Ruddy Turnstone

This beautiful Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) was one of several feeding at Stratford Point this morning along with a small group of Semipalmated Sandpipers. Migrant shorebirds are still moving north through the state, and it is hard to believe that in two months we will have many flying south!

 
Please keep sharing any Connecticut eBird checklists with shorebirds, terns or long-legged waders with us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com, thanks!

AAfCW 2015 Volunteer Update #8

This is the eighth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2015 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from May 18 through 4:00 p.m. on May 26 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

Thank you to all of the monitors who spent extra time out on the beach this holiday weekend! We educated and spoke to hundreds of beachgoers in the warm beach weather. We discovered the first Piping Plover hatchlings of 2015 at Milford Point and Sandy/Morse Points, as well as American Oystercatcher hatchlings at Milford Point. This will pick up very rapidly now with many young emerging in the next couple of weeks as our terns begin to nest as well. Please monitor as much as you can in this critical time! There is no more important point of the year as this is when the young birds are the most vulnerable.

For those of you who are wondering about access to beaches or parking, please use your monitor ID badges and explain that you are there to conduct volunteering monitoring to be granted free entry to any of our sites. If you ever encounter a problem with this please email us immediately and we will assist you and contact the municipality and/or park. Thank you again for all of your help.

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
9 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/18
10 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/19
1 adult at Long Beach on 5/20
4 adults, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/22
6 pairs, 4 adults, 6 nests at Milford Point on 5/22
1 pair, 1 nest at East Broadway Milford on 5/22
6 pairs, 5 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/22
6 pairs, 6 nests at Milford Point on 5/22
2 pairs, 1 nest at Short Beach on 5/22
3 pairs, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/22
6 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/22
2 pairs, 1 nest at Short Beach on 5/23
4 pairs, 1 adult, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/23
6 pairs, 6 nests at Milford Point on 5/23
3 pairs, 4 adults, 1 hatchling, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/23
5 adults, 4 nests at Milford Point on 5/23
1 pair, 7 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/23
1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 5/23
1 adult, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/23
1 pair, 9 adults, 2 nests, 2 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/25
2 adults at Long Beach on 5/25
1 pair at Short Beach on 5/25
5 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/26
4 adults, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/26

American Oystercatcher
4 adults at Fayerweather Island on 5/18
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/18
2 adults at Stratford Point on 5/19
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/19
3 pairs, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
3 adults at Long Beach on 5/20
1 pair, 3 hatchlings at Tuxis Island on 5/21
1 adult at Stratford Point on 5/21
2 pairs, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/22
3 pairs, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/22
3 pairs, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/22
2 pairs at at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/22
2 pairs at Long Beach on 5/23
3 pairs at Milford Point on 5/23
2 pairs, 2 hatchlings at Milford Point on 5/23
3 pairs, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/23
2 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/23
2 pairs at Milford Point on 5/23
5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/25
1 pair at Stratford Point on 5/26
2 pairs, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/26
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/26

Least Tern
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/18
9 adults at Stratford Point on 5/19
30 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/19
6 adults at Stratford Point on 5/20
3 adults at Long Beach on 5/20
9 adults at Stratford Point on 5/21
13 adults at Griswold Point on 5/21
1 pair, 6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/22
8 adults at Stratford Point on 5/22
20 adults at Milford Point on 5/22
4 adults at East Broadway Milford on 5/22
8 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/22
2 pairs, 4 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/22
2 pairs at Short Beach on 5/23
4 pairs, 17 adults at Milford Point on 5/23
1 pair, 30 adults, 6 nests at Milford Point on 5/23
3 adults at Stratford Point on 5/24
4 adults at Stratford Point on 5/25
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/25
4 adults at Short Beach on 5/25
1 pair, 11 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/26
2 pairs, 1 adult at Long Beach on 5/26
3 adults at Stratford Point on 5/26

Common Tern
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/18
15 adults at Stratford Point on 5/19
3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/19
6 adults at Stratford Point on 5/20
26 adults at Stratford Point on 5/21
18 adults at Stratford Point on 5/22
1 pair, 2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/22
5 adults at Stratford Point on 5/24
3 adults at Stratford Point on 5/25
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/26
5 adults at Stratford Point on 5/26

This concludes update #8 through 5/26/15 as of 5:00 p.m.

