AAfCW 2019 Volunteer Update #7

This is the seventh 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 July 9 through August 12 with sightings of birds spanning the period.

Informational updates:

We are currently still monitoring nesting birds - Least Terns at several locations across the state - along with a few late Piping Plover families. We continue to survey for American Oystercatchers and Common Terns as they begin to disperse and stage with juveniles across Connecticut. Migratory groups of all four species are occurring at the typically busy beach locations. We have experienced a lot of disturbances recently from a variety of sources including dogs, active beachgoers, boats, events, cats, ATVs, predators, and more. Your continued monitoring efforts through the end of August are most certainly appreciated.

Any reports of disturbances and issues are also extremely helpful, as is any assistance in reporting events such as loose dogs to local animal control, park management, or law enforcement, as applicable. A huge thanks to everyone who regularly collects trash from our beaches, too. In a couple locations we may need extra help monitoring into September. We will let you know if that is indeed the case.

We will soon have string fencing removal dates set for some of our larger monitored beaches. These will be emailed to you with a request for volunteer help. Any and all will be appreciated, including from those who did not monitor this season. CT DEEP and AAfCW staff continue to work to take down fencing at various locations on our own whenever possible, or reduce it when needed. Thank you very much for all your help!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
1 nest at Waterford Town Beach on 7/8

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

2 pairs, 7 adults, 1 hatchling, 7 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/9

3 adults, 2 fledglings, 6 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/9

2 adults, 2 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/9

9 pairs, 3 adults, 2 hatchlings, 13 fledglings, 1 juvenile, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/9

2 adults at Milford Point on 7/9

3 pairs, 7 adults, 2 fledglings, 17 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/10

2 pairs, 3 adults, 1 fledgling, 5 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/10

2 pairs, 7 adults, 11 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/11

7 adults, 2 hatchlings, 4 fledglings, 2 juveniles, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/11

17 adults, 2 hatchlings, 3 fledglings, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/11

2 pairs, 6 adults, 2 fledglings at Bluff Point on 7/12

8 adults, 2 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/13

1 adult, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands on 7/13

1 adult, 1 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/13

1 adult, 1 hatchling at Silver Sands on 7/14

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

1 adult, 7 fledglings, 4 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/16

7 adults, 8 hatchlings, 2 fledglings, 7 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/16

14 adults, 4 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/17

2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/17

1 pair, 5 adults, 4 hatchlings, 2 juveniles at Bluff Point on 7/19

12 adults/juveniles, 4 adults, 7 hatchlings at Milford Point on 7/19

3 adults, 2 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/20

1 fledgling at Silver Sands on 7/22

1 juvenile at Silver Sands on 7/23

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24

1 pair at Milford Point on 7/24

22 adults/juveniles, 1 adult, 1 hatchlings at Milford Point on 7/25

5 adults, 7 hatchlings, 8 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/25

2 adults, 4 hatchlings at Bluff Point on 7/26

1 adult, 3 hatchlings at Bluff Point on 7/26

1 pair, 1 adult, 3 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/27

4 adults, 1 juvenile, 1 nest at Long Beach on 7/29

4 adults, 4 hatchlings, 4 fledglings, 21 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/30

2 adults, 4 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31

2 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31

1 pair, 9 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/1

6 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/1

2 adults, 5 hatchlings, 10 individuals at Milford Point on 8/2

2 adults, 1 fledgling at Bluff Point on 8/2

2 adults at Milford Point on 8/3

2 adults, 2 fledglings at Long Beach on 8/3

1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/3

1 adult, 3 juveniles at Long Beach on 8/4

5 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/5

1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/8

1 adult, 5 fledglings at Bluff Point on 8/9

1 pair, 4 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 8/10

American Oystercatcher
1 pair, 1 adult, 1 fledgling at Long Beach on 7/8

1 pair, 1 fledgling at Long Beach on 7/9

2 adults at Long Beach on 7/9

1 pair at Milford Point on 7/9

4 adults, 1 fledgling/juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/9

2 pairs, 15 adults, 1 fledgling, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/9

