Report created by Paul Martin, Shorebird Counter and Educator for the Shorebird Conservation and Education Project with the Saint John Naturalists Club.
Location: Irving Nature Park
Start time: 11:30 am
High tide: 2:18 pm (8.3 m)
Finish time: 6:00 pm
Weather:
Start: 18°C, Sunny, Wind 15 km/h NNW
Finish: 19°C, Sunny, Wind 9 km/h NNW
Mudflats (11:34 am) View full eBird Report
Birds – 16 species: Mallard, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Lesser Yellowlegs, Greater Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, American Herring Gull, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Belted Kingfisher, Peregrine Falcon, American Crow, American Pipit
Marsh (1:01 pm) View full eBird Report
Birds – 16 species: Canada Goose, Mallard, American Black Duck, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Plover, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, American Herring Gull, Whimbrel, Least Sandpiper, Great Egret, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, American Crow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Northern Harrier (male)
Main Beach (2:49 pm) View full eBird Report
Birds – 6 species: Semipalmated Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Red-throated Loon, American Herring Gull
Boardwalk (3:54 pm) View full eBird Report
Birds – 8 species: Glaucous Gull, American Black Duck, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Great Blue Heron, Peregrine Falcon
Disturbances to Birds
- Boardwalk: Peregrine Falcon chasing peeps.
- Marsh: Male Northern Harrier flying low over marsh.
- Main Beach: One American Herring Gull kept landing among the peeps; they moved away from it (was a younger version of Herman). A couple of dogs were running loose on the beach but none were near the cobble. Fishermen were present but left before high tide.
- Mudflats: Checked as tide was coming in. One Peregrine chased flocks of sandpipers. Osprey observed going after fish.
Today I did the route in reverse. I started at the Mudflats an hour earlier than normal, then did the Marsh which had an 8.3 m tide (like a lake). I parked at center cobble on the beach; this seems to help keep people from moving close to peeps. Finished at the Boardwalk and stayed an extra hour, which gave more viewing of peeps moving downriver to the Mudflats.
People Engaged: 4
Total People on Beach: 8
Dogs leashed: 1
Dogs unleashed: 2
Fishermen: 3 (left before high tide)
Counter/Educator: Paul Martin
The Shorebird Conservation and Education Project is supported by our funders: the NB Wildlife Trust Fund, the NB Environmental Trust Fund, and Birds Canada.