Piping Plovers hatching everywhere

As young Piping Plovers hatch across Connecticut beaches they are joining hatchling American Oystercatchers that have done well so far in 2013. Least Terns and Common Terns are just getting to nesting now. You can keep up to date with our literally 7 day a week 18 or so hours a day work by joining the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds as a volunteer monitor. You will work with us as well as the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection as a steward for these threatened species as you survey and monitor them while speaking to beachgoers about how we can share the beach with these spectacular birds.

Here is the data collected by our field staff and those volunteers from the latest weekly update on our four focal species.

Piping Plover
1 pair, 3 adults at Long Beach on 5/20
5 pairs, 3 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
8 adults, 6 nests at Griswold Point on 5/20
1 pair, 1 nest at Shell Avenue Milford on 5/20
8 adults, 5 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
7 pairs, 6 nests at Milford Point on 5/20
2 pairs, 6 adults, 6 nests at Griswold Point on 5/21
4 adults, 3 nests at Bluff Point on 5/21
1 pair, 7 adults at Long Beach on 5/21
4 pairs, 3 adults, 6 nests at Griswold Point on 5/22
3 adults, 2 nests at Griswold Point on 5/22
1 adult at Long Beach on 5/22
7 adults at Long Beach on 5/23
2 pairs, 3 adults, 6 nests at Milford Point on 5/23
3 pairs, 5 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/23
6 pairs, 1 adult, 6 nests at Milford Point on 5/23
4 pairs, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/23
2 adults at Long Beach on 5/26
5 pairs, 3 adults, 4 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/26
5 pairs, 10 adults at Bluff Point on 5/26
11 adults, 4 chicks at Milford Point on 5/26

American Oystercatcher
1 pair at Horse Island Guilford on 5/20
1 adult at Grass Island Guilford on 5/20
1 adult at Griswold Point on 5/20
1 pair, 1 nest at Branford Harbor on 5/20
2 pairs at Green Island Branford on 5/20
3 pairs, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
2 pairs, 1 adult, 1 nest at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
2 pairs, 1 adult, 2 hatchlings, 1 nest at Milford Point on 5/20
1 pair, 2 hatchlings at Salt Island on 5/20
2 pairs at Menunketesuck Island on 5/20
2 pairs at Duck Island on 5/20
2 adults at Griswold Island on 5/20
1 pair, 1 adult at Charles Island on 5/21
2 pairs, 2 hatchlings at Milford Point on 5/21
1 adult at Sherwood Island State Park on 5/21
1 adult at Griswold Point on 5/21
2 adults at Bluff Point on 5/21
3 adults at Griswold Point on 5/22
1 adult at Long Beach on 5/22
4 adults at Jordan Cove on 5/22
1 adult at Branford Harbor on 5/22
1 pair at Compo Beach on 5/22
5 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/22
1 adult at Tuxis Island on 5/22
2 pairs, 2 hatchlings at Milford Point on 5/23
2 pairs, 2 nests at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/23
2 pairs, 5 adults at Milford Point on 5/23
2 pairs at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/23
12 adults, 1 chick at Cockenoe Island on 5/23
6 adults at Stratford Point on 5/24
2 adults at Sherwood Island State Park on 5/25
1 adult at Long Beach on 5/26
1 pair at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/26
1 pair, 4 adults, 1 hatchling at Milford Point on 5/26

Least Tern
6 adults at Russian Beach on 5/20
1 pair, 9 adults at Long Beach on 5/20
2 pairs, 40 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
2 adults at Horse Island Guilford on 5/20
10 adults at Griswold Point on 5/20
6 adults at Branford Harbor on 5/20
20 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
5 pairs, 4 adults at Milford Point on 5/20
1 adult at Menunketesuck Island on 5/20
4 pairs, 18 adults at Griswold Point on 5/21
5 adults at Bluff Point State Park on 5/21
10 adults at Long Beach on 5/21
20 adults at Griswold Point on 5/22
4 adults at Long Beach on 5/22
1 pair, 1 adult at Branford Harbor on 5/22
2 adults at Sherwood Island State Park on 5/22
23 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/22
3 pairs at Long Beach on 5/23
22 adults at Milford Point on 5/23
19 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/23
10 pairs, 21 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/23
50 adults at Milford Point on 5/23
20 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/23
13 adults at Stratford Point on 5/24
1 adult at Compo Beach on 5/24
2 adults at Long Beach on 5/24
10 adults at Russian Beach on 5/24
12 adults at Long Beach on 5/26
75 adults at Milford Point on 5/26
4 adults at Stratford Point on 5/27

