Stratford Point Semipalmated Sandpipers

Stratford Point is a global National Audubon Society Important Bird Area for the Semipalmated Sandpiper, and this Memorial Day view of our shoreline may give you a clue as to why - absolutely astounding! Hosting several thousand birds in the spring on their way north is all the more impressive, and this sighting rivals any totals ever recorded here in fall migration (when young can join the ranks and bump numbers).

A number of factors contributed to this moment including a rising high tide, a hot day with people on the shore and in the waters, the late May date, and the Memorial Day holiday making it even busier at beaches while pushing birds to quiet spots. Keep an eye out for a video of this spectacle later this week and why it is so important...and while I wish I had photographed them on the other side, I did not want to flush this enormous roosting group. Please keep this in mind and always exercise extreme caution around shorebird flocks, not adding to their disturbances - thank you!

Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Volunteer Coordinator
RTPI Conservation & Outreach Coordinator

Memorial Day Weekend 2019

Memorial Day Weekend 2019 looks to be full of terrific, warm beach weather, in stark contrast to the very wet spring we have experienced thus far. There will be many visitors to Connecticut shores in the next few days. We also have a lot of young Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers on our beaches and offshore islands.

Here's a message from CT DEEP Wildlife Division:

DEEP is asking beachcombers, sunbathers, and boaters along the Connecticut shoreline to respect the fencing and yellow signs warning of piping plover and least tern nesting sites. Both shorebirds are state threatened species (the plover is also federally threatened). In addition, Charles Island in Milford and Duck Island in Westbrook will be closed to the public from now through September 9, 2019, to prevent disturbances to nesting birds. Both islands have been designated by DEEP as Natural Area Preserves, primarily due to their importance as nesting habitats for several state-listed birds, including snowy egrets and great egrets (state threatened species), glossy ibis, and little blue herons (state special concern). #SharetheShore #BeachesAreHabitat

If you are one of our AAfCW volunteer monitors, please monitor whenever you can in the next few days to help ensure we all #SharetheShore while enjoying the holiday and gorgeous weather.

Share the Shore 2019

Our volunteers, along with CT DEEP and AAfCW staff, are doing a tremendous job on busy and birdy beaches so far in 2019 despite the constant wet weather and high tides making everything more difficult. We have Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers now hatching! Please remember to #ShareTheShore this Memorial Day weekend and respect their space, along with string fenced areas, because there is plenty of sand for all of us.

Can you spot the Piping Plover in this photo? And the second one, too? It is rather "easy" because they're focused on, but many beachgoers would never be able to spot them even several feet away - especially if they were tiny hatchlings hiding in the sand!

These hatchlings need a lot of space, and if you see mom and dad running around with them, calling and dashing about, you should continue to keep a very safe distance away. It is tempting to want to pursue and photograph them but this becomes a dangerous activity without a very long lens and extreme care. Thank you all for your dedication to our birds, and thanks in advance to everyone who has decided to #ShareTheShore in 2019.

AAfCW 2019 Volunteer Update #3

This is the third regular weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2019 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from May 14 through 9:00pm on May 21 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning the period.

Informational updates:

Once again a number of monitoring visits were canceled due to the constant rainy conditions. May is a very busy time for bird migration, and we continue to be near the peak of shorebirds migrating through the region. Species such as Semipalmated Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers, Ruddy Turnstones, Black-bellied Plovers, Sanderlings, and more are all found in the same locations as our Piping Plovers. Other similar birds like Killdeer have nests and young in the same habitats. Please keep this in mind when identifying our focal species. A helpful CT DEEP document can be found here: http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/wildlife/pdf_files/nongame/CTShorebirds.pdf

We now have Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers hatching in Connecticut, with more to come in the next few weeks. The stormy weather and high tides lately did wash some nests away, especially impacting our plovers. Please remember whether it is a marked bird, a disturbance of note that however does not reach “take” status, a new nest, and other significant information, please email CT DEEP (Laura.Saucier@ct.gov and Rebecca.Foster@ct.gov) and AAfCW directly about it with all the information you can as soon as possible. 

Also bear in mind that with changing weather conditions, tides, time of day, beach visitors, foraging vs. incubation and behaviors, the number of birds you see may differ from what other observers do even on the same day. Having coverage of multiple monitors and staff on a given day can be desirable as well for this reason and for better coverage of our beaches.

