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What an interesting account. Many thanks Jim.=20
=20
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=3B fosterjj@hughes.net=3B bpratt@storm.ca=3B st=
ernrichard@gmail.com=3B tandove@ns.sympatico.ca=3B Julie.Paquet@ec.gc.ca=3B=
Kate.Robinson@EC.GC.CA=3B Peter.Hicklin@EC.GC.CA
From: jimwolford@eastlink.ca
Subject: [NatureNS] (long) shorebirds=2C Evangeline Beach & Blue Beach
Date: Tue=2C 16 Aug 2011 20:26:29 -0300
AUG. 16=2C 2011 - Janet & John Foster are in our area now=2C after shooting=
some good high-definition video of migrant shorebirds in New Brunswick at =
Mary's Point and then Johnson's Mills in upper Chignecto Bay of the Fundy e=
cosystem. Apparently at Mary's Point (sw. of Moncton) they were there at t=
he perfect time to see about 70=2C000 shorebirds=2C more than they have had=
there in a long time. And then big numbers of 100=2C000+ shorebirds at Jo=
hnson's Mills (west of Sackville) for two days. Now they want to look for =
more footage of the shorebirds and of their food=2C mud shrimps etc.=2C her=
e in the Grand Pre area.
Today's daytime high tide was at 3:13 p.m. and 12.5 metres of amplitude (me=
diocre). The Fosters wanted me to show them some sandpiper food=2C especia=
lly mud shrimp or Corophium volutator out on the mudflats=3B however=2C we =
were too late in starting=2C so we will try that tomorrow.
Thus i gave them a "nickel tour" of some of my favourite local spots for th=
e shorebirds from just before to after high tide. We started at Evangeline=
Beach at the canteen/parking lot area=2C and we got lucky just like Gary M=
urray did two days ago at the same time and place. We found a nice large f=
lock we guessed at 10=2C000 peeps (but possibly twice as many)=2C just belo=
w and slightly west of the canteen on the rapidly disappearing upper beach =
as the tide came in. This flock was almost totally semipalmated sandpiper=
s=2C with just a few white-rumped sandpipers among them. They were quite c=
lose to us=2C and we were viewing them by looking downward at a steep angle=
. There was nobody on the beach to disturb them=2C but they were very rest=
less with Zugunruhe=2C often taking off noisily as a big flock or as smalle=
r groups=2C then flying off over the water=2C back and forth=2C only to cir=
cle back and land among the same birds or in the same area as they left. T=
his all took a long time=2C and the upper beach gradually disappeared=2C ca=
using the peeps to all take off and fly back and forth=2C with splitting an=
d rejoining over the water=2C and eventually flying away and out of sight t=
oward the east (the usual pattern before high tide. We also had a sudden a=
ppearance of a peregrine falcon flying low and from the west=2C right past =
the flushed sandpipers but not chasing any=2C and out of sight to the east.
Once all the shorebirds were gone=2C I showed the Fosters the nice signage =
on the birds and their foods and ecosystem here=2C along with nice maps and=
photos showing the nesting range in the North and the migration arrows to =
northern South America (Suriname)=2C which is about 5000 km. away and takes=
2-3 days and nights of non-stop flying to reach. This is why each peep do=
ubles its weight during its 7-10 days or so of feeding in the Upper Bay of =
Fundy (here). The signage is at the shorebird viewing platform on the nor=
th edge of the canteen parking lot.
It was still about 1.5 hours before high tide when we next drove to Avonpor=
t=2C where along Bluff Road I showed them Avonport Beach and Penny Beach=2C=
where good numbers of flying flocks can be seen at high tide and later.
John spotted an osprey=2C which is a very unusual sight in our area of The =
Valley=2C and it flew right over our car. =20
And I mentioned that in years past a good spot for roosting sandpipers was =
Blue Beach=2C just east and south from Horton Bluff. We drove there=2C par=
ked in the lot near the Fossil Museum=2C and then walked down to the beach=
=2C where there were 6-8 fishers for striped bass (we saw 3 small non-keepe=
rs caught by one fisher during the hour we were there).
