AAfCW 2013 Volunteer Update #18

This is the eighteenth weekly update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2013 season. Today's update includes reports of Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern from July 22 through 4:00 p.m. on July 29 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning that period.

Informational updates:

AAfCW will host a beach cleanup at Sandy/Morse Points Important Bird Area in West Haven on Saturday, August 17, from 2-5PM. The cleanup will help prevent predators, attracted by trash, from visiting Sandy/Morse Points, one of the most important sites for Piping Plovers and other beach nesting bird species in the state of CT. We are looking for volunteers to help with the clean-up and also to keep an eye on the birds. Latex and leather work gloves will be provided and ice water will be available. Please bring sunscreen and a water bottle. Park in the Sandy Point parking lot on Beach St. Come for all or part of the time. Contact: Corrie Folsom-O’Keefe, 203-233-0535, cfolsom-okeefe@audubon.org if you would like to participate.

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
1 adult, 1 hatchling at Bluff Point on 7/22
2 pairs, 2 adults, 1 fledgling at Griswold Point on 7/22
1 pair, 1 adult, 4 fledglings, 3 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/22
2 pairs, 4 hatchlings at Long Beach on 7/22
1 pair, 4 adults, 4 fledglings, 3 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/22
1 pair, 7 adults, 4 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/23
2 adults, 1 fledgling at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/23
2 pairs, 2 adults, 4 hatchlings, 3 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/23
2 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/23
6 adults, 2 hatchlings, 6 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/24
2 pairs, 1 adult, 6 hatchlings, 5 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24
4 adults, 6 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/24
1 adult, 1 fledgling at Bluff Point on 7/24
7 adults, 1 hatchling, 14 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24
6 adults, 2 hatchlings, 4 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/24
1 adult, 1 hatchling at Bluff Point on 7/24
1 pair, 1 adult, 10 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24
6 adults at Sandy Point Stonington on 7/25
2 pairs, 4 hatchlings, 2 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/25
4 adults, 2 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/26
1 adult, 2 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/27
1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 4 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/28
2 adults, 2 hatchlings, 2 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/29

American Oystercatcher
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Salt Island on 7/22
3 pairs at Menunketesuck Island on 7/22
1 pair, 2 adults, 1 juvenile at Duck Island on 7/22
1 pair, 1 adult at Jacob's Beach Point, Guilford on 7/22
1 adult at Inner White Top, Guilford on 7/22
1 pair at Bluff Point on 7/22
1 adult at Griswold Point on 7/22
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Milford Point on 7/22
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/23
2 adults at Shore Rock on 7/23
1 pair at Griswold Point on 7/23
1 pair at Uncus Point Guilford on 7/23
2 pairs, 2 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/23
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Milford Point on 7/23
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Great Captain's Island on 7/24
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Salt Island on 7/24
5 pairs, 2 hatchlings, 1 fledgling, 1 juvenile at Menunketesuck Island on 7/24
2 pairs, 1 fledgling, 1 juvenile at Duck Island on 7/24
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24
1 pair, 1 fledgling at Milford Point on 7/24
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24
3 pairs, 5 adults, 1 juvenile at Sandy Point Stonington on 7/25
1 pair, 3 juveniles at Governor Island Thimble Islands on 7/25
1 pair at Thimble Island on 7/25
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Umbrella Island on 7/26
1 pair, 1 juvenile at Pages Cove on 7/26
1 pair at Kelsey Island on 7/26
6 adults at Milford Point on 7/27
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/29

Least Tern
15 adults, 3 hatchlings, 1 fledgling, 3 nests at Menunketesuck Island on 7/22
1 adult at Silver Sands State Park on 7/22
5 pairs, 1 adult, 4 hatchlings, 2 fledglings at Bluff Point on 7/22
8 pairs, 31 adults, 6 hatchlings, 4 fledglings, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 7/22
4 adults at Long Beach on 7/22
6 pairs, 41 adults, 8 hatchlings, 4 fledglings at Griswold Point on 7/22
8 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/23
15 adults, 16 hatchlings, 2 fledglings at Harkness Memorial State Park on 7/23
6 pairs, 37 adults, 5 hatchlings, 2 fledglings, 1 nest at Milford Point on 7/23
1 adult at Sherwood Island State Park on 7/23
26 adults, 3 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/23
11 adults, 3 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/24
1 adult at Pleasure Beach on 7/24
21 adults, 2 hatchlings, 4 fledglings at Menunketesuck Island on 7/24
1 pair, 14 adults, 2 fledglings, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24
10 adults, 2 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/24
2 adults at Bluff Point on 7/24
5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24
22 adults at Long Beach on 7/24
4 adults at Stratford Point on 7/24
1 pair, 3 hatchlings, 2 fledglings at Bluff Point on 7/24
6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24
13 adults, 3 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/25
4 adults at Pleasure Beach on 7/25
1 adult at Russian Beach on 7/25
1 pair at Silver Sands State Park on 7/25
17 adults at Griswold Point on 7/26
1 adult at Sasco Hill Beach on 7/28
4 adults, 2 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/28
7 adults, 2 juveniles at Stratford Point on 7/28
134 adults, 52 young at Milford Point on 7/29
4 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/29

Common Tern
40 adults, 5 fledglings, 1 juvenile at Menunketesuck Island on 7/22
3 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 7/22
1 adult at Bluff Point on 7/22
3 pairs, 14 adults, 4 fledglings at Griswold Point on 7/22
3 adults at Milford Point on 7/22
2 adults at Long Beach on 7/22
4 pairs, 13 adults, 4 fledglings at Griswold Point on 7/22
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/23
10 adults at Milford Point on 7/23
3 adults at Sherwood Island State Park on 7/23
1 adult at Long Beach on 7/23
2 adults at Russian Beach on 7/23
1 adult at Long Beach on 7/23
75 adults at Menunketesuck Island on 7/24
6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24
15 adults at Milford Point on 7/24
1 adult at Long Beach on 7/24
7 adults, 4 juveniles at Stratford Point on 7/24
25 adults, 2 juveniles at Sandy Point Stonington on 7/25
1 adult at Pleasure Beach on 7/25
9 adults, 9 juveniles at Griswold Point on 7/26
4 adults at Penfield Reef on 7/28
3 adults at Long Beach on 7/28
5 adults, 3 juveniles at Stratford Point on 7/28
15 adults, 3 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/29
5 adults, 1 juvenile at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/29

This concludes update #18 through 7/29/13 as of 5:00 p.m.


Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds, Audubon Connecticut and the Connecticut Audubon Society partnering to improve conditions for coastal waterbirds in Connecticut.