Shorebird Counter and Educator Report for Friday, September 18, 2026 as part of the Shorebird Conservation and Education Project, located at Irving Nature Park in Saint John, NB.
Conditions:
Start: 02:00 PM
Weather: 18°C, Mostly Clear, Wind 24 W
High Tide: 05:50 PM
End: 07:00 PM
Weather: 12°C, Partly Cloudy, Wind 21 NW
Beach Engagement & Observations:
People Engaged 4
Total People on Beach 11
Dogs Leashed 1
Dogs Unleashed 1
Anglers 1
Monarchs 11
Birds Observed:
Boardwalk
eBird Checklist:
Notes / Comments:
Boardwalk wasn’t surveyed
East Beach
Time 03:48 PM
eBird Checklist Link https://ebird.org/checklist/S394075572
# Species Observed 11
Semipalmated Plover: 388
Spotted Sandpiper: 1
Sanderling: 1
Dunlin: 12
Least Sandpiper: 5
Semipalmated Sandpiper: 972
peep sp.: 300
Ring-billed Gull: 1
American Herring Gull: 2
Double-crested Cormorant: 2
Bald Eagle: 1
American Crow: 1
Notes / Comments:
I spent a fair bit of time on the East Beach today, there was a significant amount of peeps and I stayed to ward off anyone from approaching the area they were roosting in.
Photo Description Peeps on East Beach
Main Beach
Notes / Comments:
Main Beach was not surveyed but a count of people, fishermen and dogs was done.
Marsh
Time 06:46 PM
eBird Checklist Link https://ebird.org/checklist/S394072979
# Species Observed 8
Canada Goose: 22
Mallard: 8
American Black Duck: 60
Greater Yellowlegs: 5
peep sp.: 25
Ring-billed Gull: 1
American Herring Gull: 1
Double-crested Cormorant: 80
Great Blue Heron: 1
Notes / Comments:
I surveyed the marsh from the parking lot while waiting for coworker to pick up the signs for the weekend.
Mudflats
Time 02:35 PM
eBird Checklist Link https://ebird.org/checklist/S394074981
# Species Observed 13
Common Eider: 7
Black-bellied Plover: 7
Semipalmated Plover: 13
Marbled Godwit: 1
peep sp.: 25
Bonaparte’s Gull: 2
Ring-billed Gull: 126
American Herring Gull: 75
Caspian Tern: 2
Double-crested Cormorant: 58
Great Blue Heron: 6
Turkey Vulture: 1
Northern Harrier: 2
American Crow: 2
Notes / Comments (Mudflats):
The Tidal Flats (mudflats) didn’t have a good number of peeps but there were 2 Caspian Terns and this Godwit that is either a Hudsonian or a Marbled. I say Marbled because of the picture of the lifted wings , the colour matches a Marbled and then the size of the Godwit compared to the gulls nearby.
Photo Description Godwit and Caspian Terns
Overall Report Comments or Notes:
Today was the last day at the park for field work, for the next couple of weeks I will be compiling data from the last month and a half of the results of birds, birds preying on the peeps, people on the beach and the tides and weather.
Today the main area of abundance for peeps was the East Beach, there were no birds of prey aggressive on the beach, just one Bald Eagle out over the bay and gulls out on the bay. The difference between the East Beach and the Main Beach with the Merlins, Peregrines and Gulls was huge. I also noted flocks of peeps continuing past McLarens Point and heading towards Saint John.
Submitted by 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.