There at Blue Beach we were delighted to discover another? big restless flo=
ck of about 10=2C000 (or many more?) sandpipers that were flying a lot and =
then landing and roosting for short periods on the shingle beach on both si=
des of a narrow wedge of water. Again these were 99% semipalmated sandpipe=
rs=2C as at Evangeline Beach=2C and I think there's a good chance this was =
the same flock we had watched back there.
Interestingly=2C John Foster spotted some peeps up high on the hillside tha=
t slopes down to the beach=3B these were 21 semipalmated plovers with about=
4 semipalmated sandpipers. They had found a very restful location=2C unli=
kely to be disturbed.
The fishers didn't bother the birds at all=2C except when one of the fisher=
s relocated by walking through the big flock=2C which flew off but then qui=
ckly resettled after he walked by. Later one couple of recreating humans a=
rrived with their unleashed two Labrador retrievers=2C which were no proble=
m for the birds. But probably on weekends the birds have a harder time fin=
ding places to rest during the high-tide period? (since recreators would th=
en be much more numerous=2C with both dogs and restless children?).
I lost track of the times=2C as we watched those roosting peeps. At one po=
int about 3/4 of them flew off and over the water=2C and=2C after circling =
back and forth several times as if undecided (but probably just restless?)=
=2C this big flock flew off to the west and out of sight (probably to the e=
ast end of Evangeline Beach?). And the rest settled into a long deep rest =
on the shingle beach until we left them=2C about an hour after high tide.
One more point: at one point while Janet and John were filming=2C I scanned=
the water of the Minas Basin with binoculars=2C and I found 2 sizable flyi=
ng flocks of small shorebirds or peeps=2C flying probably from the Noel Sho=
re somewhere to the north and toward the west and out of sight=2C perhaps a=
gain heading for east Evangeline Beach? (or perhaps further west to other m=
udflats or the mouth of the Cornwallis River?).
-----------------------------
Cheers from Jim in Wolfville. =
--_a2665c7d-f968-45e6-800f-418e0b4eea19_
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<body class=3D'hmmessage'><div dir=3D'ltr'>
What an interesting account. Many thanks Jim. <BR> =3B<BR>
<DIV>
<HR id=3DstopSpelling>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca=3B fosterjj@hughes.net=3B bpratt@storm.ca=3B st=
ernrichard@gmail.com=3B tandove@ns.sympatico.ca=3B Julie.Paquet@ec.gc.ca=3B=
Kate.Robinson@EC.GC.CA=3B Peter.Hicklin@EC.GC.CA<BR>From: jimwolford@eastl=
ink.ca<BR>Subject: [NatureNS] (long) shorebirds=2C Evangeline Beach &=3B=
Blue Beach<BR>Date: Tue=2C 16 Aug 2011 20:26:29 -0300<BR><BR>
<DIV style=3D"MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">=
<FONT style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica" size=3D3 face=3DHelvetica><B>AUG. 16=
=2C 2011 - Janet &=3B John Foster </B>are in our area now=2C after shoot=
ing some good high-definition video of migrant <B>shorebirds</B> in New Bru=
nswick at Mary's Point and then Johnson's Mills in upper Chignecto Bay of t=
he Fundy ecosystem. =3B Apparently at <B>Mary's Point </B>(sw. of Monct=
on) they were there at the perfect time to see about 70=2C000 shorebirds=2C=
more than they have had there in a long time. =3B And then big numbers=
of 100=2C000+ shorebirds at<B> Johnson's Mills</B> (west of Sackville) for=
two days. =3B Now they want to look for more footage of the shorebirds=
and of their food=2C mud shrimps etc.=2C here in the Grand Pre area.</FONT=
></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MIN-HEIGHT: 14px=3B FONT: 12px Helvetica=3B MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0p=
x=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><BR></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">=
<FONT style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica" size=3D3 face=3DHelvetica>Today's dayt=
ime <B>high tide</B> was at<B> 3:13 p.m. </B>and 12.5 metres of amplitude (=
mediocre). =3B The Fosters wanted me to show them some sandpiper food=
=2C especially <B>mud shrimp</B> or <I>Corophium volutator</I> out on the m=
udflats=3B however=2C we were too late in starting=2C so we will try that t=
omorrow.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MIN-HEIGHT: 14px=3B FONT: 12px Helvetica=3B MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0p=
x=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><BR></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">=
