AAfCW 2014 Volunteer Update #18

This is the eighteenth 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 27 through 4:00 p.m. on August 4 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

Please keep monitoring as scheduled throughout August as we still have hatchlings on our beaches along with fledglings, juveniles and adults, all of which we want to keep recording and working to protect via our stewardship efforts. Even if you see fencing and signage removed this only means actual nesting has ended - we still need your help as monitors! We have done incredibly well with fledging Piping Plover chicks and let's ensure the later individuals all make it to the juvenile stage.

Have you been out birding or surveying apart from your monitoring time or earlier in the year? Do you have eBird checklists that include ANY species of terns, shorebirds or long-legged waders? If you could please share these with us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com via the eBird share function we would greatly appreciate all the data and visits you have made to see any species of those families of birds at any time in 2014. It helps our year-round effort to conserve and protect Connecticut's waterbirds. Thank you!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

1 adult, 3 hatchlings, 4 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/28
10 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/28
1 juvenile at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/28
1 adult, 3 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/29
1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 4 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/29
2 adults, 2 hatchlings, 2 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/29
1 juvenile at East Broadway Milford on 7/30
1 adult, 1 juvenile Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30
1 adult, 1 hatchling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30

3 adults, 2 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/30

3 adults, 1 hatchling, 1 fledgling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30

3 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/31
1 pair, 1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31
2 pairs, 2 hatchlings, 4 fledglings at Hatchetts Point on 7/31
1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 1 juvenile at Griswold Point on 7/31

5 adults, 1 hatchling, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31

3 fledglings at Griswold Point on 8/1

1 adult, 4 juveniles at Harkness Memorial State Park on 8/1

1 juvenile at East Broadway Milford on 8/1

2 adults at Long Beach on 8/2

2 adults, 2 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/3

5 adults, 1 fledgling at Griswold Point on 8/3

1 adult, 2 fledglings at Griswold Point on 8/4

2 adults, 1 fledgling at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/4

American Oystercatcher

1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Tuxis Island on 7/28
2 adults at Bluff Point on 7/28
1 pair, 5 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/28
5 pairs, 4 juveniles at Cockenoe Island on 7/29
1 pair at Griswold Point on 7/29
2 pairs, 2 juveniles at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/29
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30
1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 7/31
4 pairs, 1 hatchling, 3 juveniles at Menunketesuck Island on 7/31

1 pair, 1 juvenile at Salt Island on 7/31
1 pair, 3 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/31
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31
3 pairs, 1 juvenile at Menunketesuck Island on 7/31

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31
2 adults at Long Beach on 8/2

2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 8/3

2 adults at Griswold Point on 8/3

1 pair at Griswold Point on 8/4

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/4

Least Tern

6 adults, 1 fledgling at Short Beach on 7/27
12 adults, 2 fledglings at Hammonasset State Park on 7/28
2 adults, 1 juvenile at Bluff Point on 7/28
20 pairs, 20 adults, 7 hatchlings, 18 juveniles, 2 nests at Griswold Point on 7/28
37 adults, 3 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/28
60 adults, 4 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/29
4 adults at Long Beach on 7/29

12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/29

7 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30

4 adults at Long Beach on 7/30

13 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30

50 adults, 2 hatchlings, 1 fledgling, 3 juveniles at Menunketesuck Island on 7/31
42 adults, 5 hatchlings, 3 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/31
9 adults, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31
1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Hatchetts Point on 7/31
5 pairs, 35 adults, 4 hatchlings, 10 juveniles, 2 nests at Griswold Point on 7/31
63 adults at Menunketesuck Island on 7/31

6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31

45 adults, 10 juveniles at Griswold Point on 8/1

58 adults, 2 hatchlings, 12 juveniles at Harkness Memorial State Park on 8/1

8 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/3

22 adults, 3 fledglings at Griswold Point on 8/3

75 adults, 2 fledglings, 8 juveniles at Griswold Point on 8/4

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/4

Common Tern

5 adults at Short Beach on 7/27
15 adults at Hammonasset State Park on 7/28
14 adults at Bluff Point on 7/28
17 adults, 2 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/28
20 adults at Milford Point on 7/28
12 adults, 2 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/29

4 adults at Long Beach on 7/29

13 adults at Pleasure Beach on 7/30

2 adults at Long Beach on 7/30

121 adults at Menunketesuck Island on 7/31
15 adults at Milford Point on 7/31
139 adults, 12 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31
3 adults, 1 juvenile at Hatchetts Point on 7/31
16 adults, 4 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/31
70 adults at Menunketesuck Island on 7/31

5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31

36 adults, 4 juveniles at Griswold Point on 8/1

6 adults at Harkness Memorial State Park on 8/1

5 adults at Long Beach on 8/2

219 adults, 31 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/3

60 adults at Griswold Point on 8/4

100 adults, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/4

This concludes update #18 through 8/4/14 as of 5:00 p.m.