Published: 09 May 2010

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Resource Management Field Summary for April 29 – May 5, 2010 

(Bodie, Hatteras and Ocracoke Districts)

Piping Plover (PIPL) Observations:

Bodie District:

            Bodie Island:  Up to four PIPLs have been observed.  All have been observed foraging near the Bait Pond within the Bodie Island pre-nesting closure.  No breeding activity was observed.

Hatteras District:

            Cape Point:  Up to 10 PIPLs have been observed at one time.  Six pairs have nests. There appears to be an additional pair on a scrape territory at Cape Point.

            South Beach:  A lone male PIPL continues to be observed.

            Hatteras Overwash/Hatteras Inlet:  No PIPLs have been observed.

Ocracoke District:  

            North Ocracoke:  Up to eight PIPLs have been observed foraging and/or roosting. On 5/5 scraping and territorial behavior was documented for a pair of PIPLs on North Ocracoke Spit.   Throughout the week PIPLs were observed on the oceanside and inlet shorelines, all within the pre-nesting or AMOY closures.

South Point:  Up to three PIPLs have been observed along the inlet and oceanside shorelines, as well as within the mudflats. Three pairs have had documented nests.  One nest was lost and two one-egg nests remain.

PIPL Breeding Summary: 

Nest Summary/Expected hatch dates:

Nest 1 – Cape Point. This nest was exclosed as a three-egg nest on 4/17 and was a four-egg nest on 4/19.  Hatching should occur on or near 5/14.

Nest 2 – Cape Point.  This nest was discovered as a two-egg nest on 4/15, exclosed as a three-egg nest on 4/18, and was a four-egg nest on 4/20.  Hatching should occur on or near 5/15.

Nest 3 – Cape Point.  This nest was discovered as a two-egg nest on 4/22, exclosed as a three-egg nest on 4/24, and was a four-egg nest on 4/27.  Hatching should occur on or near 5/15.

Nest 4 – Cape Point.  This nest was discovered as a two-egg nest on 4/22, exclosed as a three-egg nest on 4/24, and was a four-egg nest on 4/27.  Hatching should occur on or near 5/20.

Nest 5 – Cape Point.  This nest was discovered as a one-egg nest on 4/22, exclosed as a three-egg nest on 4/28, and was a four-egg nest on 4/30.  Hatching should occur on or near 5/23.

Nest 6 – Cape Point.  This nest was discovered as a two-egg nest on 4/22, exclosed as a four-egg nest on 4/27.  Hatching should occur on or near 5/21.

Nest 7 – South Point.  This nest was discovered as a one-egg nest on 4/28.  On 5/2 the egg(s) were predated by ghost crabs. It is unknown whether the nest was a two-egg or three- egg clutch when predated.

Nest 8 – South Point.  This nest was discovered as a one-egg nest on 4/28.  Since the pair was incubating, the nest was exclosed as a two-egg nest on 5/2. One egg was lost to ghost crabs on 5/4. One egg remains in the nest. Hatching should occur near the last week of May.

Nest 9 – South Point. This nest was discovered as a one-egg nest on 5/4.

WIPL Update:

No WIPLs observed this week.

American Oystercatchers (AMOY):  Pairs continue to be observed on scrape territories in all districts.

2010 AMOY Breeding Pairs: Twenty of the 23 breeding pairs from 2009 have nested or set up territories.  One pair that has nested on the seashore in the past (but not in 2009) has nested.  One new pair has nested and four potential new pairs have been documented scraping.

Bodie District:

• Green Island:  A three-egg AMOY nest was lost due to over-wash on 4/30 and another AMOY pair is scraping.
• Bodie Island:  A three-egg AMOY nest was lost due to predation on 4/29. There are currently no new scrapes or nests.
• Bodie/Hatteras District (Rodanthe to Ramp 30):  Four breeding pairs have nests (two two-egg and two three-egg).  The first nest should hatch on or near 5/14.

Hatteras District:  Nine breeding pairs have nests (six three-egg, two two-egg and one one-egg) and there are at least three more pairs are on scrape territories. The first nest should hatch on or near 5/12.

