AAfCW 2016 Volunteer Update #18

This is the eighteenth 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 July 18 through 11:00 a.m. on July 25 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff.

Informational updates:

Amazingly we still have Piping Plover nests hatching as of last week on some of our beaches even with the first bird being reported in the Bahamas for the "winter"! We definitely need to continue monitoring full-time as usual throughout the next month. More observations of terns of various ages continue as well, and American Oystercatchers are still in the middle of nesting season with some dispersal and migratory flocks forming. Please keep an eye even on our quieter beaches for banded or flagged Piping Plovers or American Oystercatchers moving into Connecticut from neighboring states or regions. Please remember to email Laura.Saucier@ct.gov along with us if you see any banded or flagged birds, and to get as much information about them and their tagging information as possible (within reason and with the safety of the birds being paramount). Photos are always helpful, too. Thank you!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

2 pairs, 4 adults, 3 hatchlings, 4 fledglings at Griswold Point on 7/18
2 pairs, 2 adults, 3 hatchlings at Bluff Point on 7/18

1 pair, 3 adults, 4 hatchlings, 2 fledglings, 2 nests at Long Beach on 7/19

3 pairs, 4 adults, 3 hatchlings, 13 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/19
1 pair, 5 adults, 5 hatchlings, 1 juvenile, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/19

2 adults, 1 fledgling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/19

10 adults, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/19

2 adults, 1 fledgling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/20

1 pair, 4 adults, 3 fledglings at Griswold Point on 7/20

1 adult, 1 fledgling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/20
1 adult, 4 hatchlings at Short Beach on 7/20

7 adults, 5 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/20

1 fledgling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20

6 adults, 4 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/20

1 pair, 1 adult, 3 fledglings, 4 juveniles, 1 nest at Hammonasset on 7/20
1 adult, 1 fledgling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/20
12 adults, 5 hatchlings, 7 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/21

1 adult, 3 hatchlings at Milford Point on 7/22

1 adult, 1 fledgling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/22

1 pair, 1 hatchling, 3 juveniles at Hammonasset on 7/22

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/23
1 fledgling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/24

2 adults, 2 hatchlings, 4 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/24

2 adults, 1 fledgling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/24
1 adult, 1 fledgling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/24

American Oystercatcher

1 adult at Griswold Point on 7/18
1 adult at Jacobs Beach on 7/18
1 adult at Chaffinch Island on 7/18
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Bluff Point on 7/18
3 pairs, 2 adults, 1 fledgling at Milford Point on 7/19
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Lewis Island on 7/19
1 pair at Wayland Island on 7/19
1 pair at Compo Beach on 7/19
2 pairs, 4 adults, 1 hatchling at Hammonasset on 7/20
4 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/20

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20

1 pair, 3 hatchlings at Horse Island, Joshua Cove on 7/20
1 adult at Goose Rocks on 7/20

1 pair at Griswold Point on 7/20

1 pair at Rocks, Branford Harbor on 7/21
1 pair, 1 hatchling at Umbrella Island on 7/21
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Kelsey Island on 7/21
1 pair, 1 nest at Darrow Rocks on 7/21
2 pairs, 1 adult, 1 hatchling at Hammonasset on 7/21
2 pairs at Silver Sands State Park on 7/21
15 adults at Milford Point on 7/21
1 pair at Salt Island on 7/22
5 pairs, 2 adults, 2 hatchlings, 2 fledglings at Menunketsuck on 7/22
1 pair, 3 adults, 1 hatchling at Duck Island on 7/22
4 adults at Hammonasset on 7/22
3 adults at Milford Point on 7/22

3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24

Least Tern

2 pairs, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 7/18
1 adult at Compo Beach on 7/19
10 pairs, 20 adults, 2 fledglings, 8 nests at Long Beach on 7/19

1 pair, 20 adults, 2 hatchlings, 4 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/19

15 adults at Long Beach on 7/19

1 adult at Compo Beach on 7/20
9 pairs, 13 adults, 2 hatchlings, 3 fledglings, 2 nests at Hammonasset on 7/20

25 adults, 6 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/20

40 adults, 4 fledglings at Griswold Point on 7/20

60 adults, 2 nests at Long Beach on 7/20

7 pairs, 10 adults, 4 hatchlings, 2 fledglings, 2 nests at Hammonasset on 7/21
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/21
45 adults, 5 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/21
36 adults, 14 nests at Menunketsuck on 7/22
17 adults, 3 fledglings, 2 nests at Hammonasset on 7/22