American Oystercatchers in Flight

That is one chatty American Oystercatcher! I wonder if the other two had nothing to say or didn’t even bother talking to me, knowing they wouldn’t be heard over their friend…our work in the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds continues seven days a week.

We had the first American Oystercatcher chicks of 2015 hatch at Milford Point this week! More to come soon...

AAfCW 2015 Volunteer Update #7

This is the seventh weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2015 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from May 11 through 4:00 p.m. on May 18 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

All is running smoothly with our waterbirds for the most part thus far this season. After a slow start we have many nests of Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher across our beaches with at least sightings of birds nearly everywhere, with potentially a few nests yet to come. Least Terns and Common Terns will be starting to pair off to nest in the coming weeks.

Please remember that this upcoming weekend is Memorial Day. The holiday will mean busier beaches with a lot more traffic, especially if the weather is cooperative. Many of these visitors will not know about our birds or why they're important and need to be educated on what is happening on the beach. If you have any extra time to monitor outside of your usual shifts please try to visit any of our beaches next Saturday, Sunday and Monday during this critical nesting time at the unofficial beginning of summer. Thank you in advance!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
2 pairs at Silver Sands State Park on 5/11
2 pairs, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/11
2 pairs, 2 nests at Short Beach on 5/11
3 pairs, 1 adult, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/11
2 pairs, 2 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12
1 pair, 2 adults, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/12
1 pair, 1 adult, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/12
1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 5/12
10 pairs, 3 adults, 6 nests at Griswold Point on 5/12
3 pairs, 1 adult at Bluff Point on 5/12
3 adults at Long Beach on 5/13
6 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/13
1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 5/13
11 pairs, 1 adult, 8 nests at Milford Point on 5/13
1 pair, 1 nest at East Broadway Milford on 5/13
1 pair, 1 adult, 2 nests at Bluff Point on 5/14
8 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
2 pairs at Silver Sands State Park on 5/14
4 pairs, 1 adult, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/14
13 adults, 4 nests at Milford Point on 5/14
1 adult at Long Beach on 5/15
3 pairs, 5 adults, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/15
1 pair, 2 adults at Long Beach on 5/16
2 pairs, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/17
1 pair, 5 adults at Bluff Point on 5/17

American Oystercatcher
3 pairs, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/11
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/12
1 adult at Stratford Point on 5/12
5 pairs, 4 nests at Cockenoe Island on 5/12
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/13
2 pairs, 1 nest at Duck Island on 5/13
1 adult at Stratford Point on 5/13
1 adult at Long Beach on 5/13
3 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/13
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
4 pairs at Milford Point on 5/14
2 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/15

Least Tern
9 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12
9 adults at Long Beach on 5/12
3 adults at Stratford Point on 5/12
8 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/12
30 adults at Griswold Point on 5/12
6 adults at Bluff Point on 5/12
20 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/13
7 adults at Milford Point on 5/13
2 adults at Stratford Point on 5/13
5 adults at East Broadway Milford on 5/13
5 adults at Long Beach on 5/13
12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
8 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/14
30 adults at Milford Point on 5/14
6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
1 adult at Sasco Hill Beach on 5/16
5 adults at Long Beach on 5/16
2 adults at Long Beach on 5/17
8 adults at Stratford Point on 5/18

Common Tern
2 adults at Stratford Point on 5/12
6 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/12
8 adults at Griswold Point on 5/12
2 adults at Bluff Point on 5/12
3 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/13
14 adults at Stratford Point on 5/13
7 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/14
4 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/14
2 adults at Long Beach on 5/14
1 adults at Milford Point on 5/14
14 adults at Stratford Point on 5/18

This concludes update #7 through 5/18/15 as of 5:00 p.m.

