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: 12:45 PM
High Tide: 2:46 PM (7.5 m)
Finish Time: 6:30 PM
Weather:
Start: 20°C, Light Rain, Wind 11 km/h SSE
Finish: 19°C, Rain, Wind 9 km/h South
Bird Observations
Boardwalk (12:19 PM) – 19 species View eBird Report
American Black Duck, American Golden Plover, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Ring-billed Gull, American Herring Gull, Northern Harrier (male), Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalarope, Ruddy Turnstone, Spotted Sandpiper, Baird’s Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Great Black-backed Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, American Crow
Marsh (1:52 PM) – 10 species View eBird Report
American Black Duck, Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, American Herring Gull, Great Blue Heron, Double-crested Cormorant, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Bald Eagle, Savannah Sparrow
Main Beach (2:55 PM) – 5 species View eBird Report
Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Semipalmated Plover, Common Eider, Double-crested Cormorant
Mudflats (4:22 PM) – 13 species View eBird Report
Common Eider, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Whimbrel, Ring-billed Gull, American Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Northern Harrier, Peregrine Falcon, Sanderling
Disturbances to Birds
- Human: Kayakers on the river during incoming tide; paraglider on beach before high tide; dog chasing birds (owner leashed dog only after seeing me); children running up to birds (stopped after I spoke with family); people walking beach despite conversations.
- Predators: 2 Peregrines each took a peep (one at flats, one over berm); Northern Harrier chased peep by boardwalk.
With the woods open and the park gate open, more people entered the park directly, so fewer were on the beach.
People & Activity
People Engaged: 13
Total People on Beach: 12
Dogs Leashed: 7 (5 of these were on boardwalk)
Dogs Unleashed: 3 (one owner only leashes when they see me)
Kites: 0
Fishermen: 0
Paraglider: 1 (seen over trees; appeared unsuccessful, unclear if returned)
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 and Birds Canada.