Ocracoke District:  

• North Ocracoke: Two pairs are occupying North Ocracoke. One pair has a three-egg nest. The other pair has documented scrapes around the area of Ramp 59.
• Other Beaches (Ramp 59-Ramp 72): Two breeding pairs have nests.  The first nest should hatch on or around 5/14.
• South Point: Two pairs of AMOYs are occupying the area south of Ramp 72. One pair is scraping on the east side of the pre-nesting closure. The other pair had a one-egg nest that was lost to weather on 4/29. A clutch continuation of one-egg was found on the soundside for the same pair, but this egg was also lost to weather on 5/2.

Colonial Waterbirds (CWB):

            Bodie District:  Least terns have been observed on Bodie Island and Bodie/Hatteras District. No scraping has been observed.

Hatteras District:  Least terns have been observed on most of Hatteras’ beaches. No scraping has been observed.

Ocracoke District:  Least terns and common terns have been observed at North Ocracoke and South Point. Gull-billed terns have been documented north of Ramp 68.  Least terns have been scraping on the east side of South Point.

Sea turtle nests: None

Sea Turtle Strandings:

Bodie District:

• 5/5- A dead, green sea turtle was found soundside Salvo.

Hatteras District:

• 5/3 – A dead, moderately decomposed, female loggerhead sea turtle was found 2.8 mi SW of Ramp 49.

Ocracoke District:

• 4/30 – A dead, moderately decomposed, female loggerhead sea turtle was found 0.4 mi S of Ramp 72.
• 5/4 – A dead, moderately decomposed Kemp’s ridley sea turtle was found 1.3 mi N of Ramp 49 on the inlet shoreline.
• 5/5 – A dead, severely decomposed loggerhead sea turtle was found 2.3 mi S of Ramp 72 on inlet shoreline.
• 5/5 – A dead, severely decomposed green sea turtle was found 2.3 mi S of Ramp 72 on inlet shoreline.

Marine Mammals:

Bodie District:

•  4/29- A dead, neonate bottlenose dolphin was located 0.5 mi N of Ramp 2 on Bodie Island.
• 4/30 – A dead, neonate bottlenose dolphin was located on Green Island.

Hatteras District:

None this week

Ocracoke District:

            None this week

Closures – additions/modifications/removals:

Closure intrusions:

Bodie District:

None observed.

Hatteras District:

None observed.

Ocracoke District:

None observed.

Published: 02 May 2010

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Resource Management Field Summary for April 22 – April 28, 2010 

(Bodie, Hatteras and Ocracoke Districts)

Piping Plover (PIPL) Observations:

Bodie District:

            Bodie Island:  Up to five PIPLs have been observed.  All have been observed foraging near the Bait Pond within the Bodie Island pre-nesting closure.  No breeding activity was observed.

Hatteras District:

            Cape Point:  Up to 12 PIPLs have been observed at one time.  Six pairs have nests. It currently cannot be determined whether or not there are other pairs at Cape Point.

            South Beach:  A lone male PIPL continues to be observed.

            Hatteras Overwash/Hatteras Inlet:  No PIPLs have been observed.

Other Beaches:  No PIPLs have been observed.

Ocracoke District:

            North Ocracoke:  Up to eight PIPLs have been observed foraging and/or roosting. On 4/23 scraping and territorial behavior was documented for one PIPL. On 4/28 one PIPL was observed on the oceanside shoreline.

South Point:  Up to four PIPLs have been observed along the inlet shoreline and within the mudflats. One pair has been consistently using the oceanside shoreline, resulting in the PIPL foraging closure on (4/23). Two pairs have one-egg nests as of 4/28.  Up to three additional pairs have been identified.  

PIPL Breeding Summary: 

Nests/Expected hatch dates:

Nest 1 – Cape Point. This nest was exclosed as a three-egg nest on 4/17 and was a four-egg nest on 4/19.  Hatching should occur on or near 5/14.

Nest 2 – Cape Point.  This nest was discovered as a two-egg nest on 4/15, exclosed as a three-egg nest on 4/18, and was a four-egg nest on 4/20.  Hatching should occur on or near 5/20.

Nest 3 – Cape Point.  This nest was discovered as a two-egg nest on 4/22, exclosed as a three-egg nest on 4/24, and was a four-egg nest on 4/27.  Hatching should occur on or near 5/15.

Nest 4 – Cape Point.  This nest was discovered as a two-egg nest on 4/22, exclosed as a three-egg nest on 4/24, and was a four-egg nest on 4/27.  Hatching should occur on or near 5/20.

