Morning Report
6:45AM – 10:45PM
Weather: Rain; winds southwest shifting to south @ Beaufort 3 increasing to Bf 5; seas becoming stormy; visibility 20 km dropping to as little as 5 km as the heavier showers moved through. Temps hanging around 3 degrees Celsius
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)
Relatively little activity at the start. Movement increased as wind and rain increased. Flock sizes tended to be small. The combination of a southerly flow and significant rainfall resulted in lots of water on the front window, which adversely affected our ability to spot the birds. Typical of rainy/foggy mornings, migrants tended to follow the coast relatively closely. Blacks appeared to outnumbered Surfs by about 3 to 1. Eider movement was light. As one might expect on a stormy day, parked birds were few (see below).
Seabird counts:
Eastbound 1438, Westbound 80 (standard count periods);
Eastbound 1286, Westbound 64 (rest/break periods)
Species observed over the bay: Common Eider, Black, Surf, and White-winged Scoters, Red-breasted Merganser, Brant, Harlequin and Long-tailed Ducks, Green-winged Teal, Common and Red-throated Loon, Great and Double-crested Cormorant, Black Guillemot, Razorbill, Common Murre, American Herring, Great Black-backed, and Ring-billed Gulls, Black-legged Kittiwake, Northern Gannet
Parked birds: 3 Common Eider, 12 Black Scoter, 7 Harlequin Duck, 1 Common Loon, 2 Black Guillemot, 5 Razorbill
Song Sparrows consumed seed in front of the building. No birds of prey 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
Afternoon Report
From Noon to 4:00 PM
Weather: Rain at times heavy. Beaufort ( Bf) 5 to 4,Winds South, 3 to 4 Deg Celsius and seas whitecaps. Visibility 2 to 5 kim . Tide reversing 3:30pm low tide.
Observers: Paul Martin
During Counts:
Eastbound: 3417 birds
Westbound: 30 Birds
Rest Period Counts
Eastbound 1900 birds
Westbound 2 Birds
Total birds seen East 5317 West 32
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, Brant Geese, Double-crested Cormorant, Northern Gannet, Black Guillemot, Razorbills, Common Merganser and King Eider female.
Parked; King Eider female (1), Common Eider (4), Black Scoter (154), Black Guillemot (3), Razorbills (6), and Brant (1)
4 Song Sparrow, 1 crows, Male Northern Harrier and a seal were seen.
The main species moving today was Long-tailed Duck, Black Scoter, White-winged and Surf 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