[NatureNS] Huge shorebird numbers at Martinique Beach Provincial Park, Aug 12, 2012

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From: Graham Williams <grahamevanwilliams@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 12 Aug 2012 23:36:44 -0300
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An afternoon visit to Martinique Beach today produced huge numbers of shoreb=
irds in foggy and windy conditions. I found 10 species of shorebird includin=
g a lone Baird's Sandpiper in a massive mixed flock. The complete list is be=
low.=20

The easternmost (last) half km or so of beach was covered by a huge mixed sp=
ecies flock composed of greater than 80% Semipalmated Plovers. There were al=
so good numbers of Semipalmated Sandpipers and Sanderlings present, with les=
ser numbers of the other species. I find estimating numbers of birds in huge=
 flocks to be challenging but the four of us in my group all agreed that the=
re had to be at least 5000 shorebirds present in this flock, if not as many a=
s 8-10 thousand. It was an impressive sight!

Graham Williams
Longwood, Florida
In NS till Aug 19

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

> From: do-not-reply@ebird.org
> Date: August 12, 2012 11:22:37 PM ADT
> To: grahamevanwilliams@gmail.com
> Subject: eBird Report - Martinique Beach Provincial Park, Aug 12, 2012
>=20
> Martinique Beach Provincial Park, Halifax, CA-NS
> Aug 12, 2012 1:15 PM - 4:00 PM
> Protocol: Traveling
> 2.0 mile(s)
> 22 species
>=20
> American Black Duck  3
> Common Eider  4
> Common Merganser  15     Seen in lagoon area along roadside shortly before=
 entering the park proper.
> Double-crested Cormorant  8
> Black-bellied Plover  6     On mudflat just inside park entrance.
> Semipalmated Plover  4000     About 100 were on mudflat just inside park e=
ntrance. The rest were in a huge mixed flock of shorebirds resting on the ea=
sternmost half km of beach. The four of us agreed upon a conservative estima=
te of at least 5000 shorebirds in the flock on that stretch of beach. Greate=
r than 80% of them were semipalmated plovers.
> Willet  1     On muddy shore opposite of parking lot 8.
> Whimbrel  1     On rocks at very eastern end of beach.
> Sanderling  200     Scattered along the entire beachfront. Many were mixed=
 in the massive flock of other shorebirds.
> Semipalmated Sandpiper  1000     About 15 were on mudflat just inside park=
 entrance. The rest were in a huge mixed flock of shorebirds resting on the e=
asternmost half km of beach. The four of us agreed upon a conservative estim=
ate of at least 5000 shorebirds in the flock on that stretch of beach. Great=
er than 80% of them were semipalmated plovers.
> Least Sandpiper  100     A few were on the mudflat just inside park entran=
ce. The rest were in a huge mixed flock of shorebirds resting on the eastern=
most half km of beach. The four of us agreed upon a conservative estimate of=
 at least 5000 shorebirds in the flock on that stretch of beach. Greater tha=
n 80% of them were semipalmated plovers.
> White-rumped Sandpiper  25     Mixed in the massive flock on the beach.
> Baird's Sandpiper  1     Mixed in the massive flock on the beach. Juvenile=
 plumage. Associating with a few white-rumps and semipalmated sandpipers for=
 a convenient comparison. Buffy breast, black legs, long wings, straight bil=
l, approx same size as white-rumps.
> Short-billed Dowitcher  6     On mudflat just inside park entrance.
> Ring-billed Gull  2
> Herring Gull  15
> Great Black-backed Gull  4
> Common Tern  2
> American Crow  2
> Barn Swallow  2
> Savannah Sparrow  1
> Song Sparrow  3
>=20
> This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

