AAfCW 2018 Volunteer Update #4

This is the fourth regular weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2018 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from May 22 through 12:00pm on May 28 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning the period.

Informational updates:

Thank you to all of the monitors who went out to our beaches this holiday weekend, especially those who put in extra time volunteering. We - and the birds - really appreciate the help! Our weather continues to change frequently, with some days featuring cooler temperatures or rain. Some surveys below were reduced due to inclement weather moving in while monitoring. However, it should trend warmer and sunnier, with more people on the shore and more time available to monitor.

Piping Plover nests are being exclosed all over Connecticut. Please also remember that they will not be exclosed until the four egg nests are complete. We can begin to expect some hatchlings in the near future for some of the earliest nests. American Oystercatchers have started to hatch, and our terns have been now recorded with nests as well. 

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
2 adults, 4 nests at Long Beach on 5/22
5 pairs, 4 adults, 7 nests at Long Beach on 5/22
4 pairs, 1 adult, 7 nests at Long Beach on 5/22
6 adults, 5 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/22
2 pairs, 1 nest at Silver Sands State Park on 5/23
1 pair, 7 adults, 6 nests at Long Beach on 5/23
11 adults, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/23
1 pair, 9 adults, 6 nests at Bluff Point on 5/23
2 pairs, 2 nests at Silver Sands State Park on 5/23
1 pair, 1 nest at Waterford Beach on 5/23
12 pairs, 12 nests at Long Beach on 5/23
4 pairs, 6 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/24
2 pairs, 2 nests at Silver Sands State Park on 5/24
4 pairs, 1 adult at Griswold Point on 5/24
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/24
1 pair, 1 nest at Short Beach on 5/24
2 pairs, 1 nest at Silver Sands State Park on 5/25
6 pairs, 1 adult, 5 nests at Bluff Point on 5/25
2 pairs, 7 adults, 6 nests at Milford Point on 5/25
2 pairs, 2 nests at Silver Sands State Park on 5/25
2 pairs, 2 nests at Cockenoe Island on 5/25
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/26
2 pairs, 2 nests at Silver Sands State Park on 5/26
1 pair, 1 nest at Waterford Beach on 5/26
7 pairs, 5 nests at Hammonasset on 5/26
7 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/26
17 adults, 8 nests at Long Beach on 5/26
1 pair, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 5/26

American Oystercatcher
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/22
1 pair, 1 nest at Pleasure Beach on 5/22
3 pairs, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/22
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/22
1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 5/23
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/23
1 pair, 1 adult at Waterford Beach on 5/23
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/23
1 pair, 1 nest at Quinnipeag Rocks on 5/23
2 pairs, 1 nest at Fish Islands on 5/24
1 pair, 1 nest at Compo Beach on 5/24
1 pair, 1 nest at Crab Island on 5/24
2 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/24
1 pair at Pleasure Beach on 5/24
2 pairs, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/24
2 pairs, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/25
1 pair, 1 nest at Compo Beach on 5/25
14 pairs, 8 nests at Cockenoe Island on 5/25
2 pairs, 2 nests at Milford Point on 5/25
2 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/26
1 adult at Chaffinch Island on 5/26
2 pairs, 1 adult at Hammonasset on 5/26
1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/26

Least Tern
12 adults at Long Beach on 5/22
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/22
3 adults at Griswold Point on 5/23
1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/24
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/24
3 adults at Griswold Point on 5/24
4 adults at Hammonasset on 5/24
9 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/24
2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/25
11 adults at Bluff Point on 5/25
1 pair, 3 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/25
12 adults at Milford Point on 5/25
8 pairs, 8 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/26
2 pairs, 12 adults at Hammonasset on 5/26
5 pairs at Bluff Point on 5/26
5 adults at Long Beach on 5/26

Common Tern
4 adults at Long Beach on 5/22
6 adults at Waterford Beach on 5/23
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/23
4 adults Sherwood Island State Park on 5/24
3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/24
1 adult at Bluff Point on 5/25
200 pairs at Cockenoe Island on 5/25
3 adults at Hammonasset on 5/26
15 adults at Chaffinch Island on 5/26
1 adult at Long Beach on 5/26

This concludes update #4 through 5/28/18 as of 4:00 p.m.