[NatureNS] Shorebirds - Grand Pre- Sat Aug 21 /10

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References: <DB9C6820A2BC4E89BF901822D1C37184@JUDYPC>
From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 16:01:21 -0300
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Original-Recipient: rfc822;"| (cd /csuite/info/Environment/FNSN/MList; /csuite/lib/arch2html)"

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Here is Judy Tufts' shorebird report from yesterday, plus the =20
important detail that high tide was at 11:10 a.m.

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Judy Tufts <tandove@ns.sympatico.ca>
> Date: August 22, 2010 2:10:23 PM ADT
> To: Kate Robinson <kate.robinson@ec.gc.ca>, Margot Elliot =20
> <Margot.Elliot@natureconservancy.ca>
> Cc: Jim Wolford  <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>, Sherman Boates =20
> <boatesjs@gov.ns.ca>, Peter Hicklin <Peter.Hicklin@EC.GC.CA>
> Subject: FW: Shorebirds - Grand Pre- Sat Aug 21 /10

> A rather puzzling picture of migrating shorebirds unfolded here at =20
> Grand Pre, Sat. mid-day. Aug 21.  Around 11:30 a.m. =96 12:00p.m.  I =20=

> was at the Wolfville Harbour checking on shore birds roosting on =20
> the rocks along the back of the harbour , and enjoyed showing them =20
> to some visitors to our area who were , when I noticed several =20
> formidable-sized flocks of  shorebirds gathered in aerial display =20
> over the North Mountain west of Cape Blomidon, waiting for the tide =20=

> to drop?  =46rom the distance I =91guesstimated=92 there may have been =
=20
> ~50,000 peeps. It was a very impressive sight as they moved around =20
> and the flocks changed shape in the distance.


> I was unable to travel to Grand Pre until after lunch. I arrived =20
> there around 1:00 p.m. to find exposed beach but few birds. In the =20
> next hour it was so disappointing to observe only 15,000 =20
> shorebirds  (the same number as I had seen a few days earlier)  =20
> arriving that were so restless they were in constant drift in an =20
> out before a good portion of the flock finally settled down to feed =20=

> in earnest in the inner cove about a km from The Guzzle.  I kept =20
> expecting major flocks but none appeared. Two Blk-bellied Plovers =20
> with about a hundred peeps lingered at the tip near me. An adult =20
> Peregrine arrived as I left.
>
>
> I headed west to the cottages but did not find more than a =20
> sprinkling of birds, then headed to the west dyke look-out opposite =20=

> the Wolfville sewage ponds, hoping to see many birds across on the =20
> Starr=92s Point mudflats but there were only a few hundred =85. So =20
> WHERE are/were these flocks going to ??   Are the Peregrines to =20
> blame for the movement away from traditional feeding areas?
>
>
>
> As the most I have seen, personally, is 15,000-18,000 shorebirds =20
> locally (Aug 18), were these major shorebird flocks on Sat. =91on the =20=

> move=92 preparing to migrate or were they looking for places around =20=

> the Minas Basin to feed?  I have had some more recent reports (via =20
> local cottagers) that in the past 2-3 weeks there had been some =20
> very impressive flocks spread out over Evangeline Beach but =20
> unfortunately I have no idea the size or make-up of these flocks as =20=

> I was unable to check them myself for the survey.
>
>
>
> On Thurs., Aug 18, on my previous survey when I managed to see =20
> 3,000 spread out over the beach  in front of the Evangeline Canteen =20=

> (before they were disturbed by some campers) which looked most =20
> promising, but only ~15,000 at The Guzzle. And of course the =20
> Peregrines were there too! Briefly saw a Merlin but it did not =20
> linger.  In two locations (The Guzzle and Bearne=92s beach cottage) =20=

> an adult Peregrine and an immature (possibly the same pair) chose =20
> to squabble over who was going to consume the prized shorebird prey =20=

> that the other had caught!! The noisy display of aggression was =20
> quite impelling, they even tackled each other=92s feet in a tumble =20
> before the lower bird broke off.
>
>
>
> Cheers,
> Judy
>
>
>
>
>
> >>>>>>>>>>
>
>   Judy Tufts
>
>  Wolfville NS
>
> <<<<<<<<<<
>


