Good news:  I found the second Oystercatcher nest today.  It contained, as I had guessed yesterday, one egg.  Yesterday's Love-Fest was a success!
   Bad news:  Only one adult was guarding the egg, and pretty poorly at that I might add.  Just sort of standing around, walking aimlessly at first and then leading me straight to the nest.  Not real textbook behavior for a conscientious brooding parent.  Usually they try to lead you away from the nest, sometimes feigning a broken wing.  And where was the second adult?  Again, maybe off somewhere else feeding, but (see photo) the Merlin were on the beach again today (see yesterday's post).  They were obviously causing some distress to the AMOy and Sanderlings alike, and again I saw no Piping Plovers today.
   Good news:  The two eggs in AMOY nest #1 seem to be fine, but---
   Bad news:  Why are there still only two?  Should be three by now, maybe four.  and---
   Bad news:  Still only one parent guarding the nest.  Things look bleak, but maybe tomorrow.......
   Good news:  Beach nesting birds have a pretty good ability to re-nest after misfortune.  They still have plenty of time before their reproductive window closes.  So I continue to observe and report.  Detached, impartial.  It's all good, right?
   I just wish whoever has been driving their freaking truck on the Coast Guard beach every day would get stuck in the sand at high tide. 
   Other birds returning to Two Mile:  Common Yellowthroat, Willets, Clapper Rail and Yellow-rumped Warblers.  Still in the ocean are Red-throated Loons and an occasional Gannet.