Start time: 7:30 am
High tide: 10:10 am
Finish time: 1:15 pm
Weather:
Start 9°C, broken clouds, wind 0 km/h N
Finish 20°C, partly sunny skies, wind 7 km/h WSW
Boardwalk (7:00 am) View eBird Report
Birds (23 species): Canada Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, American Black Duck, Merlin, Common Eider, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Ring-billed Gull, American Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Belted Kingfisher, American Crow, Savannah Sparrow
Wildlife: 2 White-tailed Deer
Marsh (8:00 am) View eBird Report
Birds (19 species): Canada Goose, Mallard, American Black Duck, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Spotted Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, American Herring Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Northern Harrier, American Crow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow
Main Beach (9:40 am) View eBird Report
Birds (7 species): Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Osprey, Red-throated Loon, American Herring Gull, Double-crested Cormorant
Mudflats (10:45 am) View eBird Report
Birds (16 species): Common Eider, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Ring-billed Gull, American Herring Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Bald Eagle, Belted Kingfisher, Red-throated Loon, Common Loon, Osprey, Savannah Sparrow, Great Blue Heron
Wildlife: 4 Eastern Coyotes
We had 8 students and 2 professors from the Maritime College of Forest Technology with us for the entire day. It was a good outing. Hank Scarth came along to help instruct on the process for the bird surveys. While out on the mudflats, one of the students spotted a coyote, and on further viewing a small pack was observed moving along the opposite shore towards the Marsh.
Due to the fire ban, Irving Nature Park restricted vehicle passage to the parking lot outside of the gate to Taylor’s Island. People were allowed to use the trails at their own risk.
- People engaged: 17
- Total people on beach: 12
- Dogs leashed: 3
- Dogs unleashed: 0
- Kites: 0
- Fishermen: 1 (seen heading into the mudflats as tide was receding)
Counter/Educator: Paul Martin
The Shorebird Conservation and Education Project is supported by our funders: the NB Wildlife Trust Fund, the NB Environmental Trust Fund, and Birds Canada.