4/25/13, Mlfd Pt, E Bway PIPL

On 4/25/13, PIPL at Milford Point; the pair on East Broadway.

male PIPL at start of Francis Street Spit, 4/25/13

male PIPL on Cedar Beach, in line w/ 45

Cedar Beach male again, in profile

another backhoe grading beach of E Broadway, 4/25/13

E Broadway female with disturbed feathers

the E Broadway male, also a bit of feather disturbance

Blue-winged Teal, 4/1713, 4/18/13 Walker's Pond

Male Blue-winged Teal, 4/17/13, Walker's Pond

Blue-winged Teal have been moving through Milford for a few weeks, and they showed up at Silver Sands SP, Mondo Ponds, and the small local Walker's Pond.  Above, a male; below, a female.

Female Blue-winged Teal Walker Pond, Milford 4/18/13

4/20/13 E B'way PIPL; 4/23 nest

A nest in front of 859 E Broadway, 4/23/12, with female brooding.  Our FOY nest.  Because of cold weather (43 degrees) did not check eggs, but witnessed changing of nesting duties between male and female.

The beach at East Broadway on the morning of 4/20/13, showing the backhoe/frontloader in front of one of the homes; the tracks left by the machine.  Then 2 photos of the female, one of the male.  They seem to be staying above the heavy wrack when they are not feeding

4/16/13 PIPL, banded, molting Dunlin

Today, 4/16/13, we found 6 pairs of PIPLat Milford Point and the single pair at East Broadway.  Also   at Milford Point were about 100 Sanderling & 100 Dunlin.  A few Dunlin are molting into alternate plumage--see photo.  (On Mlfd Pt marsh side was lingering drake Eurageon Wigeon, and a pair of drake Shovelers.)

East Broadway male 4/16/13

Cedar Beach PIPL pair 4/16/13

Dunlin (Sanderling at edge),  one banded, one molting into alternate plumage 4/16/13 Mfd PT

13, 14 April 13 Milford PIPL

A heavy rain and wind  (40 mph winds) brought high tides to Milford beaches.  Below a picture of the straw wrack on East Broadway on 4/13.  Then a male sheltering on 4/14 and a male at the beginning of the spit on 4/14.  Still unable to upload videos, but we found at least 5 pairs again today (4/14): 2 on Cedar Beach; 1 or 2 at the beginning of the spit; 2 on the western extension of the spit.  All the birds were sheltering in the strong wind and still chilly temps.

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Male PIPL start of spit, 4/14/13

4/11/13

On 4/11/13 found 9 PIPL at Milford Point: 2 pair on Cedar Beach; single pair beginning of Francis Street spit; a trio at beginning to middle of western extension of the Francis Street spit.  Below a few illustration of these birds.  (Also on spit were 18 Sanderling and a single Dunlin)

Dunlin spit 4/11/13

Dunlin, PIPL w. ext spit 4/11/13

Female PIPL Cedar Beach 4/11/13

Sanderling beginning to molt into alternate plumage 4/11/13

Greater Yellowlegs malformed bill 4/11/13 Mfd Pt

Female PIPL Cedar Beach 4/11/13

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Gr Yellowlegs malformed bill 4/11/13 Mfd Pt

Sanderling Mfd Pt 4/11/13

Male PIPL Mfd Pt 4/11/13

Male PIPL Mfd Pt 4/11/13

FOY E Broadway (4/8/13) PIPL; Milford Pt PIPL courting

FOY PIPLs appeared this morning on the East Broadway beach in Milford CT.  Below, photo 3 is of the E. Broadway pair; photo 2 is of a symbolic scraping; photo 1 is a male on Cedar Beach.

Cedar Beach male reflection shot

symbolic scraping by male

East Broadway, Milford first appearance of PIPL pair

Pectoral Sandpiper

A Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) appeared at the Francis Street spit at Milford Point today, 4/6/13.  Afew record shots below.

Pectoral Sandpiper 4/6/13 Milford Pt

Pectoral Sandpiper 4/6/13 Milford Pt

Pectoral Sandpiper taking off, 4/6/13 Mfd Pt

Breeding Plumage early April Milford

4/4/13 Greater Yellowlegs alternate plumage Silver Sands

4/5/13 Great Egret alternate plumage Trumbull Beach