Date: 5/8/25 2:00 pm From: Dan Hubbard <danielhubbard...> Subject: [NHBirds] Seacoast Chapter Pickering Ponds Rochester bird walk, May 7, 2025, 90 species
Twenty-five birders joined me for a pleasant, leisurely walk around the Pickering Ponds city park trails in Rochester yesterday. A few birds were also sighted/heard along the way. Some highlights were the continuing Common Merganser attempts to decimate the bullhead population in the first pond, a Bald Eagle chasing an Osprey trying to pilfer its fish, a pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers setting up housekeeping, a Merlin strafing the group, and 16 species of warbler. Scibe in residence, Zeke Cornell, recorded the list below (many thanks once again). Dan Hubbard, Rochester
Pickering Ponds, Rochester, Strafford, New Hampshire May 7, 2025 6:55 AM - 1:54 PM
Protocol: Traveling 3.158 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: NH Audubon Seacoast Chapter outing at Pickering Pond led by Dan Hubbard. Record for duration and a very good number of species!
90 species (with 16 species of warbler)
Canada Goose 20 Some flyovers and at least one pair appeared to be on a nest...
Wood Duck 5
Mallard 6
Common Merganser 13 Initially in the first pond...
Mourning Dove 7
Chimney Swift 30 Most seen from the causeway between the two ponds...
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 3
Killdeer 5 Flyover, but later could be heard at the waste treatment plant...
Spotted Sandpiper 8 Most at the waste treatment plant...
Solitary Sandpiper 3 In the waste treatment area but seen from Pickering...
Lesser Yellowlegs 1 In the waste treatment area but seen from Pickering...
Greater Yellowlegs 5 In the waste treatment area but seen from Pickering...
Least Sandpiper 3 In the waste treatment area but seen from Pickering...
American Herring Gull 105
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Common Loon 2 Flyover...
Double-crested Cormorant 6
Green Heron 1
Great Blue Heron 5
Turkey Vulture 2
Osprey 1 Seen perched, flying and diving for fish (appeared to be unsuccessful)...
Bald Eagle 3 At least three by plumage variation...
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Barred Owl 1 Heard calling..
.
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 3
Downy Woodpecker 6
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 3
Merlin 1 Flyover directly above the group...
Least Flycatcher 5
Eastern Phoebe 4
Great Crested Flycatcher 1 Heard only...
Eastern Kingbird 8
Warbling Vireo 6
Blue Jay 6
American Crow 3
Common Raven 2
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 4
Bank Swallow 2 Seen in second pond near the end of the walk...
Tree Swallow 23
Barn Swallow 7
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Brown Creeper 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 6 One pair on a well developed nest...
Northern House Wren 4
Carolina Wren 2
Gray Catbird 15
Brown Thrasher 1
Northern Mockingbird 1
Eastern Bluebird 2
Veery 4
Wood Thrush 1
American Robin 12
House Sparrow 1
House Finch 1
Purple Finch 1
American Goldfinch 5
Chipping Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 11
Savannah Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 9
Lincoln's Sparrow 1 Sparrow with fine streaks on a buffy breast. Quick view by Rebecca Suomala and a couple of others.
Swamp Sparrow 5
Orchard Oriole 4 All males, black and brick red; known breeding site.
Baltimore Oriole 9
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Brown-headed Cowbird 9
Common Grackle 13
Ovenbird 8 Don't believe any were seen...
Louisiana Waterthrush 2 Heard only...
Northern Waterthrush 5 A couple were seen...
Black-and-white Warbler 10
Nashville Warbler 5
Common Yellowthroat 18
American Redstart 10
Northern Parula 10
Magnolia Warbler 2
Yellow Warbler 12
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 22
Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Heard only...
Wilson's Warbler 1 Seen along the second pond as we returned to the parking area
...
Northern Cardinal 6
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 9 Lots of good views...