Common Tern
6 adults at Russian Beach on 5/20
2 adults at Long Beach on 5/20
7 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
2 adults at Horse Island Guilford on 5/20
2 adults at Griswold Point on 5/20
10 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/20
17 adults at Menunketesuck Island on 5/20
2 pairs at Charles Island on 5/21
2 adults at Griswold Point on 5/21
3 adults at Bluff Point State Park on 5/21
4 adults at Long Beach on 5/21
2 adults at Long Beach on 5/22
3 pairs, 6 adults at Branford Harbor on 5/22
6 adults at Compo Beach on 5/22
10 adults at Sherwood Island State Park on 5/22
12 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/22
6 adults at Milford Point on 5/23
8 adults at Silver Sands State Park on 5/23
7 pairs, 6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/23
6 adults at Sandy/Morse Points on 5/23
300 adults, 50 nests at Cockenoe Island on 5/23
31 adults at Stratford Point on 5/24
22 adults at Compo Beach on 5/24
2 adults at Bluff Point on 5/26
6 adults at Stratford Point on 5/27

You can join or get more information by emailing AAfCW at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com or checking out the AAfCW blog here or the Facebook page here.


Scott Kruitbosch
AAfCW Coordinator
Conservation Technician
Connecticut Audubon Society

Least Flycatcher in the rain

During one of the migratory pushes at Stratford Point I had an uncommon Connecticut species that is typically found there once or twice a year - the Least Flycatcher. This bird was one of two that was trying to feed in the middle of constant and sometimes heavy showers.

The shrub and scrub habitat along Prospect Drive in and around Stratford Point is perfect for them to settle in after a long flight. Depending on the situation we sometimes also find deep forest flycatchers like the Eastern Wood-Pewee present. When there is a lot of fog on Long Island Sound or rainy conditions it helps to ensure they stop at Stratford Point as it is one of the first pieces of land a bird will find if they cross the water. It is also one of the only undeveloped major sites containing upland habitat along the entire Connecticut coastline making it a vitally important stopover location for birds like these.


Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation Technician

Photo by Scott Kruitbosch © Connecticut Audubon Society and not to be reproduced without explicit CAS permission

Eastern Kingbird eyes

The Eastern Kingbird is an aggressive and bold tyrant flycatcher that will attack many other species - thus the name. It is a bird of open areas from including grassy fields, scrubby beaches, shrub-filled openings, and even human created habitats like orchards. You will likely see them perched on exposed limbs, high branches, or fence posts. They migrate to Central and South America each fall and return to us after a long journey to devour our insect life in the spring and summer. I had my first of the year bird about two weeks ago and was struck at just how timid this one was around me.

They are typically a little wary around humans and move away rather rapidly once you get within even 50 feet in an open area. It always strikes me as odd that such a bold bird hunting insects - something we may inadvertently flush up more of while walking nearby - is always so concerned about us. A lot of other invertebrate feeders vacillate from guarded to downright tame depending on the situation. This can occur when they are tired or very hungry, or when one certain bird simply does not care about your presence for whatever other reason. But those Eastern Kingbirds always seem to care.

Take a look at the photo again and maybe you'll see in particular from this angle what I saw...or rather, did not see. I noticed how disguised those eyes really are as I could not be sure when this cautious bird was looking at me or not. Plenty of other insect-eating birds have bright or highlighted eyes, from the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher to the Nashville Warbler and many more. This species never wants you to know where it's looking as it sits in the open and exposed to the world, but they will go after perceived threats with limitless vigor and capture prey before the victim even knows the bird is looking at it.


Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation Technician

Photo by Scott Kruitbosch © Connecticut Audubon Society and not to be reproduced without explicit CAS permission

Our Osprey cam

This is a quick reminder for you to tune in to the Connecticut Audubon Society's Osprey cam at the Coastal Center at Milford Point. You can find the live stream right here and we encourage you to tune in often. This year the male came back on March 22 and the female returned on March 29, a little later than usual. However, all is on track right now and hatching has started! The below photo isn't one of the pair and is a shot of a cooperative bird from Stratford I wanted to share.

Thanks to a recent upgrade can now view the Osprey cam on your tablet, smartphone, or other mobile devices as well. Enjoy watching the young ones grow up!


Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation Technician

Photo by Scott Kruitbosch © Connecticut Audubon Society and not to be reproduced without explicit CAS permission

Fox family growing

The kits are growing up! I recently took these opportunistic photos one evening at Stratford Point as the Red Fox family got ready for dinner. More of their story and a great photo of a little one back when they were little (oh it seems like just the other day...) can be found in this post. Here are the pups looking rather surprised to see me there so late.

There are actually six of them in total as you can count off in this shot.

They are very curious and definitely enjoy human-watching as much as we enjoy fox-watching. However, check out the pup who is intently watching the sky and keep in mind where it is looking...

...because in this next picture its head moved as it followed a Common Grackle flying by.

It seemed to love the birds and was frequently caught gazing up at them. When a Barn Swallow did circles around them it had to whip its little head back and forth to keep track of it. Now if we could only make sure they grow up to respect the birds enough not to eat them - especially the Piping Plover eggs and young!


Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation Technician

Photos by Scott Kruitbosch © Connecticut Audubon Society and not to be reproduced without explicit CAS permission

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds coming to your home

Thanks to Alex Kearney for sending in a couple photos of a Ruby-throated Hummingbird from a yard in Kent. Alex has spotted two males and one female so far this year.

Did your hummingbirds return yet? They were definitely part of the later bunch of birds that moved through with some folks reporting it was nearly the latest or the very latest first arrival date they had recorded at their home. Last weekend was the first time I had one in 2013 as they seemed to arrive in strong numbers along with other migrants. Who would have thought we would have to be thinking about hummingbird feeders freezing in mid-May? Thanks to Alex for these photos and for everyone who feeds, watches, and enjoys their own hummingbirds.

Scott Kruitbosch

Conservation Technician

Photos by Alex Kearney (ackbluefish@yahoo.com)

Orchard Orioles all over

The last week was a very productive one for Baltimore Orioles in my experience as I found them at Stratford Point, in my neighborhood, at Long Beach, and many other locations. It was also surprisingly active for Orchard Orioles along with them as I found singing males at Short Beach, Stratford Great Meadows, and Stratford Point as well, a place they have nested every year since I started surveys there for Connecticut Audubon Society in 2009. Here's one of those singing males...

You can tell that this bird is in its second spring at least very easily as Orchard Orioles are a bit unique in that first-year males look drastically different than the full adults. Take a look at just how dissimilar they appear with this photo of a first-year male singing at Stratford Point last summer.

He successfully found a mate and formed the pair that nested on the property in 2012. At this point of the season many orioles of both species are passing through and most will vacate many of the areas you see them now. However, there will be a decent number of Baltimores that stick around and a handful of Orchards scattered across the state in acceptable habitats. Watch for Baltimore Oriole nests hanging from the trees along woodland edges this summer and Orchard Oriole nests packed in on a branch on a small tree or shrub in an open type of setting (like, oh, an orchard).


Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation Technician

Photos by Scott Kruitbosch © Connecticut Audubon Society and not to be reproduced without explicit CAS permission

Spring migration begins!

We have had a very difficult spring in terms of passerine migration across all of Connecticut. In 2012 and other recent years it seemed that the beginning date for heavy migration of neotropical birds was somewhat around April 20 with the bulk passing through by May 20. This year we have had very little moving into our state except breeding birds returning to territory. This is partly because we have had a normal April in terms of temperature unlike the previously mentioned last year where it was much above average. The other aspect coming into play has been the constant easterly flow overwhelming southern New England during the first week of May. The easterlies began in the last few days of April with a blocking high in place pumping this marine air over us and literally pushing birds away from Connecticut.

