Morning Report
7:15AM – 11:15AM
Weather: Sunny; winds SW @ Beaufort 3 dropping to Bf2; seas unsettled becoming calm toward the end of the period; visibility 30+km
Observers: Todd Watts, Susan O’Brien
Continuous counting recorded in 15 minute blocks (the standard protocol is 15 minutes of observations followed by 15 minutes of rest)
Mostly smaller groups of migrants today. Black Scoter accounted for more than 90% of the scoters. Relatively few gulls were observed.
Seabird counts:
Eastbound 695, Westbound 86 (standard count periods);
Eastbound 965, Westbound 84 (rest/break periods)
Species observed over the bay: Common Eider, Black, Surf, and White-winged Scoters, Red-breasted Merganser, Brant, Harlequin, American Black, Wood and Long-tailed Ducks, Common and Red-throated Loon, Black Guillemot, Razorbill, Red-necked Grebe, American Herring, Great Black-backed, and Ring-billed Gulls, Northern Gannet, Purple Sandpiper, American Kestrel
Parked birds: 8 Common Eider, 195 Black Scoter, 10 Surf Scoter, 13 Harlequin Duck, 1 Common Loon, 3 Razorbill
Raptors observed today included an American Kestrel arriving from the water (likely Grand Manan) and a male Northern Harrier that took a shot at five Song Sparrows consuming seed in from of the building.
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: clear to start and clouding over around 2pm ,Beaufort ( Bf) 3 , 3 Deg Celcuis and moderate swell. Visibility 38 kim . Tide was Incoming with High Tide 4:30pm.
Observers: Paul Martin
During Counts:
Eastbound: 881 birds
Westbound: 26 Birds
Rest Period Counts
Eastbound 47 birds Westbound 38 Birds
Total birds seen East 928 West 64
Species observed over the bay:
Common Eider, Black Scoter, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Harlequin Duck, Long-tailed Duck,Common Loon, Black Guillemot, Razorbill, Ring-billed Gull, American Herring Gull, Iceland Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Horned Grebe, Northern Gannet, Brant Goose, and Purple Sandpipers
4 Song Sparrow by the seed, 3 crows flying nearby and a couple of porpoises and a seal were seen.
The first part of the day was very quiet with only 10 to 20 birds per count cycle (15 minutes) then around 2:30pm the weather began to change as a front was moving in and bird movement began to take place.
Note; After my shift , while closing up the observatory I saw more flocks of birds than I did all day ,with a large flock of Brant geese numbering 140 plus over 500 scoters and 200 eiders. This movement is directly before the weather turned from clear to snow.
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