Report created by Erin Brown, Shorebird Counter and Public Educator for the Shorebird Conservation and Education Project with the Saint John Naturalists Club.
Counts
Flats
- An estimated number of “peeps” feeding on the flats was 1,200. There were also around 200 Black-Bellied Plovers. Counts had to be estimated as most of the birds left the flats in large flocks just after I arrived. No specific disturbance was seen.
- Other birds included: 125 Gulls, 4 Black Ducks, 2 Great Egrets, 6 Great Blue Herons, 26 Cormorants, 8 Green-Winged Teals, 12 Common Eiders, 1 Black Guillemot, 2 Peregrine Falcons, and 8 Arctic Terns.
Marsh
- Very few shorebirds were observed in the marsh, though 2 Least Sandpipers were seen in the grasses.
- Other birds seen included: 6 Great Egrets, 4 Greater Yellowlegs, 21 Canada Geese, 3 Gulls, 2 Great Blue Herons, 17 Black Ducks, 1 Bald Eagle, 4 Cormorants, 1 Crow, 1 Belted Kingfisher, and 1 Whimbrel.
Main Beach
- Shorebirds roosting: estimated 1500 “peeps.”
- Other birds included 2 Common Loons, 1 Red-Throated Loon, and 3Gulls.
- Due to the fog and threat of rain, there were no people on the beach. The birds were all resting quietly except for one time many flushed due to a Gull landing among them.
The eastern beach was skipped due to low visibility.
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.