Shorebird Counter and Educator Report for Monday, August 17, 2026 as part of the Shorebird Conservation and Education Project:
Conditions:
Start: 02:00 PM
Weather: 17°C, Overcast, Wind 18 SSW
High Tide: 04:09 PM
End: 07:00 PM
Weather: 17°C, Overcast, Wind 17 SW
Beach Engagement & Observations:
People Engaged 3
Total People on Beach 6
Dogs Leashed 0
Dogs Unleashed 2
Anglers 0
Other The day started with showers, on both beaches, changing to intermittent drizzle on main beach, and starting to have showers again on mudflats
Birds Observed:
Boardwalk
Notes / Comments:
Due to time constraints and walking East Beach, Boardwalk was not done today.
East Beach
Time 02:30 PM
eBird Checklist Link https://ebird.org/checklist/S384506006
# Species Observed 5
Notes / Comments:
There was a lady walking her dog, unleashed, I stopped to talk to her, she said she enjoyed the sandpipers, but refused to put her dog on a lead, that the beach is public and she doesn’t have to follow any rules on it. I just tried to encourage her to choose to walk her dog at low tide when the birds would be feeding at mudflats. There was a small number of Semipalmated Plovers up at the end of the East Beach, I saw a small flock of peeps flying high up over the beach and when I went back and started the main beach a huge number of peeps (SESA’s) were heading toward the East Beach.
Main Beach
Time 03:09 PM
eBird Checklist Link https://ebird.org/checklist/S384506510
# Species Observed 7
Notes / Comments:
There was a significant change in the number of birds on the cobble today, the Least Sandpipers were more evident and there was approx 800 Semipalmated Sandpipers on the beach, but the American Herring Gulls were harassing them and they finally kicked up with approximately 700 flying towards the East Beach and about 100 flying toward Magawagonish Island. The Semipalmated Plovers were dug into the sand , likely due to strong winds.
Marsh
Time 04:06 PM
eBird Checklist Link https://ebird.org/checklist/S384507346
# Species Observed 24
Notes / Comments:
The main species seen in the marsh was the Least Sandpiper, mainly hiding in the grasses and up at the far end of the marsh a number of Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs were noted. The Northern Harrier was aggressive towards both the Yellowlegs, Black-belly Plovers, and the peeps stirring them up from resting.
Mudflats
Time 05:17 PM
eBird Checklist Link https://ebird.org/checklist/S384508678
# Species Observed 19
Notes / Comments (Mudflats):
The Black-bellied Plovers had a significant presence on the mudflats , and the peeps have increased but would not settle due to the Peregrine Falcon, Northern Harrier and Merlin that were aggressively hunting over the mudflats.
Overall Report Comments or Notes:
It wasn’t a very pleasant day, rain, wind and difficulty with visibility.
Very few people on the beach but that’s likely good news for the birds, there is definitely an increase in peep numbers. The forecast for most of this week is precipitation, so people numbers should be down.
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.