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Aug. 15, 2007 - Sherman Williams reported several MIGRATING flocks of SANDPIPERS last night between 9:30 and 11 p.m., all heading from NW to SE past Horton Bluff, east of Avonport. This afternoon after high tide I walked Evangeline Beach at North Grand Pre to check on how many peeps were still around (perhaps new bunches arrived from the north as the old, fat birds departed toward the south?). I arrived at the cottage of the Bearnes at 4:45, about 1.5 hours after high tide, and then walked to the east end of the Long Island trees along the beach. From 5 to 6 p.m. I had a good show of large flying flocks of PEEPS, and I estimated that I saw a total of perhaps 15,000 in all -- included were hundreds of SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and a single DOWITCHER (no doubt short-billed). Most of the ³action² was at the east end of the beach, and flocks seemed to be arriving initially from the east. During the hour large flocks then flew far to the west, apparently flying into the mouth of the Cornwallis River, i.e., toward Wolfville. Some of the large flocks landed at least for a while at the water line opposite the viewing platform at the Evangeline Beach canteen and motel. When I left at 6 p.m., there were still perhaps 4,000 peeps at the east end of the beach and actively feeding, presumably on mud shrimps (needs to be confirmed with a shovel etc.). At about 5:15 there was a PEREGRINE FALCON perched on a rock in the intertidal zone, not far from where the feeding sandpipers and plovers were paying little attention to it (no doubt they were watching it intently as they fed). This peregrine must have been already well-fed. I believe there was a second peregrine present, but it was not seen well enough to be sure. Also an immature BALD EAGLE was similarly perched on an intertidal rock, and the peeps paid little attention until it flew. Cheers :-) from Jim in Wolfville, 542-9204 --------------------- Jim (James W.) Wolford 91 Wickwire Avenue Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada B4P 1W3 phone (902)542-9204 (home) fax (902)585-1059 (Acadia Univ. Biology Dept.) e-mail <jimwolford@eastlink.ca> ---------------------- ³The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.² - Ellen Parr ---------------------- ³...... the Earth .....belongs as much to those who come after us as to us; and we have no right, by anything that we do, or neglect to do, to involve them in unnecessary penalties, or to deprive them of benefits which are theirs by right.² - John Ruskin ----------------------
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