40 adults, 6 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/24

Common Tern

60 adults, 5 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/18
2 adults at Bluff Point on 7/18
15 adults at Chaffinch Island on 7/18
23 adults, 2 fledglings at Thimble Islands on 7/19
30 adults at Milford Point on 7/19
25 adults, 5 juveniles at Compo Beach on 7/19

1 pair at Long Beach on 7/19

10 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20

6 adults at Horse Island, Joshua Cove on 7/20

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/20

8 adults, 2 fledglings at Umbrella Island on 7/21
22 adults, 12 fledglings at Green Island on 7/21
1 pair, 2 fledglings at Kelsey Island on 7/21
6 adults at Darrow Rocks on 7/21
54 adults, 6 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/21
1 adult at Milford Point on 7/22
8 adults at Menunketsuck on 7/22
30 adults, 5 fledglings at Hammonasset on 7/22
7 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24

This concludes update #18 through 07/25/16 as of 12:00 p.m.

AAfCW 2016 Volunteer Update #17

This is the seventeenth 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 July 11 through 12:00 p.m. on July 18 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff.

Informational updates:

While we are in mid-July and normally out of the nesting period by now the 2016 season still has late nests to monitor for multiple species along with hatchlings on several beaches. Please keep monitoring and reporting as you have all season! Temperatures should cool a bit this week before once again rising temperatures and humidity make it uncomfortable or dangerous for you and the young birds on the beach, so please skip monitoring during very hot conditions. The weather continues to be very good for beachgoers and your education of visitors is always welcome. We have heard a lot of great and positive stories from interactions with the public this year amidst the disturbances, so please keep them coming, too! Thank you all once again for this constant effort. It makes a huge difference for our birds.

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

4 pairs, 2 adults, 10 hatchlings, 2 juveniles at Bluff Point on 7/11
6 adults, 4 hatchlings, 4 fledglings, 2 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/11
1 adult, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/11
2 pairs, 1 adult, 7 hatchlings, 3 juveniles, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/12
1 adult, 3 hatchlings at Short Beach on 7/12
1 adult, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/12

5 adults, 2 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/12

1 pair, 9 adults, 7 hatchlings, 3 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/12

8 pairs, 12 adults, 5 hatchlings, 2 fledglings, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/12

17 adults, 1 hatchling, 9 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/12

3 pairs, 1 hatchling, 2 fledglings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/12

1 adult, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/13
6 adults, 7 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/13
4 pairs, 2 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/13
4 pairs, 4 adults, 8 hatchlings at Griswold Point on 7/13

3 adults, 8 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/13

1 pair, 10 adults, 7 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/13

4 adults, 3 hatchlings, 3 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/13

2 adults, 4 fledglings, 3 nests at Long Beach on 7/13

2 pairs, 3 adults, 6 hatchlings, 1 fledgling, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/14

9 adults, 2 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14

8 adults, 5 hatchlings, 5 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/14
1 adult, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/15
5 pairs, 6 hatchlings, 4 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/15
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Short Beach on 7/15

10 birds at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/15

1 adult, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/15

3 pairs, 15 adults, 3 hatchlings, 8 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/15

1 adult, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/16
6 adults, 7 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/16
2 pairs, 5 adults, 5 hatchlings, 1 nest at Hammonasset on 7/16
1 adult, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/16
1 adult, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/16

19 birds at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/16

3 pairs, 4 adults, 3 fledglings, 2 nests at Long Beach on 7/16

1 adult, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/17
1 adult, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/17

3 pairs, 2 adults, 7 hatchlings, 8 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/17

1 adult, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/17

8 adults, 8 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/17
1 adult, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/18

American Oystercatcher

4 pairs, 4 adults, 2 hatchlings, 2 fledglings at Menunketsuck on 7/11
1 pair, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 7/11
3 pairs, 1 fledgling at Milford Point on 7/11

4 adults, 2 fledglings, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/12

1 pair, 1 nest at Compo Beach on 7/12

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/12

2 adults at Long Beach on 7/12

1 adult at Long Beach on 7/12
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/13
1 adult at Griswold Point on 7/13

3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/13

8 adults at Milford Point on 7/13

15 adults at Milford Point on 7/14

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/14

1 pair, 1 nest at Compo Beach on 7/14
3 pairs, 5 adults, 1 fledgling at Milford Point on 7/15

