Birds still hatching and growing

Even though we are now in the midpoint of the summer and the days are slowly getting shorter we are still having birds hatching all across our beaches. American Oystercatchers are about done with breeding for the season but the Piping Plovers are not as even in the last couple of weeks we have had more young hatch on multiple beaches. Common and Least Terns are at various stages of development with adults and juveniles leaving breeding areas and dispersing while others are just seeing their young hatch now.

Here are a couple photos from Ewa Holland of hatchling Least Terns from this weekend.

This is a Least Tern juvenile that Ewa photographed as well.

 

Let's stay vigilant and persistent with monitoring and keep on helping all of these "late" birds grow up and leave the nest as we head into August!

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #17

This is the seventeenth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2014 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from July 19 through 4:00 p.m. on July 28 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

Tern numbers are increasing in many of our observations as they begin to disperse with adults leaving nesting grounds and juvenile birds finding their way around Long Island Sound. Please keep an eye out for them at all sites as they should be found nearly anywhere. Piping Plovers continue to disperse and migrate as well and please watch for any flagged or banded individuals, taking photos and all the information you can on the bird if you are able to spot one. We will soon be announcing dates for signage and fencing removal and would greatly appreciate all the help we can get - thank you!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

3 pairs, 1 adult, 3 hatchlings, 1 fledgling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/19
1 pair, 3 adults, 4 hatchlings, 5 juveniles, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/21
4 adults, 14 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/21
1 juvenile at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/22
2 pairs, 2 adults, 1 hatchling, 3 juveniles at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/22
1 pair, 2 adults, 4 hatchlings, 6 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22
3 adults, 14 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/22
4 adults, 3 juveniles at Bluff Point on 7/22
2 pairs, 2 fledglings, 2 juveniles at Mumford Cove on 7/22

10 adults, 4 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22

1 adult at Long Beach on 7/22

1 pair, 7 adults, 4 hatchlings, 1 fledgling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22

1 juvenile at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/23
1 juvenile at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/23
1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/23
2 pairs, 3 adults, 2 juveniles at Sandy Point Stonington on 7/23

1 pair, 1 adult, 1 hatchling at Long Beach on 7/23

1 pair, 10 adults, 2 hatchlings, 7 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/23

1 juvenile at Silver Sands State Park on 7/24
1 adult, 5 fledglings at Short Beach on 7/24
1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/24
2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 4 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24
2 adults, 7 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/24

5 adults, 1 hatchling, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24

1 pair, 2 adults, 3 hatchlings, 2 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/25

1 pair, 2 adults, 3 hatchlings, 2 fledglings at Griswold Point on 7/25

1 juvenile at East Broadway Milford on 7/26

3 pairs, 2 hatchling, 3 fledgling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/26

1 pair, 2 adults, 3 hatchlings, 2 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/27
2 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/27
1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Long/Pleasure Beach on 7/27
1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/27

1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/27

American Oystercatcher
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/19
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/21
2 pairs, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/22
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/22
1 pair at Mumford Cove on 7/22

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22

2 pairs, 2 hatchlings at Tuxis Island on 7/23
7 pairs, 1 adult, 7 juveniles at Sandy Point Stonington on 7/23

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/23

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24
1 pair, 5 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/24

1 pair, 1 fledgling at Vincent Island on 7/24

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24

5 pairs, 1 adult, 2 fledglings, 1 juvenile at Menunketesuck Island on 7/25
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Salt Island on 7/25
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/25
6 pairs, 5 fledglings at Cockenoe Island on 7/25

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/26

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/27
3 pairs, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/27
2 adults at Short Beach on 7/27
3 pairs, 2 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/27

Least Tern

15 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/19
14 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/21
9 pairs, 32 adults, 1 hatchling, 2 fledglings, 2 juveniles, 4 nests at Milford Point on 7/21
70 adults at Griswold Point on 7/22
4 pairs, 32 adults, 2 hatchlings, 4 fledglings at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/22
11 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22
8 pairs, 29 adults, 2 fledglings, 2 juveniles, 4 nests at Milford Point on 7/22
1 pair, 2 adults at Bluff Point on 7/22

10 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22

14 adults at Long Beach on 7/22

17 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22

3 adults at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/23
2 adults at Long Beach on 7/23

