Date: 8/16/25 6:10 am From: Dana Fox <dana.fox1939...> Subject: [NHBirds] Never before in nearly 86 years -a Whip-poor-will
It was 8:55 pm on July 19th at my cabin on the western shore of Lower Beech Pond in Tuftonboro NH on a warm summer's night. All the windows and the screen doors were open. I was sitting facing the front of the cabin about 5 feet in and Bob was sitting closer facing inward.
Suddenly, a loud call erupted from the Mountain Cranberry Bush 10 feet away. There is a 5 foot wide deck, this 15 foot tall Bush and then the lake. So close. I pished to get Bob's attention and actually saw it drop down in that crespuscular light.
I was astounded as never before and that is in 86 years next week had I had a Whip here. Mature hemlock, red maples, Beech, spruce, and birch are the trees around me.
In my early youth, you could here them about a half mile away and a more open area and younger trees. That was a while ago.
A moment I will not forget. It just shows you always can discover new things even if it is only post breeding dispersal!
Dana Duxbury-Fox Center Tuftonboro NH and North Andover MA
