[NatureNS] 2095+ shorebirds at Evangeline Beach July 24/13, after high high tide

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From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
Date: Thu, 25 Jul 2013 11:21:14 -0300
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> Subject: 2095+ shorebirds at Evangeline Beach today, after high  
> high tide
>
> JULY 24, 2013 - One northern harrier seen on Grand Pre dykelands,  
> plus a not-unusual red-tailed hawk perched on the power line along  
> the paved road.
>
> Today there was an extreme high high tide in the Minas Basin,  
> predicted for 2:51 p.m., with an amplitude of 15.6 metres.  I  
> decided to go to Evangeline Beach and do a shorebirds vigil as that  
> big tide receded, from the comfort of my portable folding chair,  
> which I set up next to the viewing platform.  I didn't arrive until  
> 4:45, and the ebbing water edge was only about 40 m. from the rocks  
> (quite close).  Weather was partly cloudy sky with frequent sunny  
> stretches, cool, with a nice breeze from the east (frequent here).
>
> I can summarize my vigil by saying that the total numbers are still  
> pretty low, with a few dozens of small flocks of less than 100  
> birds  which peaked at about 5:15 p.m. when I might have missed  
> some birds while writing my notes.  I quit at 5:27, then drove to  
> Jean Merks' home near the east end of the trees along the beach,  
> where I found a nice dense flock of about 700 flying and then  
> feeding along the water's edge just north of Merks' property.
>
> Here are the details of times and numbers seen of peeps (small  
> unidentified shorebirds, very probably mostly semipalmated  
> sandpipers):
>
> 4:47 - 35 peeps flew from east to west without stopping (most  
> flocks did the same thing);
> 4:59 - 40 + 60 more;
> 5:00 - 140+ and also 30 flew toward the east;
> 5:04 - 10 + 50 more;
> 5:10 - 50;
> 5:12 - 100 + 40;
> then 100 + 50 + 200 + 50 in quick succession;
> 5:16 - 40, and 10 more flew eastward;
> then, in quick succession, 50 + 75 + 75 + 75 + 20;
> 5:19 - 50 more;
> and 10 landed at the water edge;
> 5:22 - 75 more;
> 5:27 - 7 flew eastward;
> I departed at 5:32 (and briefly looked at the great signage at the  
> viewing platform).
>
> My subtotal here so far is 1395 peeps (not counting ones flying east).
>
> Then I quickly drove to the Merks/Jackson property, which is just  
> northeast of the Palmeter farm with the tall silos, arriving there  
> 5:50 p.m. (where I have ongoing permission to trespass for  
> shorebird observations).
>
> Very quickly, while still in my car, at 5:52 a nice big dense flock  
> of about 500 peeps slowly flew from east to west and landed just  
> north of the Merks house at the water's edge.  At 5:58, 200 more  
> flew from the west along the shore and landed with them, to form a  
> long very dense line of very dark shorebirds on the light tan  
> mudflats.
>
> These were just a hint of what is hopefully to come, as we get  
> closer to the peak dates for shorebird abundance, normally from  
> Aug. 1 to 15 or so.
>
> Thus we can add these 700 peeps to the previous total of 1395 to  
> get a minimal total for today for part of this area, of 2095 peeps.
> -------------------------
>
> Cheers from Jim in Wolfville.


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<html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><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>Subject: </b></font><font face=3D"Helvetica" size=3D"3" =
style=3D"font: 12.0px Helvetica"><b>2095+ shorebirds at Evangeline Beach =
today, after high high tide</b></font></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
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>JULY =
24, 2013</b> -&nbsp;</font><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 12px; ">One <b>northern harrier </b>seen on Grand =
Pre dykelands, plus a not-unusual <b>red-tailed hawk</b> perched on the =
power line along the paved road.</span></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">Today there was an =
<b>extreme high high tide in the Minas Basin</b>, predicted for 2:51 =
p.m., with an amplitude of <b>15.6 metres</b>.&nbsp; I decided to go to =
<b>Evangeline Beach </b>and do a <b>shorebirds vigil </b>as that big =
tide receded, from the comfort of my portable folding chair, which I set =
up next to the viewing platform.&nbsp; I didn't arrive until 4:45, and =
the ebbing water edge was only about 40 m. from the rocks (quite =
close).&nbsp; Weather was partly cloudy sky with frequent sunny =
stretches, cool, with a nice breeze from the east (frequent =
here).</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>I can summarize my vigil by</b> saying that the =
total numbers are still pretty low, with a few dozens of small flocks of =
less than 100 birds&nbsp; which peaked at about 5:15 p.m. when I might =
have missed some birds while writing my notes.&nbsp; I quit at 5:27, =
then drove to Jean Merks' home near the east end of the trees along the =
beach, where I found a nice dense flock of about 700 flying and then =
feeding along the water's edge just north of Merks' =
property.</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">Here are the details of times and numbers seen of =
peeps (small unidentified shorebirds, very probably mostly semipalmated =
sandpipers):</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">4:47 - 35 peeps flew from east to west without =
stopping (most flocks did the same thing);</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">4:59 - 40 + 60 more;</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">5:00 - 140+ and also 30 flew toward the =
east;</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">5:04 - 10 + 50 =
more;</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">5:10 - 50;</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">5:12 - 100 + 40;</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">then 100 =
+ 50 + 200 + 50 in quick succession;</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">5:16 - =
40, and 10 more flew eastward;</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">then, in =
quick succession, 50 + 75 + 75 + 75 + 20;</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">5:19 - 50 more;</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">and 10 =
landed at the water edge;</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">5:22 - 75 =
more;</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">5:27 - 7 flew =
eastward;</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">I departed at 5:32 (and =
briefly looked at the great signage at the viewing =
platform).</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>My subtotal here so far is 1395 peeps </b>(not =
counting ones flying east).</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">Then I quickly drove to the Merks/Jackson property, =
which is just northeast of the Palmeter farm with the tall silos, =
arriving there 5:50 p.m. (where I have ongoing permission to trespass =
for shorebird observations).</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">Very quickly, while still in my car, at 5:52 a nice =
big dense flock of about 500 peeps slowly flew from east to west and =
landed just north of the Merks house at the water's edge.&nbsp; At 5:58, =
200 more flew from the west along the shore and landed with them, to =
form a long very dense line of very dark shorebirds on the light tan =
mudflats.</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">These were just a hint of what is hopefully to come, =
as we get closer to the peak dates for shorebird abundance, normally =
from Aug. 1 to 15 or so.</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>Thus we can add these 700 peeps to the previous =
total of 1395 to get a minimal total for today for part of this area, of =
2095 peeps.</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">-------------------------</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.</font></div> </blockquote></div><br></body></html>=

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