10 adults at Long Beach on 7/23

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/23

3 adults Silver Sands State Park on 7/24
1 adult at Short Beach on 7/24
8 adults at Long Beach on 7/24
53 adults, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/24

14 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24

40 adults, 1 hatchling, 2 fledglings at Menunketesuck Island on 7/25
1 pair, 12 adults, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/25

40 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/26

15 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/27
2 pairs, 46 adults, 2 hatchlings, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/27
9 adults at Short Beach on 7/27
3 adults at Long Beach on 7/27
5 pairs, 40 adults, 6 hatchlings, 1 fledgling, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/27
5 adults at Long Beach on 7/27

Common Tern

6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/19
12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/21
5 adults at Milford Point on 7/21
11 adults at Griswold Point on 7/22
9 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22
3 adults at Milford Point on 7/22
1 adults at Bluff Point on 7/22

15 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22

4 adults at Long Beach on 7/22
46 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/22

1 adults at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/23
1 adults at Long Beach on 7/23

1 pair, 12 adults, 1 juvenile at Long Beach on 7/23

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/23

2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/24
4 adults at Short Beach on 7/24
7 adults at Long Beach on 7/24
28 adults, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/24

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24

36 adults at Menunketesuck Island on 7/25
59 adults, 5 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/25

20 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/26

47 adults, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/27
27 adults at Milford Point on 7/27
38 adults at Short Beach on 7/27
2 adults at Stratford Point on 7/27
5 adults at Point-No-Point (The Seawall) on 7/27
3 adults at Long/Pleasure Beach on 7/27
10 adults at Milford Point on 7/27

3 adults at Long Beach on 7/27

This concludes update #17 through 7/28/14 as of 5:00 p.m.

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #16

This is the sixteenth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2014 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from July 12 through 3:00 p.m. on July 21 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

Juvenile Piping Plovers are now being found on more of our beaches and numbers are fluctuating at various locations with birds dispersing and some migrating. With that said there are still hatchlings at locations like Long Beach, as a family has moved down from Pleasure Beach, and Sandy/Morse Points. Thanks to your help we have done a tremendous job of aiding most hatchlings in reaching juvenile stage this year so let's keep it going! The first terns have started to fledge and those young can be expected to be seen nearly anywhere as well.

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

2 pairs, 3 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/12
3 pairs, 12 adults, 4 hatchlings, 12 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14

7 adults, 7 fledglings, 1 hatchling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14

10 adults, 4 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/15

9 adults, 2 hatchlings, 4 juveniles, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/15

1 adult, 4 fledglings at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/16
1 adult, 4 juveniles at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/16
1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 2 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/16
1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Short Beach on 7/16
2 pairs, 9 adults, 2 hatchlings, 3 fledglings, 4 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/16

3 pairs, 2 adults, 3 hatchlings, 6 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/16

1 pair, 4 adults, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/16

1 adult at Long Beach on 7/17
6 adults, 14 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/17
2 adults, 5 juveniles at Bluff Point on 7/18
2 adults, 2 hatchlings, 2 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/18

4 pairs, 3 hatchlings, 10 fledglings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/19

1 adult, 5 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/20
10 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20

3 adults, 4 hatchlings, 1 fledgling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20

1 pair at Long Beach on 7/20

1 adult, 4 hatchlings at Short Beach on 7/20

4 adults, 1 hatchling, 7 fledglings at Griswold Point on 7/20
2 pairs, 3 adults, 1 hatchling, 5 fledglings, 2 juveniles, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/21

American Oystercatcher
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14
6 pairs, 3 fledglings at Menunketesuck Island on 7/14
1 pair at Duck Island on 7/14
1 adult at Tuxis Island on 7/14
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/15
10 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/17
1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/19
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20
3 pairs at Milford Point on 7/20
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/21

Least Tern

1 pair, 16 adults at Long Beach on 7/12
7 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14
2 pairs, 34 adults, 3 hatchlings at Menunketesuck Island on 7/14