Think of southern New England with a big arrow pointing west - that is where the birds stayed unless they are breeders who want to return to territory within our borders. This means you may have seen a Yellow Warbler or two, your neighborhood Baltimore Oriole, or perhaps a Red-eyed Vireo. What you likely did not see were many more of those nesting species in terms of the typical high quantity (as some stay and some keep going north) and birds that live exclusively to our north like the Cape May Warbler I found on Friday. They had no reason to enter our area against the winds and would have stayed away. Nevertheless, plenty were bottled up to our south. There's perfect harmony to how our cooler temperatures and these winds correlated to keeping the birds away or south of us as most trees have only started leafing out now. This is right on schedule for the birds.

For the most part all of this is exactly on schedule. The very average temperatures we have been having seem to correlate well to the perfectly average (in comparison to the long-term and not recent years) arrival dates for many birds in Connecticut. The bulk of them should be passing through now from around May 10 to May 25, with the last stragglers pushing through May 31. This is the way it used to be with the late teens or possibly the early twenties of May being the peak of the spring migration birding season. We will see how the rest of the year plays out but, for now, it is entirely normal...despite the fact it does not feel like it!


Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation Technician

Cape May Warbler at home

I knew today would be a wonderful morning for spring migration with a perfect southerly flow the night before for the first time in 2013 - and it was the best day of the year so far by a long shot actually - but one never knows what they will find at a given location. Before completing a Stratford Point survey and an International Shorebird Survey I woke up very early to hear an uncommon sound at home. With all of the birdsong exploding through my windows at 6AM I knew I would have a lot to pick through today, but I did not expect a Cape May Warbler to be singing away and feeding at the top of my always popular oak tree! This stupendous bird appears to be the first of the species seen in Connecticut in 2013. I have had a few in my hometown of Stratford before in the fall, but I do not recall ever having a spring bird here. This guy, as the species usually does, stayed very high at the top of the tree. I was able to snap off a couple poor but recognizable record photos.

We seem to finally be off and running for spring migration. I'll talk about the delay to the start of this season and more in my next post.


Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation Technician

Photos by Scott Kruitbosch © Connecticut Audubon Society and not to be reproduced without explicit CAS permission

Return of the terns

May 1 is typically the date for both Least and Common Terns to return to Connecticut give or take a few days. This year we had Common Terns first show up at Hammonasset State Park on April 28. They and their smaller, lighter relatives will overspread the state rapidly. At the Audubon Alliance for Coastal Waterbirds we will be watching them just as closely as we do Piping Plovers and American Oystercatchers. Our nearly 100 monitors and dozens of other volunteers will be providing data and information on these four focal species for the rest of the season.

Least Tern mating ritual - stupendous sightings like these are common for our monitors

What is going to be fascinating for tern populations will be the changes that result from Hurricane Sandy reshaping our beaches and offshore islands. Some areas will have better habitat for nesting terns while others have been too degraded to support the populations they did only a year ago. We need your help all the more to help decipher these complex changes and to monitor the progress of these important species while educating the public on why they deserve our protection. Please email us at ctwaterbirds@gmail.com if you want to become a monitor or volunteer in some other capacity. None of this would be possible with the tireless efforts of caring Connecticut residents and we thank everyone for donating their time and energy to such a worthwhile endeavor.


Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation Technician

Photos by Scott Kruitbosch © Connecticut Audubon Society and not to be reproduced without explicit CAS permission

Drought underway

In the hot spring of 2012 we experienced a severe drought that had long-lasting effects throughout the summer. While we had normal or above normal precipitation not long after that blog entry, the damage was already done. The much warmer than usual temperatures quickly evaporated vernal pools after they had a fast March start. Small streams and creeks dried up rapidly eliminating a lot of odonates before they could even emerge. Large ponds and rivers were reduced in size as well, something that one cannot help but notice even now.

