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--Boundary_(ID_+ZYIeVZrZk+k0Z/en2Rs4Q) Content-type: text/plain; charset=WINDOWS-1252; delsp=yes; format=flowed Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable 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 > > <<<<<<<<<< > --Boundary_(ID_+ZYIeVZrZk+k0Z/en2Rs4Q) Content-type: text/html; charset=WINDOWS-1252 Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable <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 <<a = href=3D"mailto:tandove@ns.sympatico.ca">tandove@ns.sympatico.ca</a>></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 <<a = href=3D"mailto:kate.robinson@ec.gc.ca">kate.robinson@ec.gc.ca</a>>, = Margot Elliot <<a = href=3D"mailto:Margot.Elliot@natureconservancy.ca">Margot.Elliot@naturecon= servancy.ca</a>></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"> </span><<a = href=3D"mailto:jimwolford@eastlink.ca">jimwolford@eastlink.ca</a>>, = Sherman Boates <<a = href=3D"mailto:boatesjs@gov.ns.ca">boatesjs@gov.ns.ca</a>>, Peter = Hicklin <<a = href=3D"mailto:Peter.Hicklin@EC.GC.CA">Peter.Hicklin@EC.GC.CA</a>></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 <st1:place w:st=3D"on">Grand = Pre</st1:place>, Sat. mid-day. Aug 21. Around 11:30 a.m. =96 = 12:00p.m. I was at the <st1:placename = w:st=3D"on">Wolfville</st1:placename> <st1:placetype = w:st=3D"on">Harbour</st1:placetype> 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 shorebirds gathered in aerial = display over the <st1:placename = w:st=3D"on">North</st1:placename> <st1:placetype = w:st=3D"on">Mountain</st1:placetype> west of <st1:place = w:st=3D"on"><st1:placetype = w:st=3D"on">Cape</st1:placetype> <st1:placename = w:st=3D"on">Blomidon</st1:placename></st1:place>, waiting for the tide = to drop? =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 (the = same number as I had seen a few days earlier) 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. 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> </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 ?? 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> </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? 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> </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 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. 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. = <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></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> </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> </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">>>>>>>>>>></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"> 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"> <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"><<<<<<<<<<</span></font><= o:p> </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>= --Boundary_(ID_+ZYIeVZrZk+k0Z/en2Rs4Q)--
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