15 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14

40 adults, 4 fledglings, 1 juvenile at Griswold Point on 7/15
15 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/15
6 adults at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/16
7 adults at Pleasure Beach on 7/16
23 adults at Long Beach on 7/16
5 adults at Short Beach on 7/16
5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/16
2 adults at Long Beach on 7/16
2 adults at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/17
23 adults at Long Beach on 7/17
44 adults, 4 hatchlings, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/17
65 adults, 6 hatchlings, 13 fledglings at Griswold Point on 7/17
2 pairs, 4 adults, 2 hatchlings, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 7/17
28 adults at Long Beach on 7/18
2 adults at Sasco Hill Beach on 7/19

16 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/19

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20
10 pairs, 20 adults, 2 hatchlings, 2 juveniles, 4 nests at Milford Point on 7/20
8 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/20
2 pairs, 3 adults, 2 fledglings at Bluff Point on 7/20
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20

10 adults at Long Beach on 7/20

36 adults, 1 hatchling, 3 fledglings at Griswold Point on 7/20
1 adult, 1 fledgling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/21

Common Tern

5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14
2 pairs, 20 adults at Menunketesuck Island on 7/14
16 adults at Griswold Point on 7/15

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/15

2 adults at Pleasure Beach on 7/16
6 adults at Long Beach on 7/16
1 adult at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/17
8 adults at Pleasure Beach on 7/17
15 adults at Milford Point on 7/17
14 adults at Griswold Point on 7/17
2 adults at Pleasure Beach on 7/18
2 adults at Sasco Hill Beach on 7/19
12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/19
25 adults at Milford Point on 7/20
6 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/20
2 adults at Bluff Point on 7/20

1 adult at Long Beach on 7/20
16 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/21

This concludes update #16 through 7/21/14 as of 4:00 p.m.

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #15

This is the fifteenth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2014 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from July 7 through 4:00 p.m. on July 14 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:
 

Thank you to those who assisted us with the fireworks displays once again in the last week. After some early week chances for wet weather we should have pleasant and cooperative weather for monitoring and outreach and great conditions for our young birds. We are now to the point where young Piping Plovers have reached the juvenile stage and are moving around a bit. You can expect to find these birds dispersing to all of our beaches, even those that did not have breeding individuals this season. With that said very young hatchlings and even eggs are still present as well!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover 

3 pairs, 5 fledglings, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/5

1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Short Beach on 7/5

7 pairs, 5 hatchlings, 12 fledglings, 7 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/6
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Short Beach on 7/6
1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/6
7 pairs, 10 fledglings, 3 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/7
3 pairs, 4 adults, 3 hatchlings, 7 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/7
2 pairs, 1 adult, 4 fledglings at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/7
13 adults, 3 hatchlings, 12 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/7

4 adults, 4 hatchlings, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/7

1 pair, 4 hatchlings, 1 juvenile at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/8
1 adult, 4 hatchlings, 1 juvenile at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/8
3 pairs, 1 adult, 3 hatchlings, 5 juveniles, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 7/8
2 adults, 2 fledglings, 1 juvenile, 1 nest at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/8
3 pairs, 1 adult, 3 juveniles at Bluff Point on 7/8

1 pair, 17 adults, 10 juveniles, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/8

6 adults, 7 fledglings, 9 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/9
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Short Beach on 7/9
1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/9
1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/9

1 pair, 4 adults, 2 hatchlings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/9

2 pairs, 2 hatchlings, 2 juveniles at Mumford Cove on 7/10
3 pairs, 2 juveniles at Bluff Point on 7/10
1 adult, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/10
1 adult, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/10
15 adults, 1 hatchling, 14 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/10

3 pairs, 10 hatchlings, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/10

1 adult, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/12
2 pairs, 7 adults, 4 hatchlings, 14 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/12
1 pair, 1 adult, 3 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/12

1 pair, 3 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/13

1 pair, 4 fledglings at Short Beach on 7/13

1 pair, 1 adult, 5 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/13

4 pairs, 4 adults, 4 fledglings, 9 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/13

1 adult at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/13

26 adults/juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/13

1 adult, 4 fledglings at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/14

7 adults, 7 fledglings, 1 hatchling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14

American Oystercatcher
1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/5
2 pairs, 3 adults, 1 hatchling at Milford Point on 7/6
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/7
1 adult at Griswold Point on 7/7
1 adult at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/7

