Morning Report
6:30AM – 10:30AM
Weather: Cloudy; wind east @ Beaufort 4-5; seas unsettled; visibility 5 to 10km
Observers: Todd Watts
Continuous counting recorded in 15 minute blocks (the standard protocol is 15 minutes of observations followed by 15 minutes of rest)
Strong northeast to east winds produced another in a relatively long string of slow mornings. Other than alcids feeding along the tidelines, parked birds were few.
Seabird counts:
Eastbound 354 Westbound 4 (standard count periods);
Eastbound 272 Westbound 24 (rest/break periods)
Species observed over the bay: Common Eider, Black, Surf, and White-winged Scoters, Red-breasted Merganser, Harlequin and Long-tailed Duck, 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: 63 Surf Scoter, 1 Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Harlequin Duck, 2 Common Loon, 1 Red-throated Loon, 3 Black Guillemot, 27 Razorbill, 4 Common Murre
Two or three Song Sparrows 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
Afternoon Report
From Noon to 4:00 PM
Weather: Cloudy,Beaufort (Bf) 5, Winds North East, 8 Deg Celsius and seas moderate. Visibility 20 km, Tide Receding.
Observers: Paul Martin, Kim McCormick
During Counts:
Eastbound: 284 Birds, Westbound: 13 Birds
Rest Period Counts
Eastbound 22 Birds, Westbound 2 Birds
Total birds seen East 306 West 15
Species observed over the bay:
Common Eider, Black Scoter,Surf Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Loon, Red Throated Loon Black Guillemot, American Herring Gull,Glaucous Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Northern Gannet, Razorbills, Harlequin Duck,Common Murre, Purple Sandpipers and Greater Black Backed Gull.
Parked: Harlequin Duck (1) , Common Loon (1), Double- Crested Cormorant (1) Red-throated Loon (2), Black Guillemot (1), Common Murre (2) and Razorbills (25), Purple Sandpipers (35)
The strong North East winds being Bf 5 but close to Bf 6 made it pretty much non-existent for birds to fly up the bay. A couple of Northern Gannets with their large wing span moved hugging the waves up the coast, and there were a small number of Surf Scoters and Loons moving, but most just parked it and will likely wait for the winds to change. Tomorrow’s forecast is showing SW winds , so hopefully the birds will be moving.
Highlights today was a large Gull which on checking my bird guide to verify was a Glaucous Gull, the Purple Sandpipers zipping through the wind to park it on rocks along the water’s edge and the Alcids out front fishing.
1 lone Song Sparrow and an American Crow , a number of porpoises seen.
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