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<html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">
Here is Judy Tufts' shorebird report from yesterday, plus the important =
detail that high tide was at 11:10 a.m.<br><div><br><div>Begin forwarded =
message:</div><br class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote =
type=3D"cite"><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" =
size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: =
#000000"><b>From: </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica">Judy Tufts &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:tandove@ns.sympatico.ca">tandove@ns.sympatico.ca</a>&gt;</f=
ont></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" =
size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: =
#000000"><b>Date: </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica">August 22, 2010 2:10:23 PM =
ADT</font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" =
size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: =
#000000"><b>To: </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica">Kate Robinson &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:kate.robinson@ec.gc.ca">kate.robinson@ec.gc.ca</a>&gt;, =
Margot Elliot &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:Margot.Elliot@natureconservancy.ca">Margot.Elliot@naturecon=
servancy.ca</a>&gt;</font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font =
face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font: 12.0px =
Helvetica; color: #000000"><b>Cc: </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" =
size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica">Jim Wolford<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp; </span>&lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:jimwolford@eastlink.ca">jimwolford@eastlink.ca</a>&gt;, =
Sherman Boates &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:boatesjs@gov.ns.ca">boatesjs@gov.ns.ca</a>&gt;, Peter =
Hicklin &lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:Peter.Hicklin@EC.GC.CA">Peter.Hicklin@EC.GC.CA</a>&gt;</fon=
t></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: =
0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" =
color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: =
#000000"><b>Subject: </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>FW: Shorebirds - Grand Pre- Sat Aug =
21 /10</b></font></div></blockquote><div><br></div><blockquote =
type=3D"cite"><o:smarttagtype =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" =
name=3D"PlaceType"><o:smarttagtype =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" =
name=3D"PlaceName"><o:smarttagtype =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" =
name=3D"State"><o:smarttagtype =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" =
name=3D"City"><o:smarttagtype =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" =
name=3D"place"><o:smarttagtype =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" =
name=3D"PersonName"><div class=3D"Section1" style=3D"page: Section1; =
"><div style=3D"margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: =
0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; font-size: 12pt; font-family: 'Times New =
Roman'; "><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D"font-size: 12pt; ">A rather puzzling picture of migrating =
shorebirds unfolded here at&nbsp;<st1:place w:st=3D"on">Grand =
Pre</st1:place>, Sat. mid-day. Aug 21. &nbsp;Around 11:30 a.m. =96 =
12:00p.m. &nbsp;I was at the&nbsp;<st1:placename =
w:st=3D"on">Wolfville</st1:placename>&nbsp;<st1:placetype =
w:st=3D"on">Harbour</st1:placetype>&nbsp;checking on shore birds =
roosting on the rocks along the back of the harbour , and enjoyed =
showing them to some visitors to our area who were , when I noticed =
several formidable-sized flocks of &nbsp;shorebirds gathered in aerial =
display over the&nbsp;<st1:placename =
w:st=3D"on">North</st1:placename>&nbsp;<st1:placetype =
w:st=3D"on">Mountain</st1:placetype>&nbsp;west of&nbsp;<st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:placetype =
w:st=3D"on">Cape</st1:placetype>&nbsp;<st1:placename =
w:st=3D"on">Blomidon</st1:placename></st1:place>, waiting for the tide =
to drop?&nbsp; =46rom the distance I =91guesstimated=92 there may have =
been ~50,000 peeps. It was a very impressive sight as they moved around =
and the flocks changed shape in the =
distance.</span></font></div></div></o:smarttagtype></o:smarttagtype></o:s=
marttagtype></o:smarttagtype></o:smarttagtype></o:smarttagtype></blockquot=
e><br><br><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: =
14px; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-family: 'Times =
New Roman'; font-size: 16px; ">I was unable to travel to <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on">Grand Pre</st1:place> until after lunch. I arrived there =
around 1:00 p.m. to find exposed beach but few birds. In the next hour =
it was so disappointing to observe only 15,000 shorebirds&nbsp; (the =
same number as I had seen a few days earlier)&nbsp; arriving that were =
so restless they were in constant drift in an out before a good portion =
of the flock finally settled down to feed in earnest in the inner cove =
about a km from The Guzzle. &nbsp;I kept expecting major flocks but none =