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/15

7 adults at Milford Point on 7/15

6 adults at Short Beach on 7/15
1 adult at Penfield Reef on 7/16

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/16

1 adult, 1 nest at Compo Beach on 7/16
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/16
1 adult at Long Beach on 7/16

3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/17

Least Tern

2 adults at Sherwood Island State Park on 7/12

15 pairs, 2 hatchlings, 1 fledgling at Long Beach on 7/12

1 adult at Compo Beach on 7/12
11 pairs, 18 adults, 4 hatchlings, 7 nests at Long Beach on 7/12

19 adults at Long Beach on 7/12

1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 7/13

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/13

65 adults at Milford Point on 7/13
6 pairs, 7 adults at Long Beach on 7/13

26 pairs, 35 adults, 4 hatchlings, 8 fledglings, 12 nests at Griswold Point on 7/13

2 pairs, 12 adults, 2 nests at Long Beach on 7/13

53 adults, 2 hatchlings, 5 fledglings, 10 nests at Milford Point on 7/14
16 pairs, 34 adults, 4 hatchlings, 2 fledglings, 8 nests at Long Beach on 7/14

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/15

1 adult at East Broadway Milford on 7/15

50 adults at Milford Point on 7/15

5 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/15
37 pairs, 10 adults, 4 hatchlings, 7 fledglings, 23 nests at Milford Point on 7/15

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/16

12 pairs, 16 adults, 4 nests, 8 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/16

Common Tern

5 adults at Sherwood Island State Park on 7/12
18 adults at Compo Beach on 7/12

16 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/12

4 adults at Long Beach on 7/12

2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/13
3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/13
18 adults at Griswold Point on 7/13

8 adults at Milford Point on 7/13

6 adults at Milford Point on 7/14
1 pair at Long Beach on 7/14
12 adults at Compo Beach on 7/14
6 adults at Sherwood Island State Park on 7/15

3 adults at Milford Point on 7/15

6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/15

4 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/15
21 adults at Milford Point on 7/15
19 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/16
24 adults at Hammonasset on 7/16

2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/17
3 adults at Long Beach on 7/17

5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/17
5 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/17

This concludes update #17 through 07/18/16 as of 1:00 p.m.

AAfCW 2016 Volunteer Update #16

This is the sixteenth 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 July 5 through 12:00 p.m. on July 11 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff.

Informational updates:

We still have a number of beaches with young birds on them and monitoring will be very necessary throughout July into August. Your observations of disturbances including kite flying or surfing, trash and bonfires, dogs or other human activities are always appreciated as well. Some individual birds that have completed the breeding season are beginning to disperse or even migrate, so please keep an eye on our beaches for banded or flagged Piping Plovers or American Oystercatchers moving into Connecticut from neighboring states or regions. Please remember to email Laura.Saucier@ct.gov along with us if you see any banded or flagged birds, and to get as much information about them and their tagging information as possible (within reason and with the safety of the birds being paramount). Photos are always helpful, too. Thank you!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
1 pair, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/5
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Short Beach on 7/5

3 pairs, 1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 9 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/6

1 pair, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/6
1 pair, 4 hatchlings at Short Beach on 7/6
6 pairs, 7 hatchlings, 4 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/6
1 pair, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/6

6 adults, 2 hatchlings, 5 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/6

4 pairs, 3 adults, 6 hatchlings, 6 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/6

11 adults at Long Beach on 7/6

4 adults, 1 hatchling, 11 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/6
1 pair, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/7
1 adult, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/8

2 pairs, 16 adults/juveniles, 3 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/8

9 adults, 7 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/9

1 pair, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/9

1 adult, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/9
3 pairs, 2 adults, 2 hatchlings, 4 fledglings, 1 nest at Hammonasset on 7/9
1 adult, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/10

2 pairs, 7 adults, 7 hatchlings, 11 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/10

2 pairs, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/10

1 pair, 18 adults, 1 hatchling, 5 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/10

2 adults, 1 hatchling, 4 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/11

American Oystercatcher

1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Branford Harbor Channel Marker on 7/6
1 adult at Umbrella Island on 7/6

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/6

1 pair, 1 fledgling at Green Island on 7/6
1 pair at Long Beach on 7/6
1 pair, 1 hatchling at Darrow Rocks on 7/6
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/6
1 pair, 1 nest at Compo Beach on 7/8

