Shorebird Counter and Educator Report for Wednesday, September 2, 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: 22°C, Partly Cloudy, Wind 22 E
High Tide: 04:02 PM
End: 06:30 PM
Weather: 20°C, Partly Cloudy, Wind 11 NW
Beach Engagement & Observations:
People Engaged 7
Total People on Beach 22
Dogs Leashed 3
Anglers 2
Monarchs 2
Birds Observed:
Boardwalk
Notes / Comments:
Did not do the boardwalk today, decided to do the mudflats at both tide cycles to compare numbers and see where birds were moving to and from.
Main Beach
Time 04:19 PM
eBird Checklist Link https://ebird.org/checklist/S389235158
# Species Observed 10
Semipalmated Plover 30 Least Sandpiper 28 Semipalmated Sandpiper 121 Ring-billed Gull 16 American Herring Gull 3 Double-crested Cormorant 2 Osprey 2 Merlin 2 Peregrine Falcon 2 American Crow 3
Notes / Comments:
Peregrine Falcons and Merlin were very aggressive on the beach, also the gulls both American Herring Gull and Ring-billed Gull were flying low over the beach and hunting peeps.
Marsh
Time 03:35 PM
eBird Checklist Link https://ebird.org/checklist/S389234729
# Species Observed 18
Canada Goose 24
American Black Duck 2
Semipalmated Plover 9
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Lesser Yellowlegs 2
Greater Yellowlegs 3
Least Sandpiper 11
Semipalmated Sandpiper 43
Ring-billed Gull 4
American Herring Gull 30
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Egret 1
Great Blue Heron 7
Osprey 1
Northern Harrier 1
Merlin 2
Peregrine Falcon 2
American Crow 8
Notes / Comments:
Merlin, Northern Harrier, and Peregrine were hunting birds
Mudflats
Time 01:36 PM
eBird Checklist Link (1:36PM) https://ebird.org/checklist/S389233967
# Species Observed 13
Semipalmated Plover 80 White-rumped Sandpiper 1 Least Sandpiper 226 Semipalmated Sandpiper 2500 peep sp. 750 Ring-billed Gull 86 American Herring Gull 75 Great Black-backed Gull 3 Double-crested Cormorant 9 Great Egret 2 Great Blue Heron 7 Turkey Vulture 1 Merlin 1 Peregrine Falcon 1
eBird Chceklist Link (5:23PM) https://ebird.org/checklist/S389235851
# Species Observed 13
Semipalmated Plover 20 Least Sandpiper 63 Semipalmated Sandpiper 1100 peep sp. 585 Ring-billed Gull 16 American Herring Gull 29 Double-crested Cormorant 9 Great Egret 2 Great Blue Heron 13 Osprey 1 Northern Harrier 1 Bald Eagle 2 Merlin 1 Peregrine Falcon 2
Notes / Comments (Mudflats):
I did the Mudflats twice as I wanted to compare the numbers from incoming tide to outgoing tide. There was a significant change in numbers and direction from which the birds arrived versus when they left. In morning all 3000 flew in towards Marsh and Beach, but when surveyed those areas the birds were not there. Afternoon survey showed many birds flying in from Lorneville or possibly Magawagonish Island, likely due to aggressive behaviour of falcons on beach.
Photo Description Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers on edge of mudflats waiting for the tide to recede.
Overall Report Comments or Notes:
As stated I surveyed Mudflats twice today to compare numbers since the morning count of 3000 birds was not counted on Marsh or Beach but found Falcons and Gulls were aggressive to hunting birds on beach.
Number in evening were significantly less than morning count.
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.