Report created by Paul Martin, Shorebird Counter and Educator for the Shorebird Conservation and Education Project with the Saint John Naturalists Club.
Start time: 12:30 PM (Had to pick up signs at Hanks)
High tide: 2:09 PM (7.6 m)
Finish time: 5:00 PM
Weather:
Start: 20°C, Light Rain, Wind 11 km/h SSE
Finish: 19°C, Rain, Wind 9 km/h S
Observations
Boardwalk (12:24 PM) – 10 species – View full eBird Checklist
Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Bonaparte’s Gull, Ring-billed Gull, American Herring Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, American Crow, Savannah Sparrow
Marsh (1:01 PM) – 11 species – View full eBird Checklist
American Black Duck, Black-bellied Plover, Ruddy Turnstone, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, American Herring Gull, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, Great Blue Heron, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow
Main Beach (1:58 PM) – 10 species – View full eBird Checklist
Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Baird’s Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, American Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Peregrine Falcon, American Crow
Mudflats (3:40 PM) – 11 species – View full eBird Checklist
American Black Duck, Double-crested Cormorant, Red Knot, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, American Herring Gull, Peregrine Falcon, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret
Disturbances to Birds:
Woman walked through birds on beach, then diverted to road when she noticed me.
Dog running on beach.
Peregrine on beach.
Gulls close to shore flying over beach.
Raccoon tracks observed on beach.
Other Wildlife:
Harbour Seal at mudflats, out on the bay near the opposite bank.
Park Notes:
Due to fire ban, Irving Nature Park restricted vehicle passage to the parking lot outside the Taylor’s Island gate. Trails remained open for use at visitors’ own risk.
Engagement & Human Activity:
People engaged: 14
Total people on beach: 9
Dogs leashed: 1
Dogs unleashed: 2
Kites: 0
Fishermen: 1 (at mudflats)
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.