SCEP Location: Irving Nature Park
Start time: 6:30 am
High tide: 8:04 am (6.3 m)
Finish time: 11:30 am
Weather:
Start: 6°C, Passing Clouds, Wind 4 km/h North
Finish: 24°C, Sunny with Clouds, Wind 6 km/h NNE
Boardwalk (6:41 am) – 16 species: View full eBird Report
Canada Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, American Black Duck, Solitary Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, American Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Northern Harrier, Bald Eagle, Broad-winged Hawk, Savannah Sparrow, Tree Swallow
East Beach (7:34 am) – 10 species: View full eBird Report
Common Eider, Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, American Herring Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, White-rumped Sandpiper, Sanderling, American Crow
Main Beach (8:40 am) – 10 species: View full eBird Report
Semipalmated Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, American Herring Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Red Knot, Sanderling, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin
Marsh (9:24 am) – 8 species: View full eBird Report
Great Blue Heron, American Herring Gull, Osprey, Canada Goose, American Black Duck, Double-crested Cormorant, Northern Harrier, American Crow, peeps
Mudflats (9:50 am) – 12 species: View full eBird Report
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Black-bellied Plover, American Golden Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Sanderling, Ring-billed Gull, American Herring Gull, Great Blue Heron, Peregrine Falcon, American Crow
Disturbances to Birds:
- Peregrine Falcons made repeated appearances at the Boardwalk, Beach, and Mudflats, chasing peeps.
- Merlin actively pursued peeps in the Marsh and along the Beach.
- Northern Harrier flew low over the Marsh, flushing peeps.
- A Bald Eagle flew along the berm while I was at the Boardwalk; over 75% of the gulls flushed and moved toward the Beach. When I reached the Beach, most gulls were down near Taylor’s Island.
- On East Beach, ~10 American Herring Gulls were close to roosting peeps. On Main Beach, 2 American Herring Gulls were positioned at both sides of the largest Semipalmated Sandpiper roosts.
Notes:
- With High Tide early, only a few people were at the park.
- Three people observed on the Beach.
- All dogs seen were leashed, mostly walked in the park; only one dog was on the Beach, not near birds.
Engagement & Activity:
- People engaged: 3
- Total people on Beach: 3
- Dogs leashed: 5
- Dogs unleashed: 0
- Kites: 0
- Fishermen: 2 (on Beach near flags parking, tide going out)
Counter/Educator: Paul Martin