[ValleyNature] Grand Pre shorebirds etc., mosquitoes, crane flies

[James W. Wolford]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: "James W. Wolford" <jimwolford at eastlink.ca>
> Date: August 26, 2009 2:20:40 PM ADT
> To: naturens at chebucto.ns.ca
> Cc: Peter Hicklin <Peter.Hicklin at EC.GC.CA>
> Subject: [NatureNS] Grand Pre shorebirds etc., mosquitoes, crane flies
> Reply-To: naturens at chebucto.ns.ca
>
> AUGUST 25, 2009 (Tues.) - Two days after Sherman Williams' report  
> of overnight massive departures of migrant SHOREBIRDS from Minas  
> Basin toward the southeast (to Suriname?), I was late in the tide  
> cycle when I arrived at east Evangeline Beach and The Guzzle.  I  
> was about an hour before high tide, and the tides are still high  
> highs (Spring tides, although lower than over the weekend).  Thus  
> there was almost no open shore for possible roosting by the flocks  
> of PEEPS, except as usual for small areas of beach sand at The  
> Guzzle among the striped bass fishers and just to the west of the  
> north end of the dyke.  At high tide today there was a flock of  
> about 500 flying PEEPS that were perhaps going to roost in the  
> latter spot, and among the fishers was the usual bunch of 50+  
> approachable PEEPS -- a large majority of the 50+ were LEAST  
> SANDPIPERS, and perhaps a dozen or so were SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS.
>
> Also present were Wendy & Bob McDonald and Richard Stern.   Richard  
> thinks there are many fewer shorebirds now since Sunday night.  He  
> had a nice photo of a MERLIN seen nearby somewhere, and Bob  
> McDonald reported that a PEREGRINE FALCON was also in the area.
>
> WARNING for anyone along this area of King's County: SALT-MARSH  
> MOSQUITOES were noticeable and abundant today and hungry, although  
> there was a nice wind too to keep most of them away from us.
>
> At home in Wolfville I noticed a couple of the large tan CRANE  
> FLIES associated with lawns.
>
> Cheers from Jim in Wolfville, 542-9204

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