Report created by Erin Brown, Shorebird Counter and Public Educator for the Shorebird Conservation and Education Project with the Saint John Naturalists Club.
Public Engagement
- There were 31 people on the beach during the shift and 9 were approached. Most were interested to hear about the birds and all interactions were positive. Most others were too distant to be approached.
- 1 unleashed dog and 3 leashed dogs were observed on the beach.
Counts
Saints Rest – Main Beach
- 311 shorebirds were counted: 100 were flying flocks of “peeps”. 189 were Semipalmated Sandpipers, 21 Least Sandpipers, and 1 Dowitcher were observed.
- Other birds counted included 16 Gulls.
Saints Rest – East Beach
- No shorebirds were observed on the eastern beach. There had been a lot of raptor activity over the beach just as I walked that direction so this may have sent the shorebirds away.
- Other birds included 2 Bald Eagles, 2 Osprey, 2 Common Loons, 2 Peregrine Falcons, and 1 Belted Kingfisher. The Peregrines were both attempting to catch the Kingfisher which did manage to escape.
Flats
- An estimate of “peeps” feeding across the mud flats was 1500.
- Other birds included: 183 Gulls, 10 Great Blue Herons, 3 Cormorants, 1 Black Duck, 1 Merlin, 7 Canada Geese, and 1 Osprey.
Marsh – Before High Tide
- 601 “peeps” were seen along with some identified shorebirds: 21 Semipalmated Sandpipers and 15 Least Sandpipers.
- Other birds counted included 6 Greater Yellowlegs, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 5 Savannah Sparrows, 3 Bald Eagles, 3 Osprey, 3 Cormorants, and 2 Black Ducks, 2 Harriers, and 1 Great Egret.
Marsh – After High Tide
- 264 “peeps” were seen, mainly flying up and down the stream in the marsh. 4 Least Sandpipers were identified.
- Other birds seen included 6 Greater Yellowlegs, 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, 3 Great Egrets, 5 Black Ducks, 1 Harrier, 1 Bald Eagle, and 2 Peregrine Falcons.
This project was made possible with the support from our funders at the Environment and Climate Change Canada. We would like to thank our partners at Irving Nature Park and NatureNB.