Date: 5/16/24 11:00 am From: Dan Hubbard <danielhubbard...> Subject: [NHBirds] eBird Report - Pickering Ponds, Rochester, May 15, 2024; 67 species
Twenty-one birders joined me for a leisurely Seacoast Chapter bird walk at Pickering Ponds in Rochester. Not as many species as Sunday, but nice variety anyway. Hopefully, there will still be nest activity for our June 2 nest walk. Another superb tallying performance by Super Scribe, Zeke Cornell follows. Dan Hubbard, Rochester
Pickering Ponds, Rochester, Strafford, New Hampshire, US
May 15, 2024 7:15 AM - 12:41 PM
Protocol: Traveling
3.25 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: NH Audubon Seacoast Chapter outing at Pickering Ponds led by Dan Hubbard. It was a pleasant day, as the forecasted morning showers did not arrive.
67 species
Canada Goose 22
Wood Duck 5
Mallard 5
Mourning Dove 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Flyby over the first pond just as the walk began...
Virginia Rail 2 Calling in the marsh along the spur trail below the waste treatment plant...
Killdeer 1 calling...
Herring Gull 70
Great Black-backed Gull 1 Flyby; low over the second pond...
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Green Heron 2 flyby in opposite direction of one of the adult Bald Eagles over the first pond; another calling in marsh along the river...
Great Blue Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 12 soaring as one group...
Bald Eagle 4
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 2 nest hole
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 5
Least Flycatcher 8 widespread...
Great Crested Flycatcher 3
Eastern Kingbird 7
Yellow-throated Vireo 1 calling along the spur trail out to the rails...
Warbling Vireo 12 saw nests under construction...
Red-eyed Vireo 5
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 4
Black-capped Chickadee 13
Tufted Titmouse 3
Tree Swallow 6
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 1
Bank Swallow 1
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 3 two nests
House Wren 3 nest
Carolina Wren 1
European Starling 1
Gray Catbird 23
Veery 1
Wood Thrush 5
American Robin 15 nests
American Goldfinch 18
Song Sparrow 19
Swamp Sparrow 2
Orchard Oriole 5 two or three nesting territories...known breeding location--saw males and females...
Date: 5/15/24 4:35 pm From: Brian Reilly <reillybj...> Subject: [NHBirds] Keene - just now - Cowbirds
I just looked out my back window to count 12 male Brown-headed Cowbirds feeding at a platform feeder.
I’m sure that’s my record for that many male Cowbirds all at once.
Date: 5/15/24 8:29 am From: Aaronian, Richard S. <raaronian...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rye
Marsh across from Wallis Sands beach. Viewed from Marsh Rd. Little Blue Heron 1 adult continues Snowy Egret 8 Great Egret 4 Glossy Ibis 13 (looked over each carefully for White-faced) Greater Yellowlegs 4 Least Sandpiper 1 Killdeer 2
Date: 5/15/24 4:27 am From: birdrecords <birdrecords...> Subject: [NHBirds] The Elusive Cerulean
This lovely sky-blue warbler is a state-listed Threatened species but a recent sighting in Hinsdale is a hopeful sign it’s still hanging on here. Since 1986, three locations have hosted Cerulean Warblers for multiple years and during the breeding season: Pawtuckaway State Park, Wantastiquet Mountain Natural Area in Chesterfield and Hinsdale, and along the Blackwater River in Salisbury. Are other Ceruleans still in New Hampshire? Two of these sights have rarely been visited - learn the history of Cerulean sightings at these three locations in this article from the Summer 2017 issue of New Hampshire Bird Records: https://nhbirdrecords.org/nhbr-pdfs/V36%20N2%20Summer%202017%20web.pdf (“One Hundred Years of Cerulean Warblers in New Hampshire” begins on page 33).
Other articles in this issue include: Birding Pease International Tradeport; Bald Eagle and Osprey Conflicts; An Unusually Tall Eastern Phoebe nest (w/photo); photos and field notes from the 2017 summer season; a Photo Quiz and more! Enjoy them all!
New Hampshire Bird Records continues to provide free access to its archives to help birders find information on birding locally and to remind us of the joy of birding.
Date: 5/14/24 8:00 am From: K Klapper <kklapper...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] CERULEAN WARBLER this morning at Wantastiquet Mountain in Hinsdale
Ah the memories! I've had them there several times (the first was with
Lance Tanino some years before Chris and I saw the above male) but I've
fallen off checking up on them, living where I do.
So thank you, Robyn, for your diligence in confirming the presence of this
state-listed Threatened species! Well done.
K Klapper
Sandwich, NH
On Monday, May 13, 2024 at 11:38:33 PM UTC-4 Christian Newton wrote:
> Nice, Ken Klapper and myself had a male there May 13th, 2012. Same deal
> you had to go through all the Black throated Blues singing Cerulean like
> songs.
> Very cool, glad they are still there.
> Christian Newton
> Polk City, FL
>
> Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone
> Get Outlook for Android <https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> > ------------------------------
> *From:* <nhb......> <nhb......> on behalf of R
> Prieto <rbprie......>
> *Sent:* Monday, May 13, 2024 6:37:52 PM
> *To:* <nhb......> <nhb......>
> *Subject:* [NHBirds] CERULEAN WARBLER this morning at Wantastiquet
> Mountain in Hinsdale
>
> Woke up this morning at 4:30 to make the two-hour drive west from
> Deerfield to Wantastiquet Mountain Natural Area in Hinsdale, specifically
> searching for Cerulean Warblers at a historic location for the species. The
> early alarm and long drive turned out to be well worth it, since within a
> couple hours I was able to find and photograph a gorgeous male Cerulean
> Warbler in the treetops about a mile to a mile and a half up the trail.
>
> Access to the trail is from a small dirt parking lot at the end of
> Mountain Rd. in Hinsdale, just across the bridge from Brattleboro, VT.
> Follow the path past the nearest orange gate and up the many rocky
> switchbacks. It's worth noting that this bird definitely cannot be
> reliably identified by voice alone. There are many Black-throated Blue
> Warblers at the location, several of which were repeatedly singing very
> convincing mimic songs of Cerulean Warbler. I tracked down each bird
> individually as I heard them to confirm species, and although this bird
> sounded slightly different (notably louder and more clear-voiced), there's
> a lot of similarity to be careful of along the way up to where this bird
> was!
>
> After a quick look on eBird, it appears that this bird is the first one in
> the state since 2021, and the first at Wantastiquet since 2019. Hopefully,
> it will choose to stick around for a while and more people will get to see
> it! I'm very glad to see that they're still in NH.
>
> Link to checklist with photos, audio, and coordinates:
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S174229544 >
> Robyn Prieto
> Deerfield, NH
>
> --
> To Change your e-mail delivery settings (digest, daily, no mail) visit:
> https://groups.google.com/group/nhbirds/subscribe?hl=en > ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "NHBirds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to nhbirds+<u......>
> To view this discussion on the web visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nhbirds/CA%2BBHdxhXHK-rRvOLoZ94-84KvHLDUYK%<2BoquywhjbccNkOPYaPQ...> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nhbirds/CA%2BBHdxhXHK-rRvOLoZ94-84KvHLDUYK%<2BoquywhjbccNkOPYaPQ...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > .
>
Date: 5/14/24 7:52 am From: Ken Klapper <kklapper...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] CERULEAN WARBLER this morning at Wantastiquet Mountain in Hinsdale
Ah the memories! I've had them there several times (the first was with
Lance Tanino some years before Chris and I saw that male) but I've fallen
off checking up on them, living where I do.
So thank you, Robyn, for your diligence in confirming the presence of this
state-listed Threatened species! Well done.
K Klapper
Sandwich, NH
On Monday, May 13, 2024 at 11:38:33 PM UTC-4 Christian Newton wrote:
> Nice, Ken Klapper and myself had a male there May 13th, 2012. Same deal
> you had to go through all the Black throated Blues singing Cerulean like
> songs.
