AAfCW 2016 Volunteer Update #8

This is the eighth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2016 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from May 9 through 11:00 a.m. on May 16 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff.

Informational updates:

This week may once again feature more inclement weather days where it is best to skip monitoring due to cool temperatures, strong wind or rain - especially with many nests now on our beaches. As you may recall from training in March, CT DEEP is selectively exclosing Piping Plover nests this year while participating in a regional study evaluating exclosure success. Therefore there will be complete, four-egg nests that we are aware of and that CT DEEP has already recorded that do not get a metal exclosure placed over them. Please do report nests that you believe are "new" to CT DEEP and us as usual, or any nests that are washed out or otherwise appear to be abandoned.

Common and Least Terns have arrived and are being seen across the state. Please watch for both species and report them to us as you would Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers. Thank you all for your efforts!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

5 pairs, 1 nest at Hammonasset on 5/8
3 pairs, 1 adult at Long Beach on 5/9
4 pairs, 2 adults, 3 nests at Bluff Point on 5/9
5 pairs, 2 nests at Griswold Point on 5/9

5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/9

5 pairs, 2 adults, 3 nests at Hammonasset on 5/10
10 pairs, 6 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/10
4 pairs, 2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/10

2 pairs, 3 adults at Long Beach on 5/10
1 pair, 5 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/10

2 pairs, 3 adults, 2 nests at Hammonasset on 5/11
6 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/11
6 pairs, 1 adult, 5 nests at Bluff Point on 5/11

1 pair, 4 adults, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/11
4 pairs, 7 adults, 5 nests at Milford Point on 5/11

7 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/11

3 pairs, 2 adults at Long Beach on 5/11

4 pairs, 8 adults, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/12
6 pairs, 2 adults, 3 nests at Bluff Point on 5/12
3 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/12
11 pairs, 9 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12
7 pairs, 1 adult, 6 nests at Long Beach on 5/13
1 pair, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 5/13
9 adults, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 5/13

3 pairs, 10 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/13

5 pairs, 4 adults, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/13

3 pairs, 5 adults, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/14

4 pairs, 2 adults, 2 nests at Hammonasset on 5/15
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/15

7 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/15

1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 5/15

5 pairs, 4 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/15

American Oystercatcher
2 pairs, 2 nests at Hammonasset on 5/8
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/9
1 pair, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/9
1 pair at Griswold Point on 5/9

3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/9

2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Hammonasset on 5/10
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/10

2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/10
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/10

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/11
2 pairs, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/11
2 pairs, 1 nest at Hammonasset on 5/11
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/11
3 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/11

2 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/11

1 pair, 3 adults at Long Beach on 5/11

1 adult at Stratford Point on 5/12
3 pairs, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/12
2 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/12
1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/12
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/12
1 pair at Compo Beach on 5/12
12 pairs, 9 nests at Cockenoe Island on 5/12

1 adult at Stratford Point on 5/13
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/13
1 pair, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 5/13
1 adult at Griswold Point on 5/13

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/13

1 pair at Long Beach on 5/14

2 pairs, 1 nest at Hammonasset on 5/15

2 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/15

Least Tern
10 adults at Hammonasset on 5/10
6 adults at Long Beach on 5/10
6 adults at Bluff Point on 5/11
9 adults at Hammonasset on 5/11

50 adults at Milford Point on 5/11

1 adult at Long Beach on 5/11

2 adults at Short Beach on 5/12
12 adults at Cockenoe Island on 5/12
20 adults at Milford Point on 5/12
7 adults at Long Beach on 5/12
2 adults at Stratford Point on 5/13
4 adults at Long Beach on 5/13
2 adults at Pleasure Beach on 5/13
11 adults at Hammonasset on 5/13

20 adults at Long Beach on 5/15

Common Tern
12 adults at Hammonasset on 5/10
2 adults at Hammonasset on 5/11
3 adults at Stratford Point on 5/12
6 adults at Milford Point on 5/12
90 adults at Cockenoe Island on 5/12
4 adults at Stratford Point on 5/13

10 adults at Griswold Point on 5/13

6 adults at Hammonasset on 5/15

This concludes update #8 through 05/16/16 as of 12:00 p.m.