Here's the current U.S. Drought Monitor map and then the U.S. Seasonal Drought Outlook followed by specific northeastern and Connecticut maps:

In a week or two those colors will be getting darker if we don't get a lot of rain. The difference this year as we enter May is that we had a typical sort of spring in terms of temperature. The problem is limited to the precipitation itself. After the Blizzard of 2013 a couple of subsequent snowfalls provided the only significant water the state has seen. Try to remember when we have had a prolonged soaking rainfall - good luck with that!

At Bridgeport's National Weather Service climate station we see the following precipitation amounts during the months in question:


March: 2.54 inches, -1.51 departure from normal
April: 1.09 inches, -3.04 departure from normal

And the same information for the Hartford area:

March: 2.60, a -1.02 departure from normal
April: 1.67, a -2.05 departure from normal

It was actually the third driest April in the Bridgeport area since records started there in 1948. These deficits in combination with a lot of bright and sunny days with seasonal temperatures mean that water is being evaporated quickly. Whatever runs into Long Island Sound is not being replenished. The lack of snowfall to our north also kept some of the larger rivers lower than usual and meant less water for Connecticut. We do not seem to have any significant rainfall locked in to our immediate future, but Wednesday and Thursday of this week could yield a half inch or more if we're lucky from a low moving our way as this blocking pattern finally erodes. Perhaps the beginning of severe weather season (May 1) will soon help us to generate some rainfall via beneficial thunderstorms at some point, but those are of course localized in nature. All life in Connecticut would appreciate a rainy day soon.


Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation Technician

April's temperature was...what?

Here's a quiz for you and your friends, family, colleagues, or weather dorks like me - how would you describe the overall temperature during the month of April 2013 in Connecticut? The following choices are in comparison to long-term temperature averages from National Weather Service climate stations in Connecticut.

A) Much colder than usual (several degrees)
B) Cooler than usual (a few degrees)
C) Right about average (within a degree either way)
D) Warmer than usual (a few degrees)
E) Much hotter than usual (several degrees)

Go ahead and take a few minutes to think about it before I give you the answer.

OK, so you probably did not need a few minutes, but it can be time for you to ask others what they think.

I can go ahead and guess that you will not be saying one of those answers. Coincidentally the very same answer that likely no one will be choosing is what it was last year, and that was E as we all remember 2012's scorching spring. Selecting E this year would be the wrong choice but I am sure no one did.

Give up yet?

No, it was not warmer than usual (D) and it was not much colder than usual (A) even though it felt like it sometimes. It was not even cooler than usual (B) which I am suspecting most people would believe. The temperature in Connecticut in April 2013 was C, right about average! This is what your typical spring is supposed to feel like in our state with highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s for the most part. The Bridgeport area was actually 0.4 degrees Fahrenheit above average for the month and the Hartford area was -0.7 degrees Fahrenheit below. This is remarkable to me given that most springs in my life in the state have felt much warmer. Perhaps part of it is a memory of last year's historic heat but overall it is a reflection of what we have felt from climate change during the past few decades.

Normal is the best situation for all of the life our state holds from the trees to the birds to the insects and the mammals. Now if we could only get some rain...more on that in my next post.


Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation Technician

Yellow-crowned Night-Herons nesting

One of our fantastic regular CAS Coastal Center at Milford Point volunteers, Rachele DeLorenzo, has one of Connecticut's more unique birds breeding in her neighborhood. The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron is a long-legged wader that is listed as a species of "Special Concern" on the Connecticut Endangered Species Act. They prefer to live in colonies that must be somewhat near a wet habitat whether it is tidal marsh, coastal areas or offshore islands, or even swamps, wetlands, or large inland bodies of water as they feed primarily on crustaceans.

As Rachele can attest they build large nests of sticks high up in trees with both male and female working together. This year birds returning to Connecticut often found previous nests completely obliterated by Hurricane Sandy. Their rebuilding process is ongoing. Rachele sent me these photos of their work and what her colony has been up to as they prepare for a hopefully successful breeding season.

Our thanks Rachele and best of luck to the state-listed birds.


Scott Kruitbosch
Conservation Technician

Photos by Rachele DeLorenzo