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<html><head></head><body bgcolor=3D"#FFFFFF"><div>An afternoon visit to Mart=
inique Beach today produced huge numbers of shorebirds in foggy and windy co=
nditions. I found 10 species of shorebird including a lone Baird's Sandpiper=
 in a massive mixed flock. The complete list is below.&nbsp;</div><div><br><=
/div><div>The easternmost (last) half km or so of beach was covered by a hug=
e mixed species flock composed of greater than 80% Semipalmated Plovers. The=
re were also good numbers of Semipalmated Sandpipers and Sanderlings present=
, with lesser numbers of the other species. I find estimating numbers of bir=
ds in huge flocks to be challenging but the four of us in my group all agree=
d that there had to be at least 5000 shorebirds present in this flock, if no=
t as many as 8-10 thousand. It was an impressive sight!</div><div><br></div>=
<div>Graham Williams</div><div>Longwood, Florida</div><div>In NS till Aug 19=
<br><br>Sent from my iPad</div><div><br>Begin forwarded message:<br><br></di=
v><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div><b>From:</b> <a href=3D"mailto:do-not-reply=
@ebird.org">do-not-reply@ebird.org</a><br><b>Date:</b> August 12, 2012 11:22=
:37 PM ADT<br><b>To:</b> <a href=3D"mailto:grahamevanwilliams@gmail.com">gra=
hamevanwilliams@gmail.com</a><br><b>Subject:</b> <b>eBird Report - Martiniqu=
e Beach Provincial Park, Aug 12, 2012</b><br><br></div></blockquote><div></d=
iv><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div><span>Martinique Beach Provincial Park, Ha=
lifax, CA-NS</span><br><span>Aug 12, 2012 1:15 PM - 4:00 PM</span><br><span>=
Protocol: Traveling</span><br><span>2.0 mile(s)</span><br><span>22 species</=
span><br><span></span><br><span>American Black Duck &nbsp;3</span><br><span>=
Common Eider &nbsp;4</span><br><span>Common Merganser &nbsp;15 &nbsp;&nbsp;&=
nbsp;&nbsp;Seen in lagoon area along roadside shortly before entering the pa=
rk proper.</span><br><span>Double-crested Cormorant &nbsp;8</span><br><span>=
Black-bellied Plover &nbsp;6 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On mudflat just inside p=
ark entrance.</span><br><span>Semipalmated Plover &nbsp;4000 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nb=
sp;&nbsp;About 100 were on mudflat just inside park entrance. The rest were i=
n a huge mixed flock of shorebirds resting on the easternmost half km of bea=
ch. The four of us agreed upon a conservative estimate of at least 5000 shor=
ebirds in the flock on that stretch of beach. Greater than 80% of them were s=
emipalmated plovers.</span><br><span>Willet &nbsp;1 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;=
On muddy shore opposite of parking lot 8.</span><br><span>Whimbrel &nbsp;1 &=
nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On rocks at very eastern end of beach.</span><br><spa=
n>Sanderling &nbsp;200 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Scattered along the entire be=
achfront. Many were mixed in the massive flock of other shorebirds.</span><b=
r><span>Semipalmated Sandpiper &nbsp;1000 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;About 15 w=
ere on mudflat just inside park entrance. The rest were in a huge mixed floc=
k of shorebirds resting on the easternmost half km of beach. The four of us a=
greed upon a conservative estimate of at least 5000 shorebirds in the flock o=
n that stretch of beach. Greater than 80% of them were semipalmated plovers.=
</span><br><span>Least Sandpiper &nbsp;100 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A few wer=
e on the mudflat just inside park entrance. The rest were in a huge mixed fl=
ock of shorebirds resting on the easternmost half km of beach. The four of u=
s agreed upon a conservative estimate of at least 5000 shorebirds in the flo=
ck on that stretch of beach. Greater than 80% of them were semipalmated plov=
ers.</span><br><span>White-rumped Sandpiper &nbsp;25 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp=
;Mixed in the massive flock on the beach.</span><br><span>Baird's Sandpiper &=
nbsp;1 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mixed in the massive flock on the beach. Juve=
nile plumage. Associating with a few white-rumps and semipalmated sandpipers=
 for a convenient comparison. Buffy breast, black legs, long wings, straight=
 bill, approx same size as white-rumps.</span><br><span>Short-billed Dowitch=
er &nbsp;6 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On mudflat just inside park entrance.</sp=
an><br><span>Ring-billed Gull &nbsp;2</span><br><span>Herring Gull &nbsp;15<=
/span><br><span>Great Black-backed Gull &nbsp;4</span><br><span>Common Tern &=
nbsp;2</span><br><span>American Crow &nbsp;2</span><br><span>Barn Swallow &n=
bsp;2</span><br><span>Savannah Sparrow &nbsp;1</span><br><span>Song Sparrow &=
nbsp;3</span><br><span></span><br><span>This report was generated automatica=
lly by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)</span><b=
r></div></blockquote></body></html>=

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