Nest 5 – Cape Point.  This nest was discovered as a one-egg nest on 4/22, exclosed as a three-egg nest on 4/28.  Hatching should occur on or near 5/23.

Nest 6 – Cape Point.  This nest was discovered as a two-egg nest on 4/22, exclosed as a four-egg nest on 4/27.  Hatching should occur on or near 5/21.

Nest 7 – South Point.  This nest was discovered as a one-egg nest on 4/28.  Hatching should occur near the last week of May.

Nest 8 – South Point.  This nest was discovered as a one-egg nest on 4/28.  Hatching should occur near the last week of May.

WIPL Update:

Ocracoke District:  Wilson’s plovers have been observed in the North Ocracoke pre-nesting closure. No breeding behavior or territorial displays have been noted.

American Oystercatchers (AMOY):  Pairs continue to be observed on scrape territories in all districts.

2010 AMOY Breeding Pairs: Twenty of the 23 breeding pairs from 2009 have nested or set up territories.  One pair that has nested on the seashore in the past (but not in 2009) has nested.  Five potential new pairs have been documented scraping.

Bodie District:

• Green Island:  One pair had a three-egg nest on 4/23 and another pair is scraping on the island.
• Bodie Island:  Three of four breeding pairs from 2009 have returned.  One pair has a three-egg nest.  One pair has not been observed since 4/5.
• Bodie/Hatteras District (Rodanthe to Ramp 30):  Four breeding pairs have nests.  One pair has nested in the territory of a 2009 pair that has not been observed this year.

Hatteras District:  Seven breeding pairs have nests (five three-egg and two one-egg) and at least five more pairs are on scrape territories. The first two nests should hatch on or near 5/14.

Ocracoke District:  

• North End: Scraping has been documented for one pair on the east side of the pre-nesting closure, resulting in a full beach closure installed (4/28).
• Other Beaches: Two pairs are found between Ramp 59 and Ramp 72. One pair has a 3 egg nest and the other has a two egg nest.
• South Point: Two pairs of AMOYs are found south of Ramp 72. One pair is scraping on the east side of the pre-nesting closure. The other pair has new scrapes documented further south on the spit.

Colonial Waterbirds (CWB):

            Bodie District:  Least terns have been observed at Bodie Island. No breeding behaviors have been observed.

Hatteras District:  Least terns have been observed on most of Hatteras’ beaches. No breeding behaviors have been observed.

Ocracoke District:  Least terns have been observed at South Point. Gull-billed terns have been documented north of Ramp 68.  No breeding behaviors have been observed.

Sea turtle nests: None

Sea Turtle Strandings:

Bodie District:

• None.

Hatteras District:

• None.

Ocracoke District:

• None.

Marine Mammals:

Bodie District:

•  4/26- A dead, male bottlenose dolphin was located 0.8 mi N of Ramp 23 in Salvo Village (MDB084).    
• 4/27 – A dead marine mammal (species undetermined) was reported by pedestrians on soundside Rodanthe. The animal has not been recovered.

Hatteras District:

• 4/24- A live pygmy sperm whale was found washed up within the Cape Point pre-nesting closure 0.2 mi east of Ramp 45.
• 4/28 – A dead male bottlenose dolphin was found 0.3 mi S of the Haulover Day Use area parking lot, soundside.

Ocracoke District:

• 4/25 – A dead, male bottlenose dolphin was found 1.1 mi N of Ramp 67.
• 4/27- A dead, male, neonate bottlenose dolphin was located 2.1 mi S of Ramp 72 in the South Point pre-nesting closure.
• 4/28 – A dead neonate bottlenose dolphin was found 2.2 mi S of Ramp 72 in the South Point pre-nesting closure.
• 4/28 – A dead neonate bottlenose dolphin was reported by a volunteer floating off of Springer’s Point. The animal has not been recovered.

Closures – additions/modifications/removals:

Closure intrusions

Bodie District:

None observed.

Hatteras District:

None observed.

Ocracoke District:

None observed.

Deliberate Violations

Hatteras District:

4/22- Resource management staff discovered broken/pulled up signs and missing rope at the north end of a closure for AMOYs, 0.8 mi S of Ramp 38. As a result of the violation, the closure was expanded 50 meters to the north as is required by the consent decree.