Piping Plover Courtship

Here are some photos of Piping Plover courtship in action as taken by Sean Graesser recently here in Connecticut.

Amazingly we still have pairs of Piping Plovers still trying to find a nest site on some of our beaches, with one example being Silver Sands State Park in Milford. This is the beginning of our busiest time of the year with them and American Oystercatchers at various stages of nesting, young soon to come, while terns are returning, pairing off and setting up colonies in some of these same areas. Meanwhile people are also going back to the beach as the weather warms, and we are busy educating them on why protecting our coastal waterbirds is so important. The good news is that we seem to be off to a solid start, and we'll keep our fingers crossed that the tides and weather cooperate.

AAfCW 2015 Volunteer Update #6

This is the sixth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2015 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from May 4 through 4:00 p.m. on May 11 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

Our terns have arrived! As they begin to migrate through and assemble on beaches for nesting, and while Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers are hard at work incubating eggs and protecting nests, we have to bear in mind that we want to give all of these birds as much room as possible, even from us. Their safety and success is a priority over data and information on their numbers or current status. Please use binoculars and scopes to view them from afar while staying near the water on beaches. Being out at low tide can be beneficial as well when there is more real estate for the birds. Remaining entirely off of the spit at Milford Point, for example, can also be a good idea.

Another factor to keep in mind is that some nests are intentionally not being exclosed in areas where predators have determined these exclosures mean eggs and dig under them, such as Stratford. Our weather will move from hot and humid with possible thunderstorms tomorrow to windy and cool or even cold later this week after the cold front's passage, so please be aware before you head out to the shore.

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
1 adult at Stratford Point on 5/4
5 pairs, 8 adults, 2 nests at Griswold Point on 5/4
1 pair, 3 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/4
1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 5/4
2 pairs, 1 nest at Short Beach on 5/4
2 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/4
5 adults at Long Beach on 5/5
3 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/5
2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Sandy Point Stonington on 5/5
1 pair, 1 nest at East Broadway Milford on 5/6
1 adult at Long Beach on 5/6
7 adults, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/6
1 pair at Mumford Cove on 5/6
1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 5/6
9 pairs, 1 adult, 6 nests at Milford Point on 5/6
7 pairs, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/6
3 pairs, 2 nest at Bluff Point on 5/7
6 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/7
3 pairs at Long Beach on 5/7
1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 5/7
2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/7
6 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/7
3 pairs, 1 adult, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/8
6 pairs, 2 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/8
1 pair, 1 nest at East Broadway Milford on 5/8
7 pairs, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/8
2 pairs, 1 adult at Long Beach on 5/9
4 pairs, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/9
1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/9
1 pair, 4 adults, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/9
4 pairs, 4 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/9
10 adults, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/9
2 pairs at Silver Sands State Park on 5/10
6 adults at Bluff Point on 5/10
2 pairs at Long Beach on 5/10
1 pair, 1 nest at East Broadway Milford on 5/10
1 pair, 1 nest at East Broadway Milford on 5/10
2 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/10
4 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/11
1 adult at Stratford Point on 5/11

American Oystercatcher
1 adult at Stratford Point on 5/4
1 pair, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/4
1 pair at South Brother Island on 5/4
1 pair at Griswold Point on 5/4
1 pair at Stratford Point on 5/5
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/5
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/5
9 pairs, 1 adult, 8 nests at Sandy Point Stonington on 5/5
1 pair, 1 nest at Salt Island on 5/5
4 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Menunketesuck Island on 5/5
1 pair, 1 adult at Duck Island on 5/5
1 adult at Stratford Point on 5/6
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/6
3 pairs, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/6
3 pairs, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/6
1 pair, 1 nest at Quinnipeag Rock on 5/6
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/7
3 pairs, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/7
4 pairs, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/7
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/8
3 pairs, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/8
3 pairs, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/8
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/9
5 adults, 5 nests at Milford Point on 5/9
3 pairs, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/9
3 adults at Stratford Point on 5/9
4 pairs, 4 nests at Milford Point on 5/9
1 adult at Bluff Point on 5/10
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/10
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/11

