AAfCW 2018 Volunteer Update #10

This is the tenth 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 24 through 8:00pm on July 31 with sightings of birds by volunteers and staff spanning the period.

Informational updates:

Poor weather may continue with intermittent wet and stormy conditions on days to come this week, and once again anyone going out to the shore should please keep an eye on the short term forecasts, radar, and the skies. We would like to thank our hard working field staff from various organizations all working together for the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds as several of them are now wrapping up their field seasons.

This makes it all the more important that you, our volunteer monitors, please continue to visit your beaches and record all of your observations of birds and visitors as usual. Our active education and conservation stewardship work will continue through the end of August. There are still many beachgoers to reach and birds to spot, especially young beginning to stage before their first journey south, arrivals from nearby areas, and others with flags or bands we have not recorded. Negative data is important as well. Thanks again as we enter our final field month of the year!

Survey and monitoring updates:

Piping Plover
1 adult, 4 juveniles at Long Beach on 7/24
3 pairs, 4 adults, 6 fledglings at Long Beach on 7/24
2 adults, 2 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/24
3 fledglings at East Broadway Milford on 7/25
1 pair, 11 adults at Long Beach on 7/27
3 adults, 8 fledglings, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/27
25 fledglings/adults at Milford Point on 7/28
2 pairs, 8 adults at Milford Point on 7/29
4 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/29
3 adults, 12 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/29
7 juveniles at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30
3 fledglings at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31
2 adults at Long Beach on 7/31

American Oystercatcher
1 pair at Long Beach on 7/24
2 pairs at Long Beach on 7/24
5 adults, 4 fledglings at Milford Point on 7/25
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/26
1 adult at Tuxis and Gull Rocks on 7/26
1 adult at Quinnipeag Rocks on 7/26
2 pairs at Shore Rock on 7/26
1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Branford Harbor Channel Marker on 7/27
1 pair at Umbrella Island on 7/27
1 pair, 2 fledglings at Green Island on 7/27
3 pairs, 10 adults at Milford Point on 7/27
1 pair, 1 adult at Kelsey Island on 7/27
16 adults at Milford Point on 7/28
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/29
2 pairs, 10 adults at Milford Point on 7/29
1 adult at Long Beach on 7/29
15 adults at Milford Point on 7/29
1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/30
17 adults at Milford Point on 7/30
1 adult at Long Beach on 7/31
2 adults at Long Beach on 7/31

Least Tern
1 adult at Long Beach on 7/24
2 adults at Milford Point on 7/24
11 adults at Milford Point on 7/25
4 adults at Milford Point on 7/25
2 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/26
3 adults at Milford Point on 7/27
4 adults at Milford Point on 7/28
3 adults at Milford Point on 7/29
2 adults at Milford Point on 7/30
3 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 7/31
1 pair at Long Beach on 7/31

Common Tern
90 adults, 2 juveniles at Milford Point on 7/24
92 adults at Milford Point on 7/25
2 adults at Tuxis and Gull Rocks on 7/26
250 adults/juveniles at Milford Point on 7/27
18 adults at Green Island on 7/27
80 adults/juveniles at Milford Point on 7/28
95 adults at Milford Point on 7/29
15 adults at Long Beach on 7/30
70 adults at Milford Point on 7/30
1 pair at Long Beach on 7/31

This concludes update #10 through 8/1/18 as of 6:30 a.m.