Shorebird Counter and Educator Report for Tuesday, September 1, 2026 as part of the Shorebird Conservation and Education Project, located at Irving Nature Park in Saint John, NB.
Conditions:
Start: 01:30 PM
Weather: 21°C, Mostly Clear, Wind 10 NE
High Tide: 03:16 PM
End: 06:30 PM
Weather: 19°C, Partly Cloudy, Wind 8 NE
Beach Engagement & Observations:
People Engaged in Park 18
Total People on Beach 8
Dogs Leashed 4
Dogs Unleashed 1
Anglers 2
Monarchs 7
Birds Observed:
Boardwalk
Time 01:42 PM
eBird Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S388988295
# Species Observed 11
Black-bellied Plover 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 5
Greater Yellowlegs 4
American Herring Gull 1
Double-crested Cormorant 16
Great Egret 2
Great Blue Heron 7
Osprey 1
Northern Harrier 1
Merlin 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Notes / Comments:
There were very few peeps flying.
Main Beach
Time 03:50 PM
eBird Checklist Link https://ebird.org/checklist/S388989432
# Species Observed 10
Semipalmated Plover 124
Least Sandpiper 26
Semipalmated Sandpiper 399
peep sp. 30
Ring-billed Gull 71
American Herring Gull 8
Common Loon 1
Double-crested Cormorant 3
Osprey 2
Merlin 1
Peregrine Falcon 2
Notes / Comments:
There was a small number of birds on the beach, 3 seperate flocks , the Peregrines, Merlins and Herring Gulls were constantly harrassing the birds.
Marsh
Time 02:37 PM
eBird Checklist Link https://ebird.org/checklist/S388988886
# Species Observed 15
Canada Goose 8
Mallard 1
American Black Duck 5
Lesser Yellowlegs 13
Greater Yellowlegs 8
Least Sandpiper 15
Semipalmated Sandpiper 175
American Herring Gull 2
Great Egret 2
Great Blue Heron 2
Osprey 2
Northern Harrier 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
American Crow 13
Savannah Sparrow 7
Notes / Comments:
Possible Marbled Godwit, it was at a distance, it looked like the Godwit but with the shimmering it was difficult to tell. I didn’t post it on eBird, since I saw it yesterday and posted it, I feel due to sensitivity of marsh it is best to keep quiet about it.
Mudflats
Time 05:03 PM
eBird Checklist Link https://ebird.org/checklist/S388989913
# Species Observed 16
Mallard 2
American Black Duck 5
Common Eider 4
Semipalmated Plover 65
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Least Sandpiper 11
Semipalmated Sandpiper 1500
Ring-billed Gull 6
American Herring Gull 112
Double-crested Cormorant 15
Great Egret 1
Great Blue Heron 3
Northern Harrier 1
Merlin 2
Peregrine Falcon 2
American Crow 5
Notes / Comments (Mudflats):
The birds were not on the mudflats much, mainly in the air as both the Merlins and the Peregrines were constantly taking runs at them.
Overall Report Comments or Notes:
I chatted with a number of people, was a mostly positive day though not many shorebirds on the beach.
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.