Least Tern
2 adults at Stratford Point on 5/4
1 adult at Long Beach on 5/4
1 adult at Stratford Point on 5/5
1 pair, 1 adult at Long Beach on 5/5
1 pair, 3 adults at Long Beach on 5/6
1 adult at Stratford Point on 5/6
5 adults at Milford Point on 5/6
13 adults at Long Beach on 5/7
3 adults at Milford Point on 5/7
15 adults at Long Beach on 5/7
5 adults at Stratford Point on 5/7
6 adults at Milford Point on 5/8
2 adults at Stratford Point on 5/8
2 adults at Stratford Point on 5/9
4 adults at Milford Point on 5/9
2 adults at East Broadway Milford on 5/10
5 adults at Milford Point on 5/10
4 adults at Long Beach on 5/10
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/11
1 adults at Stratford Point on 5/11

Common Tern
2 adults at Stratford Point on 5/6
2 adults at Milford Point on 5/7
1 adult at Long Beach on 5/7
3 adults at Stratford Point on 5/7
2 adults at Long Beach on 5/7
3 adults at Stratford Point on 5/8
1 adult at Stratford Point on 5/9
5 adults at Long Beach on 5/9
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/10
4 adults at East Broadway Milford on 5/10
2 adults at Stratford Point on 5/11

This concludes update #6 through 5/11/15 as of 5:00 p.m.

American Oystercatchers at Stratford Point

These American Oystercatchers were feeding along the shore of Stratford Point yesterday morning, seen in front of the reef balls in the dense fog and cold easterly wind.

At other now much warmer beaches across Connecticut there are soon to be mothers on their eggs at this moment. We will keep working to help those moms, and Happy Mother's Day to all!

Salt & Pepper

Sean Graesser took this terrific photo of a flock of Dunlin (Calidris alpina) recently on one of our beaches.

He said he loves the salt and pepper look these birds have as they are changing over to full breeding plumage. Shorebirds need rest, and allowing these various groups space and peace is very important on their biological and geographical journeys.

Piping Plover at Bradley Airport

Thank you to Rollin Tebbets for sharing this amazing photo of an amazing record. Rollin had a Piping Plover at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks yesterday morning. 

We are only aware of one previous inland record for Piping Plover. In C. Heart Merriam's "A Review of Birds of Connecticut" he mentions of Piping Plover "Mr. W.W.Coe has taken it at Portland". We also recall that there might be a 19th Century record from Station 43 in South Windsor.

Dunlin (Calidris alpina)

The Dunlin (Calidris alpina) are really starting to molt into their breeding plumage now, with birds like this one at Stratford Point in Stratford coming along nicely. Once it wraps up changing into its summer suit it will be on its way to the tundra.

You can see so many shorebirds in May, and just in the last couple days at this one site there were also Semipalmated Plovers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Sanderling, Short-billed Dowitchers, Black-bellied Plovers, Piping Plovers, American Oystercatchers, Lesser Yellowlegs, Killdeer and Least Sandpipers, all being recorded by us in the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds.

AAfCW 2015 Volunteer Update #5

This is the fifth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2015 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher from April 27 through 4:00 p.m. on May 4 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

Piping Plovers are nesting across the state now, and if you have birds on your beach you may have or will soon see large metal exclosures placed over these completed four-egg nests by CT DEEP. Please remember that we request as much breeding information as possible, such as if you have birds that are paired - rather than "adults" - and if you have nesting data. However, we do not need you to actually approach or view the nest itself or eggs, and all viewing should take place far from these exclosures so as not to interrupt incubating birds.

