Saints Rest Beach Report for Sunday, August 31, 2025
On Sunday, August 31, 2025, Saints Rest Beach was monitored by volunteers Tanuja Balse and John Pickle, with Hank Scarth acting as the lead volunteer. The evening brought beautiful weather and an unexpectedly small number of beach walkers. Volunteers engaged with 22 of the 29 people present, receiving very positive feedback about their efforts. Only one group of four walked through the roosting birds, even after listening closely to the volunteers’ guidance.
There were three anglers on the beach, two of whom were visiting from Nova Scotia. They mentioned their experience with roost beach protection since they often share beaches with sandpipers at Striped Bass hotspots at the head of the bay. Their fishing locations were set far enough from the roosting birds to avoid causing any disturbance. Five dogs were observed, and all but one remained on a leash.
Bird activity was impressive, with 144 Least Sandpipers, 1,860 Semipalmated Sandpipers, and 24 Semipalmated Plovers counted along the shore. About 130 Ring-billed Gulls were seen hawking insects over the beach road, a Northern Harrier was spotted on the marsh, and a Peregrine Falcon repeatedly strafed a flock of sandpipers in flight, though apparently without success. View full eBird Report.
Shift time: 17:15-19:45. Clear skies. Temperature 22C. Winds light SSW.
Hank Scarth, Lead Volunteer