2 adults at Long Beach on 7/8

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/9

3 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/10
1 pair, 1 nest at Compo Beach on 7/10
3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/10

Least Tern

1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 7/6
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/6

7 pairs, 2 adults, 3 nests at Long Beach on 7/6

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/6
8 pairs, 4 hatchlings, 3 nests at Long Beach on 7/6

18 adults at Long Beach on 7/6

5 adults, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/8

15 adults, 3 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/8

6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/9

2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/9
4 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/10
14 adults, 6 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/10

36 pairs, 3 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/10
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/10

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/11

Common Tern

1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 7/6

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/6

10 pairs at Green Island on 7/6
9 adults at Darrow Rocks, Kelsey Island on 7/6

1 adult at Long Beach on 7/6

6 adults at Menunketsuck on 7/6
2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/8
10 adults at Hammonasset on 7/9
2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/10
1 adult at Long Beach on 7/10

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/10

This concludes update #16 through 07/11/16 as of 2:00 p.m.

WildLife Guards Monitoring

What a week. All of us have been extremely busy and it will continue Sunday and…well, every day this summer. Here are a couple photos of the Bridgeport WildLife Guards in action on Friday as they monitored the Piping Plover pair with one chick at Pleasure Beach.

They also recorded all the other bird species that they saw on the shoreline while learning more about our avian neighbors. The Guards noted the chick flying yesterday and classified it as finally having fledged officially – woo! Now they will have the opportunity to see how long each of the parents remains with it, discover more about how the family behaves, and search for other dispersing and migrant Piping Plovers visiting their beach as a stopover site. That is only one small facet of what their full schedules will entail each day. Yep…busy!

AAfCW 2016 Volunteer Update #15

This is the fifteenth 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 June 27 through 11:00 p.m. on July 4 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff.

Informational updates:

Thank you to all who went out and monitored during this very busy Fourth of July weekend! Please keep an eye on the weather this week as our forecast includes temperatures nearing 90 and heat indices that could be well into the 90s or near 100. Your safety is paramount and very warm temperatures under the hot summer sun can be tough on young birds and nests, too. Please skip monitoring if you feel it is too warm and also be sure to avoid the potential thunderstorms we may have this week on multiple days. Thank you all for your work!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
19 adults/juveniles, 3 hatchlings, 4 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/27

4 pairs, 8 adults, 9 hatchlings, 4 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 6/28

18 adults, 2 hatchlings, 6 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/29

16 adults, 7 fledglings, 2 hatchlings, 4 unknown at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/29

5 pairs, 7 adults, 3 hatchlings, 11 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/29

3 pairs, 1 nest at Milford Point on 6/29

4 adults, 8 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 6/29

5 pairs, 1 adult, 4 hatchlings, 3 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 6/30

3 pairs, 6 adults, 6 hatchlings, 3 nests at Bluff Point on 6/30

8 adults, 2 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/1

1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Silver Sands State Park on 7/1
1 pair, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/2

27 adults/juveniles/fledglings, 1 hatchling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2

6 adults, 6 hatchlings, 3 fledglings, 9 juveniles, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/3

1 pair, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/3

6 pairs, 4 adults, 10 hatchlings, 13 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/3

19 adults, 4 hatchlings, 3 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/3

5 pairs, 6 hatchlings, 7 fledglings, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/4
1 pair, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/4

13 adults, 11 hatchlings, 6 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/4

American Oystercatcher

1 adult at Long Beach on 6/27

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/27

1 adult at Pleasure Beach on 6/27

2 adults at Long Beach on 6/28

1 adult at Milford Point on 6/29

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/29

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/2

1 pair, 2 adults at Long Beach on 7/3

9 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/3

3 pairs at Milford Point on 7/4

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/4

Least Tern

3 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/27

15 pairs at Long Beach on 6/28

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/29

3 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/29

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/29

2 pairs, 29 adults, 3 nests at Milford Point on 6/29

15 adults, 1 nest at Long Beach on 6/29

2 pairs, 6 adults, 3 nests at Bluff Point on 6/30

20 adults at Long Beach on 6/30

6 adults at Long Beach on 7/1

14 adults, 8 nests at Long Beach on 7/3

13 adults at Long Beach on 7/3

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/3

50 adults, 4 nests at Milford Point on 7/4

Common Tern

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 6/29

7 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/3

20 adults at Milford Point on 7/4

This concludes update #15 through 07/04/16 as of 11:45 p.m.