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/7

1 pair, 2 adults at Thimble Islands on 7/8
8 pairs, 1 adult, 6 fledglings at Sandy Point Stonington on 7/8
1 pair at Ram Island on 7/8

1 adult, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/8

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/8

3 pairs, 5 fledglings at Cockenoe Island on 7/8

2 pairs, 1 fledgling at Milford Point on 7/9

1 adult at Long Beach on 7/9

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/9

1 pair at Mumford Cove on 7/10
1 pair at Bluff Point on 7/10
3 pairs, 1 hatchling, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/10
1 pair, 1 adult at Tuxis Island on 7/10

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/10

1 pair at Green Island on 7/11
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Umbrella Rocks on 7/11
1 adult, 2 fledglings at Branford Harbor Channel Marker on 7/11
1 pair at Lewis Island, Thimble Islands on 7/11
3 pairs, 1 adult at Rocks off Cedar Island, Thimble Islands on 7/11
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Quinnipeag Rocks on 7/11
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/11

2 adults at Great Captain's Island on 7/11

2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/12

2 pairs, 2 adults, 1 fledgling at Milford Point on 7/13

1 adult at Short Beach on 7/13

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/13

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14

Least Tern

4 pairs, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/5

12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/5

29 pairs, 3 hatchlings, 22 nests at Milford Point on 7/6
3 adults at Long Beach on 7/6
65 adults, 5 hatchlings at Griswold Point on 7/7
10 adults, 1 hatchling at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/7
60 adults, 6 hatchlings at Griswold Point on 7/7
4 pairs, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/7

6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/7

16 hatchlings, 1 fledgling, 10 nests at Griswold Point on 7/8
10 pairs, 10 hatchlings, 4 nests at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/8
5 pairs, 3 hatchlings, 3 nests at Bluff Point on 7/8
5 adults at Barn Island on 7/8

18 adults at Long Beach on 7/8

8 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/8

1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 7/9
14 pairs, 22 adults, 2 hatchlings, 8 nests at Milford Point on 7/9
1 adult at Short Beach on 7/9
9 adults at Long Beach on 7/9
2 adults at Russian Beach on 7/9

12 adults at Long Beach on 7/9

11 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/9

3 pairs, 2 adults, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 7/10
3 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/10
4 pairs, 1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 3 nests at Bluff Point on 7/10
38 adults, 2 hatchlings, 8 nests at Milford Point on 7/10
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Sasco Hill Beach on 7/10

3 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/10

4 pairs, 14 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/12
23 adults at Long Beach on 7/12

22 adults at Long Beach on 7/13

17 adults at Long Beach on 7/13

1 pair, 3 adults, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 7/13

13 pairs, 18 adults, 1 fledgling, 8 nests at Milford Point on 7/13

1 pair, 2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/13
15 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14

Common Tern

2 pairs, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/6
3 adults at Griswold Point on 7/7
5 adults at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/7
10 adults, 1 juvenile at Griswold Point on 7/7
26 adults at Griswold Point on 7/8
1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy Point Stonington on 7/8

5 adults at Long Beach on 7/8

1 pair, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/9

2 adults at Long Beach on 7/9

1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 7/10
20 adults at Milford Point on 7/10

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/10

2 pairs, 2 adults at Umbrella Island on 7/11
1 pair, 3 adults at Branford Harbor on 7/11

6 adults at Thimble Islands on 7/11

5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/12
2 adults at Long Beach on 7/12

1 adult at Milford Point on 7/13

This concludes update #15 through 7/14/14 as of 5:00 p.m.

Assistance at Bluff Point tomorrow night

CT DEEP is looking for assistance tomorrow night, July 12, for monitoring at Bluff Point during another fireworks display. If anyone can accompany DEEP's Rebecca Foster at Bluff Point for Sailfest tomorrow evening around 7:30PM please email both Rebecca (rsuzf@hotmail.com) and us at this address (ctwaterbirds@gmail.com). Thank you very much for any help!

Stewart B. McKinney NWR in news

Below is a great message from Shaun Roche of USFWS:

I would like to let you know some very exciting news regarding recognition for the refuge. The national TV show CBS Sunday Morning (www.cbsnews.com/sunday-morning/) will feature footage from the Falkner Island Unit and the Salt Meadow Unit on it's July 13th broadcast. This footage was taken about a week ago by a talented nature videographer Jamie McDonald. Those of you who are familiar with the show will know that each week they air a segment called the "moment of nature." It comes on at the very end, usually between 10:25 and 10:30am EST.

