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.