Negative data should still be reported whenever you visit a beach and do not see any Piping Plovers, Least Terns, American Oystercatchers, or Common Terns. If your beach has none of our four focal species still in the next couple of weeks you can change locations to another more busy location if you would like. Reporting monitoring observations using the online data entry form is still the best method to submit your information. Please remember to email us directly at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you have any questions or run into any problems. Thank you all for all your hard work!

Survey and monitoring updates: 

Piping Plover

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

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

8 pairs, 6 nests at Long Beach on 5/16

1 adult, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/16

7 pairs, 1 adult, 6 nests at Milford Point on 5/16

4 pairs, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/16

1 pair, 5 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/17

11 adults, 7 nests at Long Beach on 5/17

5 pairs, 2 adults, 4 nests at Bluff Point on 5/17

1 adult at Waterford Beach on 5/17

1 pair, 1 adult, 1 nest at Silver Sands State Park on 5/17

3 pairs, 4 adults, 2 nests, 3 hatchlings at Bluff Point on 5/18

4 pairs, 8 adults, 8 nests, at Long Beach on 5/18

2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/18

2 pairs, 8 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/19

1 pair at Griswold Point on 5/19

1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 5/19

9 pairs, 8 nests at Long Beach on 5/20

1 adult, 1 nest at Silver Sands State Park on 5/21

1 pair, 2 adults, 2 nests, 4 hatchlings at Milford Point on 5/21

5 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests, 4 hatchlings at Bluff Point on 5/21

American Oystercatcher

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

1 pair, 2 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/15

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

1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/16

3 pairs, 1 adult, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/16

2 adults at Bluff Point on 5/16

4 pairs, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/16
1 adult at Long Beach on 5/16

2 pairs at Bluff Point on 5/17

1 pair, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/17

1 adult, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/18

1 pair, 3 adults, 1 hatchling at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/18

3 pairs at Milford Point on 5/18

1 pair at Griswold Point on 5/19

1 pair, 3 adults, 3 hatchlings at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/19

1 pair, 1 adult, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/20

3 pairs at Milford Point on 5/21

1 pair, 1 adult, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/21

Least Tern

3 adults at Milford Point on 5/16

9 adults at Milford Point on 5/16

2 adults at Bluff Point on 5/17

15 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/19

5 adults at Griswold Point on 5/19

2 pairs, 7 adults at Bluff Point on 5/21

8 adults at Milford Point on 5/21

Common Tern

3 adults at Milford Point on 5/16

2 adults at Milford Point on 5/16

1 adult at Bluff Point on 5/17

7 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/19

2 adults at Milford Point on 5/21

This concludes update #3 through 5/22/18 as of 11:00 a.m.

AAfCW 2019 Volunteer Update #2

This is the second regular weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2019 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from May 6 through 12:00pm on May 13 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning the period.

Informational updates:

We continue to find nests regularly now that we have entered mid-May and our Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers have started breeding. Please remember to also report these nests directly to Rebecca.Foster@ct.gov and Laura.Saucier@ct.gov as well as ctwaterbirds@gmail.com. However, rain continues on a frequent basis, and we have had numerous monitoring sessions by volunteers and staff canceled every week. Please remember to stay home on inclement weather days. This includes the recent unseasonable temperatures below 50 degrees.

Least and Common Terns have returned at their usual May date and are slowly trickling into the state. Expect to see a handful turn into larger groups soon. They will take some time to court before nesting, and it will be a couple weeks before we get to that point. Please report them in the same way you do our plovers and oystercatchers.

When monitoring please bear in mind we want to prioritize the safety of our birds over precise data, photographs, and so forth. Maintaining a comfortable distance from birds and string fencing at all times is definitely more important. Reporting monitoring observations using the online data entry form is still the best method to submit your information. Alternatively, you can use plain text emails or eBird checklists shared with us, but please be sure to include all details required. Please remember to email us directly at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you have any questions or run into any problems.

Lastly, monitors and staff have started to receive parking passes from West Haven. Please remember you must have this in your car at all times when in the parking lot while monitoring or you will be ticketed by the City. Thank you all for all your hard work!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
1 adult, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/6
3 pairs, 6 adults, 2 nests at Long Beach on 5/6
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/6
1 pair, 8 adults, 4 nests at Long Beach on 5/7
11 adults at Milford Point on 5/7
3 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/8
1 pair at Silver Sands on 5/8
1 pair, 6 adults, 6 nests at Long Beach on 5/9
5 adults, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/9
1 pair at Silver Sands on 5/9
6 pairs, 1 adult, 3 nests at Bluff Point on 5/10
1 pair, 6 adults, 3 nests at Bluff Point on 5/10
1 pair at Silver Sands on 5/10
7 adults, 5 nests at Milford Point on 5/11

American Oystercatcher
1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/6
1 pair, 2 adults, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/6
1 pair at Long Beach on 5/7
10 adults at Milford Point on 5/7
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/8
1 pair, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/9
3 pairs, 3 nests at Milford Point on 5/9
2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Bluff Point on 5/10
3 pairs, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 5/10
4 pairs, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/11

Least Tern
13 adults at Long Beach on 5/6
8 adults at Long Beach on 5/7
1 adult at Milford Point on 5/7

Common Tern
2 adults at Stratford Point on 5/6
3 adults at Milford Point on 5/9
2 adults at Bluff Point on 5/10
1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/10

This concludes update #2 through 5/13/18 as of 6:00 p.m.

Fencing Thanks!

Thanks to everyone who assisted us with putting up string fencing and signage! Here are some photos from the effort at Long Beach.

Some of our latest storms have taken down a considerable amount of fencing, and our staff is always hard at work repairing damage at all beaches as soon as possible. The weather has provided some good days, and we are also assisting CT DEEP in exclosing many Piping Plover nests all over Connecticut. Remember that we want to monitor when it is between 50 and 90 degrees, to avoid very windy days, and to stay home if it is raining.

When reporting observations we do want to hear about negative data as well if you did not see any of our four focal species: Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and/or Common Tern. The terns have been arriving in Connecticut over the past week.

You can submit data via this form which is especially helpful in that it includes all we need.

Or email it to this address: ctwaterbirds@gmail.com

Or share it to that address via eBird, but please remember to include all the data and information we need.

Later this week we will begin to post weekly data and information updates on all of our beaches. Thanks again!

AAfCW 2019 Volunteer Update #1

This is the first regular weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2019 season. These updates will include reports of Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher as well as Least Tern and Common Tern, our four focal species, all of which we ask you to provide detailed monitoring data on whenever you visit your beach. These reports will include sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning the weekly period indicated.

Informational updates:

If you provided data and information prior to this update, please be aware that we did receive it, and it is simply not listed in this report. Please also note that negative data is not included in any of these updates, though it is always requested.

Scheduling has been completed. No schedules are mailed or sent publicly - all of it is done on an individual basis. If for some reason yours has not been finalized, please contact us. All monitors should now or soon be visiting their beaches with the exception of Sandy/Morse Points in West Haven (unless you are a resident). Monitor information has been submitted to the City, and as soon as their staff can create parking passes and mail them, we will be all set. We apologize for the delay and are waiting as well for our staff to receive these passes.

Please continue to provide your data and information to us, including negative data, on Piping Plovers, American Oystercatchers, and now that they are returning to the state, Least and Common Terns. Please also report new nests directly to rebecca.foster@ct.gov and laura.saucier@ct.gov. String fencing and signage is about complete, and repairs have been made to multiple beaches already after damage from storms and high tides. If you see any of that damage, please also let us know as soon as possible. Also remember we would like information on disturbances including excess trash, predators such as Fish Crows, people with dogs or engaging in activities around nesting areas, and other notable events that do not reach the level of a “take”.

Please remember monitoring should be done when the temperature is between 50 and 90 degrees, with no rain or thunderstorms, and not on very windy days. If you have to cancel a monitoring session due to inclement weather or personal reasons, please let us know in advance if possible. Thank you all for your efforts! We look forward to many more reports of active birds and nests soon.

Survey and monitoring updates: 

This section will contain information on Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern, and Common Tern data including individuals, pairs, nests, and later in the season, young, beginning next week. Please keep submitting your data either via email, shared eBird checklists (be sure to include all relevant details, please), or our electronic data submission form accessible in the AAfCW blog.