I highly recommend that you try to watch this segment if you can. It will be short, but it has the potential to provide some great recognition for the Stewart B. McKinney NWR across the country.

Please pass this information along and let other interested parties know - thanks!

AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #14

This is the fourteenth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2014 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from June 30 through 4:00 p.m. on July 7 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

Thank you to those who assisted us with the fireworks displays last week.  We still have a lot of monitoring left this year for young terns on several beaches as well as Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers of all ages - hatchlings, fledglings, and juveniles plus some birds still with eggs and on nest! Please continue stewardship efforts on the usual schedule during this now busy beach season after a terrific first few months of 2014 thanks to all of you.

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover 

5 pairs, 5 fledglings at Bluff Point on 6/30
8 pairs, 2 adults, 8 hatchlings, 7 fledglings, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 6/30
7 pairs, 8 hatchlings, 13 fledglings, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 6/30
7 adults, 4 hatchlings, 7 fledglings, 3 juveniles at Griswold Point on 6/30
7 pairs, 4 hatchlings, 4 fledglings, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/1
4 pairs, 2 adults, 3 hatchlings, 9 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/1

19 adults, 5 juveniles, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/1

13 adults, 4 fledglings, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/1

12 adults, 5 fledglings, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/2
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/2
1 pair, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 7/2
1 adult, 1 hatchling at Long Beach on 7/2
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Short Beach on 7/2
3 pairs, 1 adult, 3 hatchlings at Sandy Point Stonington on 7/2

8 adults, 10 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2

3 pairs, 3 fledglings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2

16 adults, 4 hatchlings, 8 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/3
1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/3
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Short Beach on 7/3
2 pairs, 1 hatchling at Mumford Cove on 7/3
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/4

1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/5

7 pairs, 9 fledglings, 1 juvenile, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/5

1 pair, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 7/5

2 adults, 4 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/5

8 adults, 6 juveniles, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/6
1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/6

1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/7

American Oystercatcher
2 pairs at Tuxis Island on 6/30
1 adult at Griswold Point on 6/30
2 pairs, 7 adults, 1 fledgling at Milford Point on 6/30
1 adult at Griswold Point on 6/30
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Quinnipeag Rocks on 6/30
2 pairs, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/1
2 adults at Griswold Point on 7/1

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/1

2 pairs, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/1

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2
2 adults at Thimble Islands on 7/2
7 pairs, 1 adult, 6 fledglings at Sandy Point Stonington on 7/2

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2

1 pair, 1 adult, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2

3 pairs at Milford Point on 7/3
6 adults at Short Beach on 7/3
1 adult at Ram Island on 7/3
1 pair at Mumford Cove on 7/3

3 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/6

Least Tern

25 pairs, 6 adults, 2 hatchlings, 25 nests at Milford Point on 6/30
50 adults, 2 hatchlings at Griswold Point on 6/30
4 pairs, 3 nests at Bluff Point on 6/30
35 pairs, 10 adults, 20 hatchlings, 25 nests at Griswold Point on 6/30
9 pairs, 6 adults, 1 hatchling, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/1
1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 7/1
65 adults, 3 hatchlings at Griswold Point on 7/1
7 adults, 3 hatchlings at Sasco Hill Beach on 7/1

3 pairs, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/1

20 adults, 1 hatchling, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/1

20 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2
1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 7/2

12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2

3 pairs, 14 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2

35 adults, 10 nests at Milford Point on 7/3
5 adults at Long Beach on 7/3
2 pairs, 2 nests at Mumford Cove on 7/3
11 adults, 1 hatchling at Sasco Hill Beach on 7/6

3 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/6
13 adults at Long Beach on 7/6

Common Tern

1 adult, 1 nest at Milford Point on 6/30
1 adult at Bluff Point on 6/30
2 pairs, 2 adults at Griswold Point on 6/30
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/1
11 adults at Griswold Point on 7/1
3 adults at Sandy Point Stonington on 7/2
6 adults, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/3

This concludes update #14 through 7/7/14 as of 5:00 p.m.