AAfCW 2018 Volunteer Update #9

This is the ninth 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 July 17 through 6:00pm on July 24 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning the period.

Informational updates:

Our weather took a quick downturn in recent days with wet and stormy conditions canceling monitoring and damaging some more of our fencing and signage across Connecticut. This week may continue that pattern on and off, sometimes unpredictably - please keep an eye on the short term forecasts, radar, and the skies before you head out. Our staff is repairing or taking fencing down in applicable areas. Please let us know if you see anything that needs our attention. Otherwise our birds continue to fledge and feed young while beginning to stage in certain areas. We may see some with bands or flags that we have not recorded previously, so please continue to note and submit any that you are able to spot and identify. Let's keep educating as much as possible during the busy beach season, too - and thank you all!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/17
5 adults, 8 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/17
4 adults, 5 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/17
2 pairs, 1 adult, 4 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/17
1 adult, 1 fledgling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/18
1 adult, 1 hatchling, 1 fledgling at Shell Avenue Milford on 7/18
2 adults, 2 hatchlings, 6 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/18
4 adults, 3 hatchlings, 5 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/18
19 adults/fledglings at Milford Point on 7/19
3 adults, 2 fledglings, 1 adult/juvenile at Long Beach on 7/19
2 pairs, 4 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/19
1 adult, 2 fledglings at Waterford Town Beach on 7/19
1 adult at Griswold Point on 7/20
19 adults/fledglings/juveniles at Milford Point on 7/20
1 adult, 1 hatchling at Bluff Point on 7/20
10 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/21
6 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/22
12 adults/fledglings at Milford Point on 7/23
1 adult, 4 fledglings at East Broadway Milford on 7/23
1 adult, 3 fledglings, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/23
4 adults, 1 fledgling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24

American Oystercatcher
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/17
1 pair at Long Beach on 7/17
6 adults at Milford Point on 7/17
2 pairs at Milford Point on 7/18
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/18
1 pair at Long Beach on 7/19
1 pair at Quinnipeag Rocks on 7/19
1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 7/19
1 pair at Waterford Town Beach on 7/19
8 adults at Milford Point on 7/19
1 pair, 1 adult, 1 hatchling at Bluff Point on 7/20
6 adults, 4 fledglings at Hammonasset on 7/20
3 pairs at Milford Point on 7/20
1 pair at Griswold Point on 7/20
1 adult at Hammonasset on 7/20
3 pairs, 1 adult at Milford Point on 7/21
1 adult at Milford Point on 7/21
4 pairs at Milford Point on 7/22
3 pairs, 5 adults at Milford Point on 7/23
8 adults at Milford Point on 7/23

Least Tern
13 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/17
3 pairs, 17 adults, 3 nests at Milford Point on 7/17
3 adults at Long Beach on 7/17
6 adults at Milford Point on 7/18
1 pair at Long Beach on 7/19
1 adult at Milford Point on 7/19
1 adult at Bluff Point on 7/20
1 pair at Milford Point on 7/20
2 adults at Hammonasset on 7/20
2 adults at Milford Point on 7/21
14 adults at Milford Point on 7/22
3 adults at Milford Point on 7/23
8 adults at Milford Point on 7/23
6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24

Common Tern
15 adults/juveniles at Milford Point on 7/17
22 adults, 3 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/19
5 adults at Waterford Town Beach on 7/19
3 adults, 1 juvenile at Long Beach on 7/19
21 adults at Griswold Point on 7/20
25 adults, 7 juveniles at Hammonasset on 7/20
2 adults at Bluff Point on 7/20
53 adults, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/22
50 adults/juveniles at Milford Point on 7/23
80 adults/juveniles at Milford Point on 7/23

This concludes update #9 through 7/24/18 as of 7:00 p.m.