> Very cool, glad they are still there.
> Christian Newton
> Polk City, FL
>
> Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone
> Get Outlook for Android <https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> > ------------------------------
> *From:* <nhb......> <nhb......> on behalf of R
> Prieto <rbprie......>
> *Sent:* Monday, May 13, 2024 6:37:52 PM
> *To:* <nhb......> <nhb......>
> *Subject:* [NHBirds] CERULEAN WARBLER this morning at Wantastiquet
> Mountain in Hinsdale
>
> Woke up this morning at 4:30 to make the two-hour drive west from
> Deerfield to Wantastiquet Mountain Natural Area in Hinsdale, specifically
> searching for Cerulean Warblers at a historic location for the species. The
> early alarm and long drive turned out to be well worth it, since within a
> couple hours I was able to find and photograph a gorgeous male Cerulean
> Warbler in the treetops about a mile to a mile and a half up the trail.
>
> Access to the trail is from a small dirt parking lot at the end of
> Mountain Rd. in Hinsdale, just across the bridge from Brattleboro, VT.
> Follow the path past the nearest orange gate and up the many rocky
> switchbacks. It's worth noting that this bird definitely cannot be
> reliably identified by voice alone. There are many Black-throated Blue
> Warblers at the location, several of which were repeatedly singing very
> convincing mimic songs of Cerulean Warbler. I tracked down each bird
> individually as I heard them to confirm species, and although this bird
> sounded slightly different (notably louder and more clear-voiced), there's
> a lot of similarity to be careful of along the way up to where this bird
> was!
>
> After a quick look on eBird, it appears that this bird is the first one in
> the state since 2021, and the first at Wantastiquet since 2019. Hopefully,
> it will choose to stick around for a while and more people will get to see
> it! I'm very glad to see that they're still in NH.
>
> Link to checklist with photos, audio, and coordinates:
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S174229544 >
> Robyn Prieto
> Deerfield, NH
>
> --
> To Change your e-mail delivery settings (digest, daily, no mail) visit:
> https://groups.google.com/group/nhbirds/subscribe?hl=en > ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "NHBirds" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to nhbirds+<u......>
> To view this discussion on the web visit
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nhbirds/CA%2BBHdxhXHK-rRvOLoZ94-84KvHLDUYK%<2BoquywhjbccNkOPYaPQ...> > <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nhbirds/CA%2BBHdxhXHK-rRvOLoZ94-84KvHLDUYK%<2BoquywhjbccNkOPYaPQ...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > .
>
Date: 5/14/24 2:57 am From: alanj @sover.net <alanj...> Subject: [NHBirds] Looking for iPod Bird Jam
Dear friends: My iPod Bird jam is no longer holding a charge. Do any of you have a unit (still working and holding a charge) you would like to sell? If yes, please contact me off group at <alanj...> Alan Johnson, Walpole, NH
Date: 5/13/24 8:38 pm From: Christian Newton <dexterdevon68...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] CERULEAN WARBLER this morning at Wantastiquet Mountain in Hinsdale
Nice, Ken Klapper and myself had a male there May 13th, 2012. Same deal you had to go through all the Black throated Blues singing Cerulean like songs.
Very cool, glad they are still there.
Christian Newton
Polk City, FL
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S22+ 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone
Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ________________________________
From: <nhbirds...> <nhbirds...> on behalf of R Prieto <rbprieto2003...>
Sent: Monday, May 13, 2024 6:37:52 PM
To: <nhbirds...> <nhbirds...>
Subject: [NHBirds] CERULEAN WARBLER this morning at Wantastiquet Mountain in Hinsdale
Woke up this morning at 4:30 to make the two-hour drive west from Deerfield to Wantastiquet Mountain Natural Area in Hinsdale, specifically searching for Cerulean Warblers at a historic location for the species. The early alarm and long drive turned out to be well worth it, since within a couple hours I was able to find and photograph a gorgeous male Cerulean Warbler in the treetops about a mile to a mile and a half up the trail.
Access to the trail is from a small dirt parking lot at the end of Mountain Rd. in Hinsdale, just across the bridge from Brattleboro, VT. Follow the path past the nearest orange gate and up the many rocky switchbacks. It's worth noting that this bird definitely cannot be reliably identified by voice alone. There are many Black-throated Blue Warblers at the location, several of which were repeatedly singing very convincing mimic songs of Cerulean Warbler. I tracked down each bird individually as I heard them to confirm species, and although this bird sounded slightly different (notably louder and more clear-voiced), there's a lot of similarity to be careful of along the way up to where this bird was!
After a quick look on eBird, it appears that this bird is the first one in the state since 2021, and the first at Wantastiquet since 2019. Hopefully, it will choose to stick around for a while and more people will get to see it! I'm very glad to see that they're still in NH.
Date: 5/13/24 3:38 pm From: R Prieto <rbprieto2003...> Subject: [NHBirds] CERULEAN WARBLER this morning at Wantastiquet Mountain in Hinsdale
Woke up this morning at 4:30 to make the two-hour drive west from Deerfield to Wantastiquet Mountain Natural Area in Hinsdale, specifically searching for Cerulean Warblers at a historic location for the species. The early alarm and long drive turned out to be well worth it, since within a couple hours I was able to find and photograph a gorgeous male Cerulean Warbler in the treetops about a mile to a mile and a half up the trail.
Access to the trail is from a small dirt parking lot at the end of Mountain Rd. in Hinsdale, just across the bridge from Brattleboro, VT. Follow the path past the nearest orange gate and up the many rocky switchbacks. It's worth noting that this bird definitely cannot be reliably identified by voice alone. There are many Black-throated Blue Warblers at the location, several of which were repeatedly singing very convincing mimic songs of Cerulean Warbler. I tracked down each bird individually as I heard them to confirm species, and although this bird sounded slightly different (notably louder and more clear-voiced), there's a lot of similarity to be careful of along the way up to where this bird was!
After a quick look on eBird, it appears that this bird is the first one in the state since 2021, and the first at Wantastiquet since 2019. Hopefully, it will choose to stick around for a while and more people will get to see it! I'm very glad to see that they're still in NH.
Date: 5/13/24 2:47 pm From: Mark Suomala <suomalamark...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, May 13, 2024
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, May 13, 2024.
A PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was seen at the McDonnell Conservation Area in
Exeter on May 9th.
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen in Pittsfield on May 10th.
A CERULEAN WARBLER was seen at the Mount Wantastiquet Natural Area in
Chesterfield/Hinsdale on May 13th.
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was reported from Odiorne Point State Park in Rye on
May 7th.
A WHITE-FACED IBIS was reported from Awcomin Marsh in Rye on May 12th.
A TRICOLORED HERON was seen along the coast in Rye on May 11th, and an
immature LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen again in Rye, both during the past week.
A LEAST BITTERN was reported from Cranberry Pond wetlands behind the Price
Chopper in West Lebanon on May 13th.
A SANDHILL CRANE was seen flying overhead at Mud Pond in the Pondicherry
National Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson on May 7th.
A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen flying over Trudeau Road in Bethlehem on May 12th.
3 BLACK VULTURES were reported from Londonderry on May 13th.
A CASPIAN TERN was seen at the Hinsdale Setbacks on the Connecticut River
on May 7th and again on the 10th.
At least 7 COMMON TERNS and 5 ROSEATE TERNS were seen along the coast, and
many more were seen at nesting sites at the Isles of Shoals, all during the
past week.
At least 3 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS were reported from Star Island, one of
the Isles of Shoals, on multiple days during the last week.
An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was seen along the coast in Rye on May 8th.
At least 15 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, and at least 2 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS,
were seen along the coast during the past week.
A GADWALL was seen again in coastal Hampton on May 7th.
2 LESSER SCAUP were seen on Highland Lake in Stoddard on May 11th, 2 were
seen at Lake Umbagog NWR on the 10th, and 1 was seen on Pickering Ponds in
Rochester on the 10th.