appeared. Two Blk-bellied Plovers with about a hundred peeps lingered at =
the tip near me. An adult Peregrine arrived as I =
left.</span></div><o:smarttagtype =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" =
name=3D"PlaceType"><o:smarttagtype =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" =
name=3D"PlaceName"><o:smarttagtype =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" =
name=3D"State"><o:smarttagtype =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" =
name=3D"City"><o:smarttagtype =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" =
name=3D"place"><o:smarttagtype =
namespaceuri=3D"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" =
name=3D"PersonName"><div class=3D"Section1"><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><font =
size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"font-size: =
12.0pt"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><font =
size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"font-size: 12.0pt">I =
headed west to the cottages but did not find more than a sprinkling of =
birds, then headed to the west dyke look-out opposite the Wolfville =
sewage ponds, hoping to see many birds across on the Starr=92s Point =
mudflats but there were only a few hundred =85. So WHERE are/were these =
flocks going to ?? &nbsp;&nbsp;Are the Peregrines to blame for the =
movement away from traditional feeding =
areas?<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><font size=3D"3"=
 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"font-size: =
12.0pt"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><font =
size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"font-size: 12.0pt">As =
the most I have seen, personally, is 15,000-18,000 shorebirds locally =
(Aug 18), were these major shorebird flocks on Sat. =91on the move=92 =
preparing to migrate or were they looking for places around the =
<st1:place w:st=3D"on">Minas Basin</st1:place> to feed? &nbsp;I have had =
some more recent reports (via local cottagers) that in the past 2-3 =
weeks there had been some very impressive flocks spread out over =
Evangeline Beach but unfortunately I have no idea the size or make-up of =
these flocks as I was unable to check them myself for the =
survey.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><font =
size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"font-size: =
12.0pt"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><font =
size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"font-size: 12.0pt">On =
Thurs., Aug 18, on my previous survey when I managed to see 3,000 spread =
out over the beach &nbsp;in front of the Evangeline Canteen (before they =
were disturbed by some campers) which looked most promising, but only =
~15,000 at The Guzzle. And of course the Peregrines were there too! =
Briefly saw a Merlin but it did not linger.&nbsp; In two locations (The =
Guzzle and Bearne=92s beach cottage) an adult Peregrine and an immature =
(possibly the same pair) chose to squabble over who was going to consume =
the prized shorebird prey that the other had caught!! The noisy display =
of aggression was quite impelling, they even tackled each other=92s feet =
in a tumble before the lower bird broke off. =
&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><font size=3D"3"=
 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"font-size: =
12.0pt">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><font =
size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman"><span style=3D"font-size: =
12.0pt">Cheers, <br> Judy <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p =
class=3D"MsoNormal"><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D"font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p><p =
class=3D"MsoNormal"><font size=3D"3" face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D"font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></font></p> <div><p =
class=3D"MsoNormal"><font size=3D"2" face=3D"Arial"><span =
style=3D"font-size:10.0pt; =
font-family:Arial">&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;</span></font><=
o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p><p class=3D"MsoNormal"><font size=3D"2" =
face=3D"Arial"><span style=3D"font-size:10.0pt; =
font-family:Arial">&nbsp; Judy Tufts</span></font><o:p></o:p></p><p =
class=3D"MsoNormal"><font size=3D"2" face=3D"Arial"><span =
style=3D"font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial">&nbsp;<st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:city w:st=3D"on">Wolfville</st1:city> <st1:state =
w:st=3D"on">NS</st1:state></st1:place></span></font><o:p></o:p></p><p =
class=3D"MsoNormal"><font size=3D"2" face=3D"Arial"><span =
style=3D"font-size:10.0pt; =
font-family:Arial">&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;&lt;</span></font><=
o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></p> </div> <div> <div class=3D"MsoNormal" =
align=3D"center" style=3D"text-align:center"><font size=3D"3" =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span lang=3D"EN-US" style=3D"font-size:12.0pt"> =
<hr size=3D"2" width=3D"100%" align=3D"center" tabindex=3D"-1"> =
</span></font></div></div></div></o:smarttagtype></o:smarttagtype></o:smar=
ttagtype></o:smarttagtype></o:smarttagtype></o:smarttagtype></blockquote><=
/div><br></body></html>=

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