<FONT style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica" size=3D3 face=3DHelvetica>Thus i gave =
them a "nickel tour" of some of my favourite local spots for the shorebirds=
from just before to after high tide. =3B We started at <B>Evangeline B=
each</B> at the canteen/parking lot area=2C and we got lucky just like Gary=
Murray did two days ago at the same time and place. =3B We found a nic=
e large flock we guessed at <B>10=2C000 peeps</B> (but possibly twice as ma=
ny)=2C just below and slightly west of the canteen on the rapidly disappear=
ing upper beach as the tide came in.  =3B This flock was almost totally=
semipalmated sandpipers=2C with just a few white-rumped sandpipers among t=
hem. =3B They were quite close to us=2C and we were viewing them by loo=
king downward at a steep angle. =3B There was nobody on the beach to di=
sturb them=2C but they were<B> very restless with Zugunruhe</B>=2C often ta=
king off noisily as a big flock or as smaller groups=2C then flying off ove=
r the water=2C back and forth=2C only to circle back and land among the sam=
e birds or in the same area as they left. =3B This all took a long time=
=2C and the upper beach gradually disappeared=2C causing the peeps to all t=
ake off and fly back and forth=2C with splitting and rejoining over the wat=
er=2C and eventually flying away and out of sight toward the east (the usua=
l pattern before high tide. =3B We also had a sudden appearance of a <B=
>peregrine falcon</B> flying low and from the west=2C right past the flushe=
d sandpipers but not chasing any=2C and out of sight to the east.</FONT></D=
IV>
<DIV style=3D"MIN-HEIGHT: 14px=3B FONT: 12px Helvetica=3B MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0p=
x=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><BR></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">=
<FONT style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica" size=3D3 face=3DHelvetica>Once all the=
shorebirds were gone=2C I showed the Fosters the <B>nice signage on the bi=
rds and their foods and ecosystem here=2C along with nice maps and photos</=
B> showing the nesting range in the North and the migration arrows to north=
ern South America (Suriname)=2C which is about 5000 km. away and takes 2-3 =
days and nights of non-stop flying to reach. =3B This is why each peep =
doubles its weight during its 7-10 days or so of feeding in the Upper Bay o=
f Fundy (here).  =3B The signage is at the shorebird viewing platform o=
n the north edge of the canteen parking lot.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MIN-HEIGHT: 14px=3B FONT: 12px Helvetica=3B MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0p=
x=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><BR></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">=
<FONT style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica" size=3D3 face=3DHelvetica>It was still=
about 1.5 hours before high tide when we next drove <B>to Avonport</B>=2C =
where along Bluff Road I showed them <B>Avonport Beach and Penny Beach</B>=
=2C where good numbers of flying flocks can be seen at high tide and later.=
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MIN-HEIGHT: 14px=3B FONT: 12px Helvetica=3B MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0p=
x=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><BR></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">=
<FONT style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica" size=3D3 face=3DHelvetica>John spotted=
<B>an osprey</B>=2C which is a very unusual sight in our area of The Valle=
y=2C and it flew right over our car.  =3B</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MIN-HEIGHT: 14px=3B FONT: 12px Helvetica=3B MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0p=
x=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><BR></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">=
<FONT style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica" size=3D3 face=3DHelvetica>And I mentio=
ned that in years past a good spot for roosting sandpipers was <B>Blue Beac=
h</B>=2C just east and south from <B>Horton Bluff.</B> =3B We drove the=
re=2C parked in the lot near the <B>Fossil Museum</B>=2C and then walked do=
wn to the beach=2C where there were 6-8<B> fishers for striped bass </B>(we=
saw 3 small non-keepers caught by one fisher during the hour we were there=
).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MIN-HEIGHT: 14px=3B FONT: 12px Helvetica=3B MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0p=
x=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><BR></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">=
<FONT style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica" size=3D3 face=3DHelvetica>There at <B>=
Blue Beach</B> we were delighted to discover another? big restless flock of=
about <B>10=2C000 (or many more?) sandpipers</B> that were flying a lot an=
d then landing and roosting for short periods on the shingle beach on both =
sides of a narrow wedge of water. =3B Again these were 99% <B>semipalma=
ted sandpipers</B>=2C as at Evangeline Beach=2C and I think there's a good =
chance this was the same flock we had watched back there.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MIN-HEIGHT: 14px=3B FONT: 12px Helvetica=3B MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0p=
x=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><BR></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">=
<FONT style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica" size=3D3 face=3DHelvetica>Interestingl=
y=2C John Foster spotted some <B>peeps up high on the hillside</B> that slo=
pes down to the beach=3B these were 21 <B>semipalmated plovers</B> with abo=
ut 4 <B>semipalmated sandpipers</B>. =3B They had found a very restful =
location=2C unlikely to be disturbed.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MIN-HEIGHT: 14px=3B FONT: 12px Helvetica=3B MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0p=
x=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><BR></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">=
<FONT style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica" size=3D3 face=3DHelvetica>The fishers =
didn't bother the birds at all=2C except when one of the fishers relocated =
by walking through the big flock=2C which flew off but then quickly resettl=
ed after he walked by. =3B Later one couple of recreating humans arrive=
d with their unleashed two Labrador retrievers=2C which were no problem for=
the birds. =3B But probably on weekends the birds have a harder time f=
inding places to rest during the high-tide period? (since recreators would =
then be much more numerous=2C with both dogs and restless children?).</FONT=
></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MIN-HEIGHT: 14px=3B FONT: 12px Helvetica=3B MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0p=
x=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><BR></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">=
<FONT style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica" size=3D3 face=3DHelvetica>I lost track=
of the times=2C as we watched those roosting peeps. =3B At one point a=
bout 3/4 of them flew off and over the water=2C and=2C after circling back =
and forth several times as if undecided (but probably just restless?)=2C th=
is big flock flew off to the west and out of sight (probably to the east en=
d of Evangeline Beach?). =3B And the rest settled into a long deep rest=
on the shingle beach until we left them=2C about an hour after high tide.<=
/FONT></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MIN-HEIGHT: 14px=3B FONT: 12px Helvetica=3B MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0p=
x=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"><BR></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">=
<FONT style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica" size=3D3 face=3DHelvetica>One more poi=
nt: at one point while Janet and John were filming=2C I scanned the water o=
f the Minas Basin with binoculars=2C and I found 2 sizable flying flocks of=
small shorebirds or peeps=2C flying probably from the Noel Shore somewhere=
to the north and toward the west and out of sight=2C perhaps again heading=
for east Evangeline Beach? (or perhaps further west to other mudflats or t=
he mouth of the Cornwallis River?).</FONT></DIV>
<DIV style=3D"MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0px=3B MARGIN-LEFT: 0px=3B MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">=
<FONT style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica" size=3D3 face=3DHelvetica>------------=
-----------------</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT style=3D"FONT: 12px Helvetica" size=3D3 face=3DHelvetica>Cheers =
from Jim in Wolfville.</FONT></DIV></DIV> </div></body>
</html>=
--_a2665c7d-f968-45e6-800f-418e0b4eea19_--
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