AAfCW 2016 Volunteer Update #6

This is the sixth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2016 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher from April 25 through 11:00 a.m. on May 2 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff.

Informational updates:

We are finding new nests for both Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers at our beaches every day. Please report any new nests to us as well as CT DEEP's Laura Saucier (laura.saucier@ct.gov) and Rebecca Foster (rsuzf@hotmail.com) as soon as possible. Yesterday was a good example of weather conditions that we do not want to go out and monitor in as even our approach could flush birds off nests and be a threat to the safety of their eggs. There is a chance of rain every day this week so keep an eye on the forecast and prioritize the safety of our birds.

Common and Least Terns should be arriving in the state this week, so please watch for both species and report them to us as you would Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers. Thank you all and good birding!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
2 pairs at Long Beach on 4/25
2 pairs, 6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/25
6 adults at Griswold Point on 4/25
1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 4/27
4 pairs, 1 nest at Long Beach on 4/27
2 pairs, 2 nests at Sandy Point Island on 4/27
2 pairs, 5 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/27
1 pair, 4 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/27
1 adult at Long Beach on 4/27
1 pair, 3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28
6 pairs, 3 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 4/28
4 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Long Beach on 4/28
3 pairs, 4 adults at Hammonasset on 4/28
4 pairs, 2 adults at Griswold Point on 4/29
2 pairs, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/29
2 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/29
1 adult at Peck Ave/Beach St, West Haven on 4/29
3 pairs, 6 adults at Milford Point on 4/29

American Oystercatcher
2 adults at Long Beach on 4/25
1 adult at Sixpenny Island on 4/25
1 adult at Ram Island on 4/25
1 pair, 2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/25
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/27
10 pairs, 7 nests at Sandy Point Island on 4/27
3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/27
3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/27
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/27
3 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 4/28
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/28
2 pairs, 2 nests at Hammonasset on 4/28
1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/28
1 pair at Griswold Point on 4/29
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/29
2 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/29
1 adult at Long Rock on 4/29
2 adults at Bluff Point on 4/29

This concludes update #6 through 05/02/16 as of 12:00 p.m.