2 BUFFLEHEADS were seen at the Panorama Golf Course in Colebrook on May 13th,
4 were seen on Squam Lake on the 11th, 1 was seen at Lake Umbagog NWR on
the 10th, and 2 were seen at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye on the 10th.
A COMMON GOLDENEYE was seen on Squam Lake on May 10th.
A RAZORBILL was reported from coastal Rye on May 11th.
Up to 4 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were reported from the Concord Airport during
the past week, and 1 was reported from the old raceway in Hinsdale on May 13
th.
There was an unconfirmed report of a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW from Orford on
May 10th, but the bird has not been relocated as of May 13th.
A FOX SPARROW was reported from the Harris Center in Hancock on May 9th.
A lingering AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was seen in Rye on May 9th.
A few RED CROSSBILLS were reported from scattered locations during the past
week.
A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was reported from Lyme on May 10th.
An ORCHARD ORIOLE was seen at Bedell Bridge State Park in Haverhill on May
11th and 12th.
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE, ALDER FLYCATCHER, and WILLOW
FLYCATCHER were all reported during the past week.
This message is also available by phone recording: call (603) 224-9909 and
press 4 as directed or ask to be transferred.
If you have seen any interesting birds recently, you can leave a message at
the end of the recording or send your sightings to the RBA via e-mail to:
<birdsetc...> Please put either "bird sighting" or "Rare Bird
Alert" in the subject line and be sure to include your mailing address and
phone number. The RBA is also available on-line at the New Hampshire
Audubon web site, www.nhaudubon.org
Thanks very much and good birding.
Available NOW!
Birding Northern New Hampshire
By Robert A. Quinn
Boreal birds and dramatic vistas await you most any time of the year in New
Hampshire’s North Country. Follow birder and naturalist Robert A. Quinn’s
detailed new guide, *Birding in Northern New Hampshire* to the best birding
in northern Coos County. All proceeds go to NH Audubon. For more info and
to order a copy, check out this link:
Learn more about birds and birding in New Hampshire with New Hampshire Bird
Records: www.nhbirdrecords.org (read a free article in each
issue). This quarterly publication is produced by NH Audubon thanks to the
work of many volunteers. It is available for free in digital format to all
NH Audubon members, and also by print for an additional fee:
https://nhbirdrecords.org/join-or-donate/
Date: 5/13/24 2:10 pm From: Dan Hubbard <danielhubbard...> Subject: [NHBirds] Pickering Ponds, Rochester bird walk, May 12, 2024 77 species
Twenty-two birders joined me for a bird walk yesterday. A few highlights were 2 occupied Blue-gray Gnatcatcher nests (and other nests found by nest specialist Alan Murray), 5 Orchard Orioles, 14 species of warbler including 5 Wilson's, and a very accommodating male Indigo Bunting that posed for us for an uncharacteristic long time. Dan Hubbard, Rochester
Pickering Ponds, Rochester, Strafford, New Hampshire, US
May 12, 2024 7:11 AM - 12:41 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.853 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: NH Audubon Seacoast Chapter outing at Pickering Ponds led by Dan Hubbard. Cool morning may have limited some bird activity, but kept the insects from feasting on bird-watchers.
77 species (+2 other taxa)
Canada Goose 7
Wood Duck 9
Mallard 3
Mourning Dove 5
Chimney Swift 5
Virginia Rail 2
Killdeer 2
Spotted Sandpiper 1
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Herring Gull 12
Great Black-backed Gull 3
Common Loon 1
Double-crested Cormorant 2
Great Blue Heron 2
Turkey Vulture 5
Osprey 1
Bald Eagle 2
Belted Kingfisher 2 Male and female
Red-bellied Woodpecker 4
Downy Woodpecker 3
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 3
Least Flycatcher 3
Empidonax sp. 1 Probable Willow
Eastern Phoebe 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Eastern Kingbird 6
Warbling Vireo 8
Red-eyed Vireo 3
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 5
Fish Crow 1
crow sp. 1
Common Raven 1
Black-capped Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 1
Bank Swallow 1
Tree Swallow 14
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 5
House Wren 3
Carolina Wren 3
European Starling 3
Gray Catbird 15
Veery 2
Wood Thrush 4
American Robin 9
House Finch 2
Purple Finch 1
American Goldfinch 11
White-crowned Sparrow 1
Savannah Sparrow 4
Song Sparrow 12
Swamp Sparrow 2
Orchard Oriole 5 Known nesting location
Baltimore Oriole 10
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Brown-headed Cowbird 4
Common Grackle 4
Ovenbird 4
Louisiana Waterthrush 1
Northern Waterthrush 1
Black-and-white Warbler 8
Nashville Warbler 2
Common Yellowthroat 8
American Redstart 11
Northern Parula 8
Yellow Warbler 25
Chestnut-sided Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 13
Wilson's Warbler 5 Scattered along the trail; yellow with black cap.
Scarlet Tanager 1
Northern Cardinal 10
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 7
Indigo Bunting 1 Male
Date: 5/13/24 7:47 am From: Pam Hunt <biodiva...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Hairy Woodpecker with orange feathers-Wilton
The yellowish or brown staining sometimes seen in woodpeckers is from contact with wood on the insides of their nesting cavities. I don't know if it's more likely in certain tree species or specific conditions (e.g., more decayed and/or wet wood).
Pam Hunt
NH Audubon
On Mon, 13 May 2024 08:45:30 -0400, "Linda M. Charron" <clinda912...> wrote:
We have had a Downey woodpecker with this coloration too. I'd love to know what causes this.
Linda Charron
Linda M. Charron
10 Pearson Lane
New Boston, NH 03070
Cell: 603 470-7037
Home: 603 487-3760
On Sun, 12 May 2024 19:50:16 -0400, Gail Coffey <gcoffeywriter...> wrote:
There is a Hairy Woodpecker with orange feathers on his flanks and around his bill. Does anyone know what causes the orange tint ? Genetics or food ?
Date: 5/13/24 5:41 am From: Tony Baldasaro <tbaldasaro...> Subject: [NHBirds] Deer Hill
Spent about 90 minutes this morning at Deer Hill WMA in Brentwood. It was, as expected, active. Among the newer residents:
Prairie Warbler (there were several) Wilson's Warbler Scarlet Tanagers Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks (been there for a bit now, but there were several today) Blue-winged Warbler Great-crested Flycatcher Orchard & Baltimore Oriole Heron nests have fledglings in them.
Date: 5/13/24 5:35 am From: Jane Hills <jhbird...> Subject: [NHBirds] Northern Water thrush along the Hooksett Riverwalk trail
This morning there was a singing Northern Waterthrush at a location where the recently-extended Hooksett Riverwalk Trail crosses a wetland.
I had a walking companion for a while-a Veery!
