[NatureNS] guesstimate of 18,570 peeps on east Evangeline Beach July 30/12

To: NatureNS <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>,
From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
Date: Wed, 01 Aug 2012 18:45:11 -0300
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While Rick Whitman has been finding and photographing six? different  
tagged/flagged semi' sandpipers at East Point of north Grand Pre, on  
Monday I did the following, which involved looking at peeps at a  
distance, with no identifications:

JULY 30, 2012 - The daytime high tide was at 11 a.m., and I decided  
to do my standard walk of eastern Evangeline Beach to guesstimate the  
numbers of shorebirds/peeps, starting at 1.5 hours after high tide at  
12:30 p.m.  Today was Sunny and warm, breeze very light, 23 C.  I  
began my walk at the public break in the cottages (former boat-launch  
spot?) along Sandpiper Lane, about 100 metres east of the cottage of  
Joan & Bob Bearne (well east of the Canteen/Motel area and viewing  
platform).  My walk was finished by a bit after 2 p.m. (not  
recorded).  A minimum guesstimate for numbers of peeps (small  
shorebirds) observed was pretty simple, since the vast majority of  
the flocks observed were flying from the east (from where is unknown)  
and toward the west following the shoreline but out over the water a  
bit -- 500+200+500 minus 40 (flew east) +10+1100 (several flocks) +800 
+2000+2500+10,000 (then many of same peeps?? reappeared as a flying  
flock well out over open water) +2500 (had landed at east end, then  
flew out over open water and attracted a peregrine falcon and then a  
second unidentified falcon, prob. another peregrine, but neither  
falcon seemed to chase the peeps much)+1000 -- total minimum? numbers  
of peeps was 18,570.

Other wildlife observed were a single small sandpiper, very probably  
a least sandpiper, roosting among the large rocks above the high-tide  
zone near the Merks home; at least 5 bald eagles (3 together were 2  
adults with a dark immature (probable juvenile)), ravens & crows & d.- 
cr. cormorants & great blue herons & gulls etc.; about 10 sea-mops of  
eggs of longfin or Peale's squids (plus numerous older sea-mops  
stranded too high in uppermost zone of beach)(all in a small area  
west of Merks home); and a single biting "greenhead" or salt-marsh  
horse fly or deer fly (quite painful and unsubtle!).

Cheers from Jim in Wolfville. 
--Apple-Mail-33-478091831
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<html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font =
face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>While =
Rick Whitman has been finding and photographing six? different =
tagged/flagged semi' sandpipers at East Point of north Grand Pre, on =
Monday I did the following, which involved looking at peeps at a =
distance, with no identifications:</b></font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: =
12.0px Helvetica"><b><br></b></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font =
face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>JULY =
30, 2012 </b>- The daytime high tide was at 11 a.m., and I decided to do =
<b>my standard walk of eastern Evangeline Beach</b> to guesstimate the =
numbers of <b>shorebirds/peeps</b>, starting at 1.5 hours after high =
tide at 12:30 p.m.&nbsp; Today was Sunny and warm, breeze very light, 23 =
C.&nbsp;<b> I began my walk at</b> the public break in the cottages =
(former boat-launch spot?) along Sandpiper Lane, about 100 metres east =
of the cottage of Joan &amp; Bob Bearne (well east of the Canteen/Motel =
area and viewing platform).&nbsp; My walk was finished by a bit after 2 =
p.m. (not recorded).&nbsp; A <b>minimum guesstimate for numbers of =
peeps</b> (small shorebirds) observed was pretty simple, since the vast =
majority of the flocks observed were flying from the east (from where is =
unknown) and toward the west following the shoreline but out over the =
water a bit -- 500+200+500 minus 40 (flew east) +10+1100 (several =
flocks) +800+2000+2500+10,000 (then many of same peeps?? reappeared as a =
flying flock well out over open water) +2500 (had landed at east end, =
then flew out over open water and attracted a <b>peregrine falcon</b> =
and then a <b>second unidentified falcon</b>, prob. another peregrine, =
but neither falcon seemed to chase the peeps much)+1000 -- total =
<b>minimum? numbers of peeps was 18,570</b>.</font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; =
min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font =
face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>Other =
wildlife observed</b> were a single small sandpiper, very probably a =
<b>least sandpiper</b>, roosting among the large rocks above the =
high-tide zone near the Merks home; at least <b>5 bald eagles</b> (3 =
together were 2 adults with a dark immature (probable juvenile)), ravens =
&amp; crows &amp; d.-cr. cormorants &amp; great blue herons &amp; gulls =
etc.; about <b>10 sea-mops of eggs of longfin or Peale's squids =
</b>(plus numerous older sea-mops stranded too high in uppermost zone of =
beach)(all in a small area west of Merks home); and a single<b> biting =
"greenhead" </b>or salt-marsh horse fly or deer fly (quite painful and =
unsubtle!).</font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" =
size=3D"3" style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><br></font></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" style=3D"font: =
12.0px Helvetica">Cheers from Jim in Wolfville.&nbsp;</font></div>
</body></html>=

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