AAfCW 2021 Field Update #3

If you have not yet received an official DEEP ID card and/or lanyard, you will soon. No additional action is needed. The same goes for West Haven passes. Please do not go to West Haven until you receive a parking pass unless you are a resident with a parking sticker as they will ticket vehicles otherwise. Fencing is continuing at all sites as fast as staff can complete it, and it is put up only when necessary. Piping Plover nests are being exclosed as soon as possible once they have completed the four-egg nest. A very small staff has to cover the entire state and complete this work in only bird-safe weather conditions. 

If you do not see any of our target species (Piping Plover, American Oystercatcher, Least Tern and Common Tern) please submit a trip report regardless. Least and Common Terns will be found more throughout the month, initially foraging, then courting, and beginning to pair off before hopefully forming larger colonies. Common Terns have been seen for about a week at more remote locations in the Long Island Sound, and a few Least Terns have popped up, too.

If you discover a new nest while monitoring please directly email: Laura.Saucier@ct.gov, rsuzf@hotmail.com, and ctwaterbirds@gmail.com. We need those direct contacts in addition to data entry for significant sightings and events like new nests. Please keep in mind birds often crouch in the sand or otherwise can appear to be on a "nest" when they are actually only trying to use camouflage or rest. Nests will very likely be in the high sand, above wrack lines, just below the dune.

Below are observations on our beaches as submitted from April 20 through 9:00am today, Tuesday, May 4. Please be aware negative data is received but not included in these updates.

Piping Plover:

2 adults, 1 nest at Milford Point on 4/20

4 adults, 1 nest at Bluff Point on 4/20

4 pairs at Long Beach on 4/20

6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/20

2 pairs, 3 adults, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/20

3 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 4/24

1 pair at Bluff Point on 4/24

4 pairs, 7 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/24

3 pairs at Bluff Point on 4/24

1 adult at Milford Point on 4/25

2 adults at Bluff Point on 4/26

1 pair, 1 nest at Griswold Point on 4/26

1 pair, 3 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 4/27

5 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 4/27

1 adult at Bluff Point on 4/27

2 adults, 1 nest at Long Beach on 4/27

1 pair, 1 adult at Milford Point on 4/27

2 pairs, 5 adults, 2 nests at Long Beach on 4/28

2 pairs, 5 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28

6 adults at Long Beach on 4/28

14 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28

1 adult, 1 nest at Long Beach on 4/28

2 pairs, 11 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28

4 pairs at Long Beach on 4/28

8 pairs, 2 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 4/29

1 adult at Bluff Point on 4/30

4 adults at Bluff Point on 5/1

1 pair at Long Beach on 5/2

1 pair, 4 adults, 3 nests at Long Beach on 5/2

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

1 pair, 3 adults at Bluff Point on 5/3

American Oystercatcher:

7 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 4/20

3 pairs, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/20

2 pairs, 1 adult at Milford Point on 4/24

2 pairs at Bluff Point on 4/24

1 pair, 1 adult, 1 nest at Milford Point on 4/25

3 adults at Bluff Point on 4/26

2 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 4/27

7 adults, 2 nests at Milford Point on 4/27

3 adults, 1 nest at Milford Point on 4/27

1 pair at Griswold Point on 4/28

1 pair at Long Beach on 4/28

3 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28

1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28

1 pair at Long Beach on 4/28

3 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/28

1 pair at Long Beach on 4/28

6 pairs, 1 adult, 2 nests at Milford Point on 4/29

1 adult at Bluff Point on 4/30

1 pair at Bluff Point on 5/1

1 pair at Griswold Point on 5/2

2 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/2

1 pair at Griswold Point on 5/2

1 pair, 6 adults, 1 nest at Long Beach on 5/2

1 pair at Long Beach on 5/2

2 pairs, 2 adults at Bluff Point on 5/3

Thanks again!