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.