If you live in far western sections of Connecticut and have the opportunity to view or check on some of our offshore islands via kayak or boat this spring and summer please let us know! It would be a tremendous help to our reduced field staff as there are only four AAfCW members to check out the entire state, with just two to kayak. Similarly, it is very important we have monitors on far eastern beaches often (Bluff Point especially) as it is difficult to get some of our crew there regularly.

Least Terns and Common Terns should be seen this week as well. Please report both species to us as you do with Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers. Thank you, good luck and enjoy monitoring in our improving weather!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
3 pairs, 1 adult at Bluff Point on 4/27
2 pairs at Short Beach on 4/27
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28
3 pairs at Long Beach on 4/28
2 pairs at Short Beach on 4/28
2 pairs, 1 adult at Long Beach on 4/28
2 pairs at Short Beach on 4/28
6 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Milford Point on 4/28
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/29
2 pairs at Short Beach on 4/29
2 pairs, 4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/29
5 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/29
2 pairs at Long Beach on 4/29
5 pairs, 4 adults at Milford Point on 4/29
3 pairs, 8 adults, 2 nests at Griswold Point on 4/29
6 pairs at Milford Point on 4/30
1 pair, 2 adults at Griswold Point on 4/30
4 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 4/30
7 pairs, 1 adult at Milford Point on 4/30
2 pairs at Short Beach on 4/30
7 pairs, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/30
8 pairs, 1 adult at Milford Point on 5/1
2 pairs, 2 adults at Bluff Point on 5/1
2 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/1
1 pair, 1 nest at East Broadway Milford on 5/3
7 pairs, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/3
1 pair, 1 nest at East Broadway Milford on 5/3
9 pairs, 4 nests at Milford Point on 5/3
1 pair, 3 adults at Long Beach on 5/3
1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 5/3
5 adults at Bluff Point on 5/3
1 pair, 2 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/4

American Oystercatcher
1 pair, 1 nest at Falkner Island on 4/27
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/28
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/28
3 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 4/28
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/29
2 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 4/29
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/29
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/29
3 pairs at Milford Point on 4/30
1 pair, 3 adults at Great Captain's Island on 4/30
2 pairs at Great Island on 4/30
1 pair at Griswold Point on 4/30
1 pair at Tuxis Island on 4/30
8 pairs, 1 adult, 6 nests at Sandy Point Stonington on 4/30
3 pairs at Milford Point on 4/30
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/30
1 pair, 1 nest at Ram Island on 5/1
1 adult at Bluff Point on 5/1
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/1
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/1
4 pairs, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/3
5 pairs at Cockenoe Island on 5/3
1 pair at East White Rock on 5/3
1 pair at Crow Island on 5/3
1 pair at Manresa Marsh on 5/3
1 adult at Peach Island on 5/3
3 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/3
1 adult at Branford Harbor, Channel Marker on 5/3
1 pair, 1 nest at Umbrella Island on 5/3
1 pair, 1 nest at Green Island on 5/3
1 adult at Kelsey Island on 5/3
1 pair, 1 nest at Darrow Rocks on 5/3
1 pair, 1 nest at Lewis Island, Thimbles on 5/3
1 pair at Governor Island, Thimbles on 5/3
1 adult at Frisbie Island, Thimbles on 5/3
1 pair at Thimble Islands, Exposed Reef on 5/3
1 adult at Long Beach on 5/3
3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/4

This concludes update #5 through 5/4/15 as of 5:00 p.m.

Piping Plovers Go Time

Amazingly there were still pairs of Piping Plovers coming into Connecticut through the end of April. New arrivals hit the breeding grounds as other birds were beginning to nest, and finally we look to be really into “go time” for our soon to be parents.

After a lot of cool weather and wind we are into May where we should have a safe buffer from the freezing mark. Let us hope we have conducive incubation conditions and stable weather for our continuing efforts.