Report created by Paul Martin, Shorebird Counter and Educator for the Shorebird Conservation and Education Project with the Saint John Naturalists Club.
Start time: 2:15 pm
High tide: 4:48 pm (7.1 m)
Finish time: 7:45 pm
Weather:
Start: 22°C, Cloudy, Wind 20 km/h South
Finish: 17°C, Sunny with Clouds, Wind 7 km/h SW
Boardwalk (2:15 pm) – 12 species: View eBird Report
Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Ring-billed Gull, American Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Northern Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Common Crow
Marsh (3:27 pm) – 13 species: View eBird Report
Canada Goose, Semipalmated Plover, Sanderling, Whimbrel, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Savannah Sparrow, Ring-billed Gull, American Herring Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon
Main Beach (4:12 pm) – 6 species: View eBird Report
Semipalmated Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, American Herring Gull, Double-crested Cormorant
Mudflats (6:10 pm) – 18 species: View eBird Report
American Black Duck, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Spotted Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Sanderling, Lesser Yellowlegs, Ring-billed Gull, American Herring Gull, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Great Black-backed Gull, Peregrine Falcon, American Crow
Disturbances to Birds:
- Peregrine Falcons made appearances at the Boardwalk, Marsh, and Mudflats, chasing peeps.
- Merlin actively pursued Semipalmated Plovers along the river in the Marsh.
- Northern Harrier flew low over peeps, flushing them in the Marsh.
- Some people walking along the beach did not adjust their path and repeatedly scared up peeps.
- A family observed sandpipers, then turned back toward the flags parking lot to avoid disturbing them.
- Another individual tried to go inland to avoid birds, but some peeps landed in his path; he mentioned he did his best to avoid them.
- At the Mudflats, a fisherman set up close to bird activity, deterring ~1000 peeps, which left for Lorneville. Afterward, the fisherman moved to allow the survey to continue.
Notes:
- With woods open, gates are open and more people are going directly into the park, fewer on the beach.
Engagement & Activity:
- People engaged: 16 (many on boardwalk)
- Total people on beach: 14
- Dogs leashed: 3
- Dogs unleashed: 0
- Kites: 0
- Fishermen: 3 (1 at Mudflats, 2 on Main Beach at low tide by flags)
Counter/Educator: Paul Martin
The Shorebird Conservation and Education Project is supported by our funders: the NB Wildlife Trust Fund, the NB Environmental Trust Fund, and Birds Canada.