Morning Report
7:00AM – 11:00AM
Weather: Dense Fog and a few showers followed by partial clearing; wind southwest @ Beaufort 3 shifting to west while backing off to Bf 2; seas had moderate swell before becoming relatively calm; visibility less than 1 km, moving out to 38 km toward the end of the session
Observers: Todd Watts
Continuous counting recorded in 15 minute blocks (the standard protocol is 15 minutes of observations followed by 15 minutes of rest)
Seabird counts:
Eastbound 573 Westbound 48 (standard count periods);
Eastbound 383 Westbound 32 (rest/break periods)
Species observed over the bay: Common Eider, Black, Surf, and White-winged Scoters, Red-breasted Merganser, Harlequin and Long-tailed Ducks, Common and Red-throated Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Black Guillemot, Razorbill, Common Murre, American Herring, Great Black-backed, Iceland and Ring-billed Gulls, Northern Gannet
Parked birds: 9 Common Eider, 3 Common Loon, 3 Red-throated Loon, 3 Black Guillemot, 10 Razorbill, 1 Common Murre
Light activity diminishing through the period. A Red-throated Loon was the last migrant of the day. A fitting end of the season for this observer.
Two Song Sparrows consumed seed in front of the building.
A Merlin was 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: Cloudy to clear weather, Beaufort (Bf) 2 to 4, Winds South West, 7 to 11 Deg Celsius and seas Moderate, Tide Flooding
Observers: Paul Martin
During Counts:
Eastbound: 494 Birds, Westbound: 99 Birds
Total birds seen East 501 West 104
Species observed over the bay:
Common Eider, Black Scoter,Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Common Loon, Red-throated Loon, Black Guillemot, American Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Northern Gannet, Razorbills, Black-legged Kittiwake, and Greater Black Backed Gull.
Parked; Common Eider (5), Common Loon (2), Double-Crested Cormorant (1) Red-throated Loon (1), Black Guillemot (4), Northern Gannet (1), and Razorbills (4)
At the beginning of my count I had a nice size flock of White-winged Scoter and then it just slowed down with sporadic movement. After 3pm some loon movement but not in large numbers. Yesterday was amazing, today was slow but there was still some birds to see and count.
2 Song Sparrow at the seed, the pair of Tree Swallows using the house on the observatory were active diving for insects, we had a Barn Swallow show up but continued East along the shoreline.
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