1 pair, 1 juvenile at Long Beach on 7/10

2 pairs, 3 adults, 3 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/10

3 adults at Griswold Point on 7/10

1 pair, 1 juvenile at Long Beach on 7/11

13 adults, 1 hatchling at Milford Point on 7/11

2 pairs, 1 hatchling at Long Beach on 7/11

1 pair, 1 adult at Bluff Point on 7/12

2 pairs at Milford Point on 7/13

3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/13

1 adult, 2 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/16

3 adults, 1 hatchling at Milford Point on 7/16

4 adults, 2 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/17

1 pair, 1 juvenile at Long Beach on 7/17

23 adults, 1 hatchling at Milford Point on 7/19

2 adults at Silver Sands on 7/19

2 pairs, 3 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24

1 pair, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/24

15 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/25

6 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/25

1 pair, 2 fledglings at Bluff Point on 7/26

1 pair at Milford Point on 7/27

6 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 7/30

8 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31

1 pair, 1 fledgling at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/1

1 pair, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 8/1

3 pairs, 2 fledglings at Bluff Point on 8/2

26 adults, 1 juvenile at Milford Point on 8/2

1 pair at Milford Point on 8/3

2 adults, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/3

1 adult at Long Beach on 8/4

5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/5

1 pair, 1 juvenile at Long Beach on 8/6

2 adults at Waterford Town Beach on 8/7

2 pairs, 2 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/8

1 pair at Milford Point on 8/10

Least Tern

3 pairs, 3 adults at Long Beach on 7/8

18 adults at Long Beach on 7/9

10 adults at Milford Point on 7/9

7 adults, 2 nests at Long Beach on 7/9

15 adults at Long Beach on 7/9

30 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/9

26 adults, 10 nests at Milford Point on 7/9

14 adults at Long Beach on 7/10

30 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/10

3 adults at Griswold Point on 7/10

6 adults at Long Beach on 7/11

40 adults, 15 nests at Milford Point on 7/11

43 adults, 2 nests at Long Beach on 7/11

1 pair, 12 adults at Bluff Point on 7/12

21 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/13

20 adults, 1 hatchling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/16

20 adults at Milford Point on 7/16

12 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/17

20 adults at Long Beach on 7/17

45 adults, 20 nests at Milford Point on 7/19

3 pairs, 12 adults at Bluff Point on 7/19

20 adults, 1 hatchling at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24

15 adults at Milford Point on 7/24

40 adults at Milford Point on 7/25

73 adults, 2 hatchlings at Milford Point on 7/25

5 adults at Bluff Point on 7/26

3 pairs at Bluff Point on 7/26

4 pairs, 100 individuals at Long Beach on 7/29

50 adults at Long Beach on 7/30

120 adults, 9 hatchlings at Milford Point on 7/30

4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31

20 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/1

40 adults at Milford Point on 8/1

100 adults, 20 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/2

57 adults, 2 nests at Long Beach on 8/2

60 adults, 10 juveniles at Long Beach on 8/4

30 adults at Long Beach on 8/6

Common Tern

3 adults at Milford Point on 7/9

60 adults at Milford Point on 7/9

1 adult at Long Beach on 7/10

39 adults, 1 juvenile at Griswold Point on 7/10

3 pairs, 2 adults at Long Beach on 7/11

3 adults at Long Beach on 7/11

55 adults at Milford Point on 7/11

5 adults at Milford Point on 7/16

6 adults at Long Beach on 7/17

1 adult at Bluff Point on 7/19

60 adults/juveniles at Milford Point on 7/19

6 adults at Milford Point on 7/25

150 adults/juveniles at Milford Point on 7/25

5 adults at Bluff Point on 7/26

30 adults at Long Beach on 7/30

75 adults/juveniles at Milford Point on 7/30

28 adults, 3 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31

25 adults at Milford Point on 8/1

1 adult at Bluff Point on 8/2

28 adults/juveniles at Long Beach on 8/2

225 adults, 25 juveniles at Milford Point on 8/2

30 adults at Long Beach on 8/4

100 adults/juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 8/5

40 adults at Waterford Town Beach on 8/7

This concludes update #7 through 8/13/18 as of 4:00 a.m.