Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds update #5

This is the fifth update by the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds (AAfCW) for the 2012 season. It includes reports of Piping Plover and American Oystercatcher received from 12:00 p.m. on April 9 through 12:00 p.m. on April 16 with sightings of birds spanning those dates and times by our staff and volunteers.

Survey and monitoring updates:

The first Piping Plover nest has been found with one egg at Long Beach. To report a new nest email rsuzf@hotmail.com, Kate.Moran@ct.gov, and Laura.Saucier@ct.gov.

Piping Plover
Volunteer and staff surveys:
1 pair at East Broadway Milford on 4/9
1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/10
3 pairs, 2 adults at Milford Point on 4/10
1 adult on Long Beach on 4/10
2 pairs at East Broadway Milford on 4/11
2 pairs at Long Beach on 4/11
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/11
2 pairs at Griswold Point on 4/12
3 pairs, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/12
3 pairs at Milford Point on 4/12
3 pairs at Harkness Memorial State Park on 4/13
3 pairs at Griswold Point on 4/14
2 pairs on Long Beach on 4/14, one nest with one egg
4 pairs, 1 adult on Long Beach on 4/15
3 adults at Milford Point on 4/15
4 pairs at Bluff Point on 4/15

American Oystercatcher
Volunteer and staff surveys:
1 pair, 1 adult at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/10
2 pairs, 1 adult at Milford Point on 4/10
1 pair on Long Beach on 4/10
1 pair, 1 adult at Greenwich Island on 4/10
2 pairs at Fish Islands on 4/10
1 pair at Vincent Island on 4/10
1 pair at Long Beach on 4/11
1 pair at Milford Point on 4/11
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/11
1 pair, 1 adult at Griswold Point on 4/12
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 4/12
2 pair at Milford Point on 4/12
3 adults at Milford Point on 4/15
1 pair at Bluff Point on 4/15

There have been no reports of Least Tern or Common Tern thus far in 2012, though Common Tern has been seen as far north as Jamaica Bay NWR in New York last week. Snowy Egret and Great Egret are being seen in greater numbers, with upwards of two dozen spotted on and near Charles Island on 4/11 by staff.

Little Blue Heron have arrived in Connecticut, being sighted on 4/14 in three locations: at Brooksvale Park in Hamden, the East River Marsh in Madison, as well as the Menunketesuk River Marsh in Madison/Westbrook. Glossy Ibis sightings are on the increase in terms of frequency and quantity with 7 in Pawcatuck on 4/10, 13 at Hammonasset State Park in Madison on 4/11, 4 in Stratford Great Meadows on 4/13, 3 at Hammonasset State Park in Madison on 4/14, 3 at Bluff Point in Stonington on 4/15, 21 at Barn Island WMA in Stonington on 4/15, and 1 in South Glastonbury on 4/15.

Semipalmated Sandpiper and Semipalmated Plover have both been spotted already at Milford Point. Numbers continue to slowly increase for Black-bellied Plover and Ruddy Turnstone. The first Willets arrived in Connecticut on 4/14. Both Dunlin and Sanderling are on the move with sometimes numbers into the hundreds being seen.

This concludes update #5 through 4/16/12 as of 12:00PM.


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

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