Morning Report
6:45AM – 10:45AM
Weather: Sunny; winds northwest @ Beaufort 3 shifting to west; moderate swell; visibility 38 km
Observers: Todd Watts, Wendy Smith, Ian Stead
Continuous counting recorded in 15 minute blocks (the standard protocol is 15 minutes of observations followed by 15 minutes of rest)
Fairly steady movement of Surf and Black Scoters. Surfs outnumbered Blacks by about 4 to 1. Birds were near and far.
Seabird counts:
Eastbound 2223, Westbound 27 (standard count periods);
Eastbound 2729, Westbound 59 (rest/break periods)
Species observed over the bay: Common Eider, Black, Surf, and White-winged Scoters, Red-breasted Merganser, Canada Goose, Harlequin, American Black and Long-tailed Ducks, American Wigeon, Greater Scaup, scaup species, Common and Red-throated Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Black Guillemot, Razorbill, American Herring, Great Black-backed, Iceland and Ring-billed Gulls, Northern Gannet, Great Blue Heron
Parked birds: 1 Common Eider, 20 Surf Scoter, 7 Harlequin Duck, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 6 Razorbill
Song and Savannah Sparrows as well as a two Dark-eyed Junco consumed seed in front of the building.
No raptors were observed.
The woods and fields were not explored.
The NB Wildlife Trust Fund and NB Environmental Trust Fund help support this project.
Todd Watts
Official Counter
Point Lepreau Bird Observatory
Saint John Naturalists’ Club
Afternoon Report
From Noon to 4:00 PM
Weather: Partly Cloudy, Beaufort (Bf) 3 to 4, Winds SW to South, 5 to 8 Deg Celsius and seas moderate. Visibility 38 km changing to 20km as storm front moved in. Tide flooding, High tide 2:15pm.
Observers: Paul Martin, Kitty Martin
During Counts:
Eastbound: 4391 birds Westbound: 32Birds
Rest Period Counts
Eastbound 2785 birds Westbound 19 Birds
Total birds seen East 6986 West 51
Species observed over the bay:
Common Eider, Black Scoter, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Long-tailed Duck,Common Loon, Red-throated Loon Black Guillemot, Ring-billed Gull, American Herring Gull, Great Black Backed Gull, Lesser Black Backed Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, American Wigeon, Black Duck, Northern Shoveler, Razorbills, Harlequin Duck,Northern Gannet, Brants, and Purple Sandpiper.
Parked; Common Eider (34), Black Guillemot (2), Razorbills (7), C Harlequin Duck (6) , Common Loon (1), Double- Crested Cormorant (2) Black Scoter (31) and Dark-winged Scoter (20)
2 Song Sparrow Savannah Sparrow, 1 Crow and 1 American Kestrel hovering behind Observatory..
The birds just didn’t stop, they started coming and increased in flocks of 100, 200, 300 and up to 450. Mainly Surf and Black Scoter.
This project is supported with funds provided through the NB Wildlife Trust Fund and the NB Environmental Trust Fund
Paul Martin
Official Counter
Point Lepreau Bird Observatory