Report created by Paul Martin, Shorebird Counter and Educator for the Shorebird Conservation and Education Project with the Saint John Naturalists Club.
Start time: 11:25 am
High tide: 1:34 pm (8.2 m)
Finish time: 4:45 pm
Weather:
Start: 19°C, Cloudy, Wind 4 km/h North
Finish: 20°C, Sunny with Clouds, Wind 17 km/h SSW
East Beach (11:29 am) View eBird Report
Birds – 4 species: Semipalmated Plover, American Herring Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Bald Eagle
Main Beach (12:52 pm) View eBird Report
Birds – 8 species: Buff-breasted Sandpiper, White-rump Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, American Herring Gull, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin
Marsh (1:39 pm) View eBird Report
Birds – 21 species: Canada Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, American Black Duck, Common Eider, Semipalmated Plover, Whimbrel, Greater Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, American Herring Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, American Crow, Savannah Sparrow
Mudflats (2:43 pm) View eBird Report
Birds – 12 species: American Golden Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, American Herring Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Common Raven, American Crow
Disturbances to Birds
- Marsh: Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, and Northern Harrier were all active. Two Osprey were present, flying low over the marsh. With an 8.2 m tide, much of the marsh was flooded.
- East Beach: Three unleashed dogs were along the stretch of beach. All owners leashed them after I explained the issue and were apologetic. Few birds were present other than a flock of 50 that moved to the Main Beach. A Bald Eagle moved between the two beaches.
- Main Beach: Peregrines persistently chased the birds before and during high tide. A Merlin was perched on a branch at the edge of the beach eating a peep. One unleashed dog chased birds; the fisherman tried talking to the owner but she ignored them and left when she saw me, without leashing the dog.
- Fishermen: 4 in total. One was off a good distance from the cobble (bagging cutbait refuse, keeping line low). The other 3 were bagging cutbait, lowering lines when birds flew nearby, and were beside but not on top of the cobble. (I feel this is the best compromise and thanked them for their efforts.) They were there all day.
- Walkers: Some walked through the birds, but when they saw me they turned around. (Makes me think we are like scarecrows to the walkers.)
- Mudflats: Peregrines gave a steady chase to the peeps. I witnessed one eating a SESA on the beach. There were a number of seals around also.
There was a good number of visitors to the beach today, many bird watchers, likely due to the high tide cycle.
People Engaged: 14
Total People on Beach: 17
Dogs leashed: 2
Dogs unleashed: 5
Kites: 0
Fishermen: 4 – 3 close to cobble and 1 sitting off closer to flags, all willing to be helpful about cutbait and lowering lines for passing birds
Counter/Educator: Paul Martin
The Shorebird Conservation and Education Project is supported by our funders at the NB Wildlife Trust Fund, the NB Environmental Trust Fund and Birds Canada.