Jim Wilson conducted a four-hour migration count at the Point Lepreau Bird Observatory between 8:25 AM and 12:25 PM today to begin the Observatory’s spring migration season for the 31st year of continuous operation.
The morning was sunny with a stiff northwest wind and temperature of -2C.
There was a trickle of migration moving east up the Bay, with 236 birds counted. A total of 57 birds flew in the opposite direction.
Species seen during 15-minute counting intervals included Black Scoter (the most numerous), Common Loon, Great Cormorant, Common Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, White-winged Scoter, Harlequin (6), Long-tailed Duck,
Black Guillemot and Razorbill. A single young Bald Eagle represented the raptors. The largest migrating sea duck flock was 75 Black Scoters; all the other migrants were in much smaller groups.
A group of about 40 Purple Sandpipers fed on the rocks at the tip of the Point until the rising tide covered the rocks and they moved away.
The observatory will be staffed by volunteers from today to Thursday, March 26th. Official Counters Todd Watts (mornings) and Paul Martin (afternoons) will begin work each weekday from March 27 to May 7th with volunteers covering weekends during that period. Volunteers will also cover the final two days of the spring period, May 8 and 9.