AAfCW 2016 Volunteer Update #19

This is the nineteenth 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 25 through 11:00 a.m. on August 1 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff.

Informational updates:

We have been experiencing more frequent rain and thunderstorms recently, and while this is a welcome sight for our drought-plagued region please continue to skip monitoring during inclement weather even if there are no more nests on your beach. August has arrived with more birds dispersing and being found in new areas including various shorebirds and terns. Please keep your eyes open for the unexpected in terms of species or abundance. We continue to watch over the last nests, hatchlings and fledglings in many areas, and educate all of the beachgoers who will be visiting our shores over the next month.

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover

4 adults, 1 hatchling, 6 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/26

1 adult, 1 fledgling at Silver Sands State Park on 7/26

1 hatchling at Long Beach on 7/27

6 adults, 2 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/27

1 pair, 2 adults, 1 hatchling, 5 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/27

2 adults, 1 hatchling, 8 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/27

1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/28
1 pair, 1 hatchling at Griswold Point on 7/28
1 adult, 1 hatchling, 5 fledglings at Bluff Point on 7/28
2 adults, 1 hatchling, 5 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/29
1 adult, 4 hatchlings at Short Beach on 7/29
1 adult, 3 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/29
2 adults, 7 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/29

6 adults, 3 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/30

1 adult, 5 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/30

1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30

American Oystercatcher

1 pair, 1 juvenile at Quinnipeag Rocks on 7/25
2 pairs, 2 fledglings at Shore Rocks on 7/25
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Tuxis Island on 7/25
1 pair at Hammonasset on 7/26

4 adults at Milford Point on 7/27

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/27

1 pair at Mason Island on 7/27
1 adult at Ram Island on 7/27

1 adult at Long Beach on 7/27

2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/28
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Raymond Rocks/Long Beach Island on 7/28
1 pair at Chimon Island on 7/28
1 pair at Grassy Island on 7/28
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Betts Island on 7/28

2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/28

1 pair at Goose Island on 7/28
1 pair at Hammonasset on 7/30
13 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/30

Least Tern

30 adults, 2 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/26
9 pairs, 10 adults, 1 hatchling, 4 nests at Long Beach on 7/27

22 adults, 4 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/27

52 adults, 3 nests at Long Beach on 7/27

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/28
26 pairs, 8 adults, 1 hatchling, 15 fledglings, 4 juveniles, 11 nests at Griswold Point on 7/28
3 adults, 1 juvenile at Bluff Point on 7/28
40 adults/fledglings/juveniles at Long Beach on 7/29
42 adults, 3 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/30

20 adults at Long Beach on 7/30

Common Tern

3 adults at Long Beach on 7/26

60 adults at Milford Point on 7/27

25 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/27

120 adults, 95 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/28

12 adults, 2 juveniles at Bluff Point on 7/28

300 adults/juveniles at Milford Point on 7/30

This concludes update #19 through 08/01/16 as of 12:30 p.m.