Jane
Jane Hills
Manchester, NH
jhbird(at)myfairpoint(dot)net
"We are all environmentalists now, but we are not all planetists. An environmentalist realizes that nature has its pleasures and deserves respect. A planetist puts the earth ahead of the earthlings." --William Safire
Date: 5/12/24 4:14 pm From: '<bikenbird...>' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] REGISTRATION NOW OPEN*** NH Audubon Seacoast Chapter Wednesday June 12 & Friday June 14, 2024 Outdoor Program - Identification and Role of Native and Non-native Shrubs as Habitat for Birds ***
NewHampshire Audubon Seacoast Chapter (www.seacoastchapter.org) THEREGISTRATI0N FOR BOTH PROGRAMS IS NOW OPEN…SEE BELOW Wednesday,June 12, 5:30-8 pm &Friday,June 14, 7:30-10 amatPickering Ponds trails, Rochester, NH JuneProgram – Identificationand Role of Native and Non-native Shrubs as Habitat for Birds The2 identical programs are at Pickering Ponds Trails Rochester, NH and eachprogram will be limited to 15 participants with no repeat registrants. Thisevent will be held entirely outdoors and will be held as long as it is notraining. Participants should bring their binoculars and clothing appropriatefor the weather conditions at the time of the event. The Pickering Ponds parkinglot entrance is about a mile south of the Rochester Wastewater Treatment Planton Pickering Road (opposite mailbox #452). Clickhere for Google maps, Pickering Ponds trails, Rochester, NH. This program, by Matt Tarr of UNHCooperative Extension, will teach you how to identify the most common nativeand non-native shrubs that comprise many bird habitats in NH. We will identifyeach shrub species, discuss how each species functions as bird habitat, andwhich shrubs you want to encourage on your land to benefit birds. We will alsobe looking and listening for birds (of course!) and sharing our tips for how toidentify the birds we encounter during the program. Bio:Matt Tarr is Extension Professor, State Wildlife Habitat Specialist for theUniversity of NH Cooperative Extension. Much of Matt's research and work isfocused on determining how non-native shrubs function as habitat for songbirdsand on how birds respond to land-use and habitat management practices atdifferent landscape scales. Matt is an avid birder who enjoys photographing,recording birds and an NH Audubon Seacoast Chapter Executive Board member. All are welcome to attend either the Wednesday,June 12, 5:30-8 pm OR Friday,June 14, 7:30-10 am program event at Pickering Ponds trails, Rochester, NH freeof charge. Eachprogram is limited to 15 participants with no repeat registrants. Clickon this link to register. Cancellationswill be announced on http://www.seacoastchapter.org/programs and this Googlegroup. Note: These events replace the June Program at The Seacoast ScienceCenter. Al Stewart, Jr.
Date: 5/12/24 7:18 am From: Alan McIntyre <mcintyreal...> Subject: [NHBirds] Wilson’s Warbler
This morning Garrett and I did our usual tour of the Blackwater ski area in
Andover New Hampshire.
Near the swinging bridge on the Proctor campus we discovered a marvelous
Wilson’s warbler! He was not shy and put on quite the show. This is the
first time we’ve seen that species since we started birding here regularly
since 2020.
Other birds that we saw and/or heard this morning include:
northern water thrush,
Solitary Sandpiper,
Several pairs of American Redstart
Several chestnut warblers,
lots of yellow warblers,
House wren
tree swallows,
Red crossbills,
Eastern bluebirds,
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Baltimore oriole
Belted Kingfisher
Great Blue Heron
Wood duck
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
black-and-white warbler
we will be hosting a bird walk next Sunday, May 19 from 7 AM to 10 AM if
you’re interested in joining just park in the Blackwater ski area parking
lot and look for the birdwatchers.
*Alan D. McIntyre P'23*
Science Dept. Chair & Environmental Program Coordinator
WebEx + cell: 603.735.6810
*PGP: he/him/his*
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Date: 5/10/24 8:48 am From: '<aerart...>' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Orange-crowned Warbler - Pittsfield
We had a pretty rare, spring Orange-crowned Warbler this morning in our flowering Quince tree, in our yard in Pittsfield.
It was calling and even sang a couple of times.
Photos in the checklist:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S173223235
On Thu, May 9, 2024 at 6:30 PM Aaronian, Richard S. <raaronian...>
wrote:
> Chris Matlack and I went back to the McDonnell Conservation tract on
> Linden St. at 520 PM to look for the Prothonotary Warbler found by Paul
> Lacourse earlier today and were successful. Also saw a few other species in
> a productive, fun 30 minutes!
>
> Prothonotary W. 1 Thank you, Paul!
> Cape May W. 1 (FOY)
> Yellow W. 3
> N. Parula 1
> C. Yellowthroat 2
> Black-and-white W. 8 (may be undercount)
> Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
>
> Rich Aaronian, Exeter
>
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
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>
Date: 5/9/24 3:30 pm From: Aaronian, Richard S. <raaronian...> Subject: [NHBirds] Exeter
Chris Matlack and I went back to the McDonnell Conservation tract on Linden St. at 520 PM to look for the Prothonotary Warbler found by Paul Lacourse earlier today and were successful. Also saw a few other species in a productive, fun 30 minutes!
Prothonotary W. 1 Thank you, Paul! Cape May W. 1 (FOY) Yellow W. 3 N. Parula 1 C. Yellowthroat 2 Black-and-white W. 8 (may be undercount) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Date: 5/9/24 3:05 pm From: Steve Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [NHBirds] The birds are arriving on the coast!
Thank goodness! Things have been quite slow along the coast for
warblers and land bird migration so it was great to see a decent
fall-out of warblers at Odiorne. Two days ago I had 16 warblers and 8
species. Today at Odiorne I had 94 warblers with 17 species. Plus a
good collection of thrushes and other migrants. Hopefully they stick
around through the weekend.
Comments: Only covered the northern parts of the park from the fresh
water pond and north. South end not covered.
77 species
Canada Goose 14
Mallard 3
American Black Duck 1
Common Eider 22
Surf Scoter 3
Long-tailed Duck 2
Bufflehead 1
Red-breasted Merganser 1
Wild Turkey 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 4
Mourning Dove 2
Spotted Sandpiper 7 (FOY)
Willet (Eastern) 1
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Ring-billed Gull 40
Herring Gull 68
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Common Tern 14
Common Loon 3
Double-crested Cormorant 41
Snowy Egret 1
Great Egret 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker 5
Least Flycatcher 4
Eastern Phoebe 2
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Blue-headed Vireo 6
Red-eyed Vireo 1 (FOY)
Blue Jay 2
American Crow 1
Fish Crow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 8
Tufted Titmouse 3
Barn Swallow 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 5
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
House Wren 1
Carolina Wren 2
Gray Catbird 25
Veery 5 My high count for Odiorne. Two other previous counts of 4.
Swainson's Thrush 1 Tied for my 4th earliest. (FOY)
Hermit Thrush 3
American Robin 7
American Goldfinch 5
Chipping Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 22
Savannah Sparrow 2
Song Sparrow 9
Lincoln's Sparrow 3 (FOY)
Swamp Sparrow 1
Baltimore Oriole 2
Red-winged Blackbird 6
Brown-headed Cowbird 2
Common Grackle 2
Ovenbird 7
Northern Waterthrush 1
BLUE-WINGED WARBLER 1 Rare in Spring here. This is my FIRST Spring
record for Odiorne. (FOY)
Black-and-white Warbler 23 Nice Warbler fallout.
Common Yellowthroat 10
American Redstart 1
Northern Parula 4
Magnolia Warbler 6 (FOY)
Blackburnian Warbler 1 (FOY)
Yellow Warbler 3
Chestnut-sided Warbler 4
Black-throated Blue Warbler 7
Pine Warbler 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 12
Prairie Warbler 3. Uncommon at Odiorne. This ties my high count for
the park.
Black-throated Green Warbler 5
Wilson's Warbler 3 (FOY)
Scarlet Tanager 3 (FOY)
Northern Cardinal 3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 4
Date: 5/9/24 6:06 am From: Pam Hunt <biodiva...> Subject: [NHBirds] Contoocook Island Migration: 16 species of warblers
Greetings all,
Having been in Florida for a week, I was looking forward to getting back out birding locally this morning, especially after dealing with temps in the 80s in Tampa and Key West. I got a little teaser late yesterday afternoon at Horseshoe Pond, but this morning's 2.5 mile walk around "The Island" was another for the record books. With 60 species, including most of the recent arrivals people have been reporting, I shattered the old early May high count of 53. 16 of those were warblers, equaling in two hours what it took me a full week in Florida (where it appears most of the migrants had passed by - but they're also not singing down there). Highlights in the latter category were two each of Cape May and Wilson's. There were also god numbers of Scarlet Tanagers and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.
A nice assortment in my yard for my first morning back for the summer. This spring there was almost no migration along the south east coast of Florida. Flew right on over !
Checking the yard on and off though the day today:
Female and male Ruby-throated hummingbird
Northern Flicker
Eastern Phoebe -at least 2
House Wren
Gray catbird
Pine Siskins
Song Sparrow
Chipping Sparrows
White-throated Sparrow singing
Ovenbird singing
Male American Redstart
Male Chestnut-sided Warbler
Very bright male Yellow-rumped Warbler
Pine Warblers
male Black-throated Green
Stunning male Scarlet Tanager
Black and White Warbler
Chickadees
Tufted Titmouse
Downy
Hooded Merganser
Barred Owl
On the Lake:
2 Common Loons - appear to be our old pair but haven’t confirmed bands yet
2 Common Merganser
2 Spotted Sandpiper
I did not see it, nor get a picture, 😢 but I got a nice clear recording of a Nashville warbler in Fremont. Would have been a life bird for me had I seen it.
Evy Nathan
Kingston
* There will berefreshments from 7-7:30 pm. Feel freeto bring in refreshments for others to enjoy at the program. Thank you!
Wednesday May 8,2024 7:30 pm Program – Conserving "Our Birds" South of the Border
"3 billion birds gone" headlined areport in 2019. What more do we know, what can we do? As a "Director ofBird Conservation" since the 1980s, it is program speaker ScottHecker's job to know and to do. As Scott’s colleague Fitz once said, it'snot Rocket Science, it's more complicated, but it's not too late and every birdand every acre matters. You will hear about species you love and people on thefront lines of bird conservation in Latin America and beyond who also love"their birds". New tracking technologies and community engagement aremaking great strides. Scott hopes you will come to hear how simple it is tomake a difference.
Bio: Back around 1990, I spoke for theSeacoast Chapter about conserving tropical habitat in Belize for "ourbirds". I completed my MS degree in Belize in 1987, then established theCoastal Waterbird Program at Mass Audubon that same year to conserve threatenedand endangered Piping Plovers and Roseate Terns. In 2003, I expanded thoseefforts as Director of Coastal Bird Conservation for the National Audubon Society.In 2008, I co-founded Conservian to focus more work on Piping Plovers in theBahamas. Since 2016, I have worked for the International Conservation Fund ofCanada (ICFC} and ICF US supporting bird conservationists on the front lines in36 countries.
All are welcome to attend our Wednesday May8, 2024 program which is free of charge at the Seacoast Science Center(wheelchair accessible), Odiorne Point State Park, 570 Ocean Boulevard, Rye NH(click here for Google maps, Seacoast Science Center) There will berefreshments starting at 7 pm. Meetings begin at 7:30 pm. Entrance doors willbe locked at 7:45 pm. Cancellations will be announced onhttp://www.seacoastchapter.org/programs and this Google group.
Thank You! Dunkin’ of 802 Lafayette Rd,Portsmouth, NH (603) 436-9717 donates hot coffee and more for our programs.When you visit the location mention a thank you!
Date: 5/7/24 9:18 am From: Mark Suomala <suomalamark...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, May 6, 2024
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, May 6, 2024.
A BLACK-NECKED STILT was seen at Parson’s Creek Salt Marsh west of Wallis
Sands Beach in Rye on May 4th.
2 WHITE-FACED IBIS were seen along the coast on May 5th and 6th, and an
estimated 100 GLOSSY IBIS were seen along the coast during the past week.
A LEAST BITTERN was reported from Cranberry Pond wetlands behind the Price
Chopper in West Lebanon, and a GREEN HERON was reported from Airport Marsh
in Whitefield, both on May 4th.
An immature LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen in Rye during the past week.
A sound recording was made of a COMMON GALLINULE vocalizing while flying
overhead in Hancock on May 4th, and a SORA was photographed at Ahern State
Park in Laconia on April 29th.
There was an unconfirmed sighting of a BRANT from Littleton on May 5th.
A GADWALL was seen at Meadow Pond in Hampton on May 6th.
2 LESSER SCAUP were seen on Horseshoe Pond in Concord on May 2nd.
An ICELAND GULL was seen from a boat at Jeffrey’s Ledge on May 3rd.
A CASPIAN TERN was seen at Horseshoe Pond in Concord on May 1st. At least
10 COMMON TERNS were seen along the coast during the past week.
A SANDHILL CRANE was seen along Plains Road in Monroe on May 6th, 2 were
seen along Krif Road in Keene on the 1st, and 1 was seen in Nottingham on
April 30th.
A PECTORAL SANDPIPER was seen at Parson’s Creek Salt Marsh west of Wallis
Sands Beach in Rye on May 4th. A SEMIPALMATED PLOVER was seen at Surry
Mountain Lake on May 7th, and a few were seen along the coast during the
past week. 6 LEAST SANDPIPERS were seen at Chapman’s Landing in Stratham on
April 30th.
2 BLACK VULTURES were seen in Penacook on May 4th, 1 was seen in Milford on
the 6th, and 1 was seen in Westmoreland on the 1st.
An ORCHARD ORIOLE was seen in Gorham on May 6th.
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was reported from Odiorne Point State Park in Rye on
May 7th, and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen in Rochester on May 4th.
A hybrid between a GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER x BLUE-WINGED WARBLER was seen at
Pickering Ponds in Rochester on May 3rd.
A FISH CROW was reported from Hanover on May 6th.
25 RED CROSSBILLS were seen at Mine Falls Park in Nashua on May 3rd, a
mixed flock of 30 RED CROSSBILLS and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS was reported
from Wilton on the 5th, and a few more small flocks were reported from
scattered locations during the past week.
A BOHEMIAN WAXWING was seen in Conway on May 3rd.
An EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE was reported from Dover on May 6th, and a WILLOW
FLYCATCHER was reported from Hanover on the 4th.
Additional new arrivals from during the past week included: WILSON’S
WARBLER, PRAIRIE WARBLER, BLACKPOLL WARBLER, TENNESSEE WARBLER. SWAINSON’S
THRUSH, VEERY WOOD THRUSH, SCARLET TANAGER. RED-EYED VIREO, and LINCOLN’S
SPARROW
A few lingering AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were reported from Concord, Keene,
and Colebrook during the past week.
This message is also available by phone recording: call (603) 224-9909 and
press 4 as directed or ask to be transferred.
If you have seen any interesting birds recently, you can leave a message at
the end of the recording or send your sightings to the RBA via e-mail to:
<birdsetc...> Please put either "bird sighting" or "Rare Bird
Alert" in the subject line and be sure to include your mailing address and
phone number. The RBA is also available on-line at the New Hampshire
Audubon web site, www.nhaudubon.org
Thanks very much and good birding.
Available NOW!
Birding Northern New Hampshire
By Robert A. Quinn
Boreal birds and dramatic vistas await you most any time of the year in New
Hampshire’s North Country. Follow birder and naturalist Robert A. Quinn’s
detailed new guide, *Birding in Northern New Hampshire* to the best birding
in northern Coos County. All proceeds go to NH Audubon. For more info and
to order a copy, check out this link:
Learn more about birds and birding in New Hampshire with New Hampshire Bird
Records: www.nhbirdrecords.org (read a free article in each
issue). This quarterly publication is produced by NH Audubon thanks to the
work of many volunteers. It is available for free in digital format to all
NH Audubon members, and also by print for an additional fee:
https://nhbirdrecords.org/join-or-donate/
Date: 5/6/24 4:28 pm From: 'Rob Woodward' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] 2024 Spring Season Summary - Alton Bay Hawk Watch
This year's disappointment was the weather - just too many rainy days. Here's how it went day-by-day:
04/27 - I would have started earlier in the month but weather and other considerations got in the way. 6 hours, 37 raptors
04/28 - rain - no count
04/29 - 3 hours, 10 raptors, count interrupted by rain
04/30 - .5 hour, 0 raptors, rain almost the moment I arrived, essentially no count
05/01 - 2 hours, 11 raptors, low ceiling never lifted
05/02 - doc apptmt, no count
05/03 - 7.5 hours, 55 raptors
05/04 - 7 hours, 32 raptors
05/05 - rain, no count
05/06 - 6.5 hours, 36 raptors
Total - 32.5 hours, 181 raptors.
Last year: another wet April, rain the last week into May. 4 counts, 19 hours, 152 raptors
Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours
Official Counter: Rob Woodward
Observers:
Visitors: Only 8 and none of them sang.
Weather: First 70 degree day for the region this year. Nice light W winds all day. Low ceiling at first, I could not see the fire tower on Belknap Mountain until 11:10, some sun later but mostly cloudy all day.
Raptor Observations: I was surprised to see this many Broad-wings still coming through on this date. I would like to know when its migration ends which is easy enough to do - count until you record zero - but that will have to wait until next year. Spring Broad-wings can be hard to count- they dilly dally, circle, come back, go north, dive - not like in fall when they are all business. Plenty of other non-migrants around - Bald Eagles, Red-tails, vultures, and a kestrel.
Non-raptor Observations: I couldn't get a count but it sounded like the flock of Red Crossbills was the same one seen here twice prior. The warm sun brough out some butterflies - Mourning Cloak, Spring Azure, American Lady, and Brown Elfin.
Predictions: Tomorrow brings NW wind which is unfavorable and then 3 days of rain. I'm afraid it's over - the season is closed. See you in September! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rob Woodward (<toucanrob...>)
Date: 5/5/24 7:35 am From: Steve Smith <kwedun...> Subject: [NHBirds] Baltimore Oriole - Bluebirds - Hancock
This is an amazing time of the year - I put out mealworms this spring for the first time - Bluebirds, a Baltimore Oriole & chickadees really like mealworms. I put out orange halves but the Oriole prefers the mealworms. Also have Cardinals, Purple Finch, Rose Breasted Grosbeak, 3 pairs of nesting Tree Swallows, 1 pair nesting Bluebirds, lots of Goldfinches plus Hummingbirds. From what I have read when the Bluebird eggs hatch you have to stop putting out dried mealworms since their food is the only source of moisture the hatchlings get.
This morning I was rousted out by some unknown calls in my yard. Went out on the deck, turned on Merlin, and among others picked up a mountain chickadee (went and got my binoculars) then an orange-billed nightingale thrush, a creamy-bellied thrush and a red junglefowl! It was the junglefowl that gave the catbird away. LOL, a talented singer. I wonder if it composed all those calls on its own, or if it's heard them before in its travels.
Date: 5/4/24 7:42 pm From: Ducky Darrick <dadams...> Subject: [NHBirds] Monadnock marketplace is a hot spot
So just for everybody's information the area behind monadnock marketplace in Keene and particularly the areas behind Target and Dick's and one stop pet supply are just loaded with birds and frankly that whole plaza should be a burning hotspot. I've been working there for the last 13 years and the amount of good bird signings I've had there is staggering. I've seen the northern harrier, peregrine falcon, bald eagle, Northern goshawk, various warbler and vireo species, and even a least bittern, and the marsh between Target and route 12 always place hosts to a wide variety of migrating waterfowl in the spring and the fall not to mention nesting green herons.
Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Rob Woodward
Observers:
Visitors: 66, a large number thanks to 3 groups worthy of mention. The first was a family originally from Spain now of Boston. They were exceptionally interested in my project and all gathered around to learn more about what I did and to examine my tally sheet. This high interest level was a first. So was the next group, a bible study retreat group made up of what Ed Sullivan would call "youngsters" (anyone under 30 was a "youngster" to Ed) who sat in a circle and started and finished their gathering with a song sung acapella. Soon after I was similarly entertained by a women's church group of over 20. Alton Bay is becoming hallowed ground.
Weather: Today was very similar to yesterday but with light SW winds instead of NE wind. Almost 100% overcast all day with a ceiling that never rose above 4000 feet. Somewhat lower temperatures than yesterday ranging from 50 to 58 F.
Raptor Observations: The lower raptor count today compared to yesterday leads me to believe we are on the back side of the peak. The busiest period was during the 10 and 11 o'clock hours, similar to yesterday. An Osprey, some eagles, Turkey Vultures and Red-tailed Hawks (one kiting) were non-migratory. In spring, Broad-winged Hawks call, making it easier to locate them.
Non-raptor Observations: 2 of the Barrred Owls called, a somewhat early Great Crested Flycatcher appeared in late afternoon, a flock of 15 Red Crossbills visited a close white pine, probably the same flock as yesterday as it was the same size, and that Great Blue Heron was new to this site. I found what I thought was going to be my first spring kettle of hawks, 22 of them, soaring high in a thermal then peeling off just like hawks do but in fact they were ravens.
Predictions: More rain, no count tomorrow but if Monday's forecast for W winds holds, that could lead to a decent count, if there are any birds left. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rob Woodward (<toucanrob...>)
FOY rose-breasted grosbeak yesterday gorging at the feeder, along with sundry orioles, catbirds and the rest of the summer crew! Twitter thought it heard a white-crowned sparrow. I did not see it. Evy Nathan Kingston
Date: 5/4/24 3:13 am From: Jane Hills <jhbird...> Subject: [NHBirds] Manchester Scarlet Tanager
This morning I heard an early Scarlet Tanager singing outside my house in Manchester.
Jane
Jane Hills
Manchester, NH
jhbird(at)myfairpoint(dot)net
"We are all environmentalists now, but we are not all planetists. An environmentalist realizes that nature has its pleasures and deserves respect. A planetist puts the earth ahead of the earthlings." --William Safire
Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 16:30:00 Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Rob Woodward
Observers:
Visitors: 20, mostly mothers with young children and retirees.
Weather: No wonder there is so little data on spring hawk migration - it's impossible to string 2 fair days together back-to-back. But today was one such fair day, a NE wind is not favorable since they are flying in that direction but winds were light all day, even turning SE by 4:00. Skies were partly cloudy to start, with lots of sun by 1:00 raising temperatures from 50 to low 60's F.
Raptor Observations: A good flight today. Keith & Fox says spring counts over 40 Broad-wings are rare. We are at or near the peak day. Hawks came in low at first but by 10:30 they were catching thermals and flying high. Many Broad-wings were present that were not counted as migrants. They sometimes turn around southbound or drop down low into the woods. They have to get by me going north to be counted. Also plenty of TVs, 2 Ospreys, a Bald Eagle, and some Red-tails.
Non-raptor Observations: Some new spring arrivals like Black-throated Blue Warbler, Ovenbird ( 1 seen feet from the trail on the way down), and Common Yellowthroat. 3 different Barred Owls called. A flock of 15 Red Crossbills visited nearby white pines. One Snowshoe Hare on the way up, first dragonfly.
Predictions: Conditions similar to today but with E winds instead of NE, this should bode well for a good hawk flight. Look for new spring arrivals tomorrow. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rob Woodward (<toucanrob...>)
Awesome Roger! Would you mind sharing exactly where you saw them in
Seabrook? Would love to see these Beauties once again!
Diana S.
On Fri, May 3, 2024 at 12:53 PM Roger Stephenson <rstephenson...>
wrote:
> Ten warblers at Seabrook this morning including Ashton’s Blue winged.
> Missed Jim Nealon’s one Yellow rumped of the mornjng despite combing the
> road- but picked up Palm:
>
> Ovenbird 4+
> Blue-winged 1
> Black and white 4
> Nashville 3
> Yellowthroat 1
> Northern Parula 2
> Yellow 2
> Chestnut sided 1
> Palm 1
> Pine 2
>
> 54 spp including a likely breeding pair of Cooper’s Hawks and my FOY
> (finally) Gnatcatcher. Nabbed warbler # 11 for the mornjng (yellow rumped)
> at the Exeter River on the way home, along with dependable rough winged
> swallows.
>
> Roger Stephenson- Stratham
>
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>
Date: 5/3/24 7:56 am From: 'Blake Allison' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Lyme Brown Thrasher and Other Seasonal Returnees
A brown thrasher sighting on the home property is very unusual; maybe only two or three records during our seven years of residency here. This one was clearly heard running through its repertoire from the cover of a bush located some 15 yards from the house.
Also noteworthy were May 1st "First of season" sightings of two house wrens and a yellow-bellied sapsucker.
Blake Allison
Lyme, NH 03768-3400
Date: 5/2/24 8:41 pm From: eric masterson <erictheirish...> Subject: [NHBirds] migration last night
After failing to break 60 nocturnal migrants over my yard from dusk to dawn since I started recording again on March 24th, last night blew the doors off with 460 individuals of 19 species. I uploaded a best of call collection at the following ebird link. Guess the species if you dare. All calls from 9pm to 5am over Hancock last night.
* There will berefreshments from 7-7:30 pm. Feel freeto bring in refreshments for others to enjoy at the program. Thank you!
Wednesday May 8,2024 7:30 pm Program – Conserving "Our Birds" South of the Border
"3 billion birds gone" headlined areport in 2019. What more do we know, what can we do? As a "Director ofBird Conservation" since the 1980s, it is program speaker ScottHecker's job to know and to do. As Scott’s colleague Fitz once said, it'snot Rocket Science, it's more complicated, but it's not too late and every birdand every acre matters. You will hear about species you love and people on thefront lines of bird conservation in Latin America and beyond who also love"their birds". New tracking technologies and community engagement aremaking great strides. Scott hopes you will come to hear how simple it is tomake a difference.
Bio: Back around 1990, I spoke for theSeacoast Chapter about conserving tropical habitat in Belize for "ourbirds". I completed my MS degree in Belize in 1987, then established theCoastal Waterbird Program at Mass Audubon that same year to conserve threatenedand endangered Piping Plovers and Roseate Terns. In 2003, I expanded thoseefforts as Director of Coastal Bird Conservation for the National Audubon Society.In 2008, I co-founded Conservian to focus more work on Piping Plovers in theBahamas. Since 2016, I have worked for the International Conservation Fund ofCanada (ICFC} and ICF US supporting bird conservationists on the front lines in36 countries.
All are welcome to attend our Wednesday May8, 2024 program which is free of charge at the Seacoast Science Center(wheelchair accessible), Odiorne Point State Park, 570 Ocean Boulevard, Rye NH(click here for Google maps, Seacoast Science Center) There will berefreshments starting at 7 pm. Meetings begin at 7:30 pm. Entrance doors willbe locked at 7:45 pm. Cancellations will be announced onhttp://www.seacoastchapter.org/programs and this Google group.
Thank You! Dunkin’ of 802 Lafayette Rd,Portsmouth, NH (603) 436-9717 donates hot coffee and more for our programs.When you visit the location mention a thank you!
Date: 5/2/24 6:20 pm From: Charlie Nims <charlie.nims...> Subject: [NHBirds] Migration fall out in The Mt. Washington Valley
As with other parts of New Hampshire, here in the near North (Mt. Washington Valley) there was a good migratory fallout. Personally, after a Tin Mountain Conservation Center walk I was to lead got canceled due to rain, thunder and lightning, once the rain stopped, I headed to Thorne Pond Conservation Area (Bartlett) where I had 8 warbler species highlighted by a lovely male Blackburnian Warbler. Swallows finally seemed to show up in numbers with 30+ Tree Swallows, a Barn Swallow and 2 N. Rough-winged Swallows. Among other species there were lots of Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a personal FoS Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a Field Sparrow (uncommon at this location) and a couple Blue-headed Vireos. The “winter” species were not left out as this winter's irruption of Pine Siskins continued along with White-throated Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos. I had a 19 count for Common Mergansers along with 3 Hooded Mergs.
Laurel Smith who lives in Jackson had a large fallout in her yard including 10 warbler species, 5 of which I had not seen at Thorne so between the two relatively close locations, 13 warbler species on the day with multiple numbers for several of the species. That is a good collection of warbler species for this area on the 2n of May.
Deer Hill Management Area, Brentwood Great Blue Heron 2 Canada Goose 2 Wood Duck 2 Ring-necked Duck 2 Mallard 2 Broad-winged Hawk 1 Downy WP 1 Northern Flicker 1 Eastern Kingbird 3 (FOY) Tree Swallow 9 Blue Jay x Black-capped Chickadee x Tufted Titmouse x American Robin x Gray Catbird 2 N. Waterthrush (FOY) Yellow W. 1 Northern Parula 2 Palm W. 2 Black-and-White W. 2 ( many more heard) Yellow-rumped W. x seen in many places; minimum of 35-40 Ovenbird 1 N. Cardinal x Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2 Swamp Sparrow 2 Song Sparrow x White-throated Sparrow x Red-winged Blackbird x C. Grackle x Orchard Oriole 1 (FOY) Baltimore Oriole 2 (FOY) A. Goldfinch x
Date: 5/2/24 12:18 pm From: Ducky Darrick <dadams...> Subject: [NHBirds] Least flycatcher and others
The Little pond at the beginning of California Brooke estates in West swan z e y. I often visit that location this time of year because a lot of the little tiny migrants tend to congregate there and this spot did not disappoint today. Among my first of the year species that I saw were the least fly catcher and the yellow and yellow rump warblers and the brown thrasher. My Merlin app also picked up a chestnut sided warbler in a common yellow throat but I did not get eyes on them. There were other birds there too including the typical complement of red winged blackbirds and grackles and also some bluebirds and tree swallows and goldfinches a couple of songs sparrows some Phoebe's and a king bird
Hello, I was driving along River Road in Boscawen and say a Brown Thrasher, and a Yellow Warbler. I came across what I think may be a Nashville Warbler? I am not very good at identifying warblers. I am usually looking for raptors ;)
Two Sandhill Cranes were photographed on Krif Road April 22 and still present on the 24th. Sorry for the delay in getting this report out but wanted folks to know in case they were still hanging around. Becky Suomala
We live in a subdivision that butts up against the section of the Rockingham Rail trail in Auburn, NH, between the street crossing near Lake Massabesic, and the Hooksett Road to the east. I've been walking it for years, but now that birding is a major interest, it's time to learn who I'm hearing and seeing, so, off we went this morning. Out for an hour, strolled about 2 miles, from our home to the open swamp and back.
Between what I saw, and what I trust Merlin had correct, here's my list:
Black and white Warbler, at least in three places, the largest group was 6 Yellow Rumped Warbler, 3 BC Chickadees-lots! All over the place--15 or more Phoebe, 1 Pine Warbler, 1 (that I am certain of, in a group of 3-4) Blue Jays, 3 Grackles, 5 RW Blackbirds--at least 20 in the swamp Greater Yellow Legs--a new one for me, Merlin agreed that the call was Greater Yellow Legs Osprey, perched on a dead pine close to the lake, eating a fish Oven Bird calling, not sighted. I do know this call without Merlin. Cardinals in three places, one sighting. American Robins in 4 places, at least 6 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Pileated Woodpecker--no sighting, heard twice, different locals Canada Geese, 2 Wood Duck, 1 Mallard Duck, 1 And some kind of Thrush that I'm not sure of. Smallish, mostly buff/gray. Muted spots on breast. And that's all I can remember. I will now download eBird to my phone so I can keep better track.
Date: 5/1/24 6:27 am From: Linda M. Charron <clinda912...> Subject: [NHBirds] first Hummingbird in New Boston!
At the nectar 7:30 this morning! 5 Starlings stealing mealworms. I think the Bluebirds have a hatchling. Tree Swallow is sitting in the nest box! And the chipping sparrows are sizing up the shrubs in my yard. Happy Birding!
Linda
Linda M. Charron
10 Pearson Lane
New Boston, NH 03070
Cell: 603 470-7037
Home: 603 487-3760
Date: 4/30/24 7:51 pm From: Steve Smith <kwedun...> Subject: [NHBirds] First hummingbird - Hancock
I put my feeders out early this year with no takers so I took them down - cleaned them and put in fresh sugar water. A hour later a hummingbird was at one of the feeders. Last year it was May 1st Steve
Date: 4/30/24 9:36 am From: 'ann' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Sparrows! Lancaster
As many as 8 White-throated Sparrows and 2 full breeding plumage White- Crowned Sparrows in my yard.
It’s been a White-throat chorus all morning with a thrasher singing backup.
Still have siskins too.
Hi, I put out the jelly/orange feeder two days ago and was rewarded with a pair of Baltimore Orioles who visited three times during my morning coffee break at the "bird window," which overlooks the front lawn.
We have been entertained by 4-10 Pine Siskins and varying numbers of Gold Finches at the thistle feeder for the past month.
Other feeder birds are the usual Chickadees, Carolina Wrens, Titmouses, and Nuthatches. A gang of White Throated Sparrows is in and out of the yard--as few as three and as many as 18.
We have one and perhaps now two pair of Tree Swallows nesting in the birdhouses, with one pair of Eastern Bluebirds in feeder #3, and a second pair in the dead and hollowed-out White Pine in the side yard.
Phoebes have been calling for 10 days, but no takers on the nest box attached to the shed.
I've been regularly seeing Yellow Rumped Warblers in the oak trees behind the house for 3 days now, early morning.
Had a Towhee on the ground below the feeders on April 23.
At sunset last night, Merlin ID'd Louisiana Swamp Sparrows calling, as well as Song Sparrows and Swamp Sparrows.
I'll be a good girl and report to eBird later today.
Date: 4/30/24 8:19 am From: Aaronian, Richard S. <raaronian...> Subject: [NHBirds] Deer Hill WMA
Tagged along with Chris Matlack’s PEA Ornithology class from 8-945 AM. Much cooler than yesterday morning but kids had good looks at some new species for the class and FOY for me.
Pied-billed Grebe 4
Great Blue Heron 4 (on nest)
Ring-necked Duck 2
Bald Eagle 2
Tree Swallow 12 (estimate)
Common Raven 1
Blue Jay x
Black-capped Chickadee x
A. Robin x
Gray Catbird 1 (FOY)
N. Parula 2 (FOY)
Yellow-rumped W. 12 (estimate)
Pine W. 1
Palm W. 1
Black-and-white W. 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 (FOY)
Eastern Towhee 2
Song Sparrow x
Red-winged Blackbird x
C. Grackle x
A walk along West Locke Road this morning netted me 42 species, including nine species of warblers. It was still sprinkling on my way out, but had stopped by the time I reached the river and turned around. ALL of the migrant activity was on my way back, and concentrated in the strip of forest between the wetland and the field, with a smaller cluster near the parking lot.
The warblers in question were: Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-white, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Parula, Yellow, Pine, Palm, Yellow-rumped, and Black-throated Green. Only 1-2 of each except B&W and YR. There were also several Blue-headed Vireos.
Date: 4/30/24 5:56 am From: Jane Hills <jhbird...> Subject: [NHBirds] Manchester migrants today
Heard during a walk through my Manchster neighborhood this morning:
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Northern Parula
Blue-headed Vireo
I may also have heard a Black-and-White warbler, but it only sang once, so I can't be certain.
Jane
Jane Hills
Manchester, NH
jhbird(at)myfairpoint(dot)net
"We are all environmentalists now, but we are not all planetists. An environmentalist realizes that nature has its pleasures and deserves respect. A planetist puts the earth ahead of the earthlings." --William Safire
Date: 4/30/24 5:54 am From: Pamela Hunt <phunt...> Subject: [NHBirds] Help NH Audubon with Wood Thrush project!
Greetings NH Birders!
This spring and summer NH Audubon is taking part in a range-wide study of Wood Thrush migration using the Motus wildlife tracking system (https://motus.org/). This project is being spearheaded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and has partners in roughly 20 states across the thrush's breeding range. Each state has committed to attaching Motus tags to several thrushes to allow us to track their migration movements. A similar effort will commence this winter during the non-breeding season in Central America. By collecting these valuable data on migratory connectivity, migration speed, and other things, we hope to be better able to direct conservation actions where they have the greatest potential to do the most to benefit this declining species (https://stateofthebirds.nhaudubon.org/bird_database/wood-thrush/).
And you can help! We need to restrict our tagging efforts to areas where there is a Motus tower, and thankfully there are several in NH that are within the range of Wood Thrush. Our bander partners will be working near the following towers (locations visible on the Motus website: https://motus.org/data/receiversMap?lang=en):
1. Glover's Ledge (tentative, in Langdon)
2. Granite Lake Headwaters (Stoddard: covers parts of eastern Cheshire County and NW Hillsborough)
3. Tin Mountain Conservation Center (Albany/Conway area)
4. McLane Audubon Center (Concord)
5. Massabesic Audubon Center (Auburn)
6. Great Bay NWR
7. Phillips Exeter Academy (Exeter)
Because we need to capture thrushes on their breeding territories, we don't plan to start tagging efforts until around May 15, thus allowing migrants to pass through. Even then we want to male sure the birds are indeed being territorial, meaning that visits a week or so apart will be critical to inform a bird's status. If you bird in any of the areas above, or are interesting in travelling to them to help, we will thus want info on thrush locations at least a week apart. The best way to do this is to enter data into eBird, which we'll be monitoring as the season progresses.
If you have any questions by all means let me know: please use my work email at <phunt...><mailto:<phunt...>
And good birding!
Pam
Pamela Hunt, Ph.D.
Senior Biologist for Avian Conservation
NH Audubon
603-753-9137 (home phone since I'm still rarely in the office)
Date: 4/29/24 12:47 pm From: Barbara Horton <byrder101...> Subject: [NHBirds] New arrivals in Derry
Hi all,
First Baltimore oriole this morning. After reading KC's post I went on the hunt for my oriole feeders and cups. Alas, I could not find them. My husband found the little hangers for them. Late afternoon yesterday he found one cup tho it was blue in color. Hung it on the cup holder that has an orange heart dangling on the top. Finally this am I had a male on it. Earlier while taking pictures of a pair of wood ducks up here around 7am, I had my first catbird. Late morning a kingfisher was diving into the pond. 2nd dive must have been productive. He or she left. Been years since seeing one here. Last time I saw the male towhee here was April 16th.
Date: 4/28/24 7:06 pm From: 'Kurk Dorsey' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] some nice sightings in Durham and Lee
Birders
I had a few interesting sightings in the abovementioned towns this weekend:
--winter wren and parula at Little River Park in Lee
--Black-throated-green Warbler at Bennett Road WMA in Durham
--Green Herons at Gile Road Marsh and Old Mill Road in Lee
--Wood Thrush at the Fogg Drive playing fields in Durham (it was playing hide and go seek of course)
--Sapsucker in my yard in Durham, noteworthy because one of my dogs barked ferociously every time it mewed. The dog chases anything flying bigger than a crow, but it doesn't care about sounds, except for this one. It even ignored and possibly triggered two Barred Owls.
--then the most memorable event: at Old Mill Road I crept down to the edge of the pond hoping for a rail or bittern, only to flush something big and awkward, which quickly separated into smaller and defined and smaller and awkward. The first part was a Cooper's hawk that was obviously very annoyed with me. I froze when I saw it melted me with its death glare and then flew off. I looked around to find what it had dropped—a kingfisher! I was sorry to have interrupted the hawk's feast but also amazed that it chose a kingfisher given all of the LSTs around (large, slow targets, mainly mourning doves).
Date: 4/28/24 6:45 am From: Alan McIntyre <mcintyreal...> Subject: [NHBirds] FOY at Blackwater Ski Area Andover
This morning my birding partner Garrett and I had the pleasure of seeing
and hearing the following FOY:
Yellow rumped Warbler
Blue Headed Vireo
Tree swallows
Blue-gray gnatcatcher
Hermit Thrush
*Alan D. McIntyre P'23*
Science Dept. Chair & Environmental Program Coordinator
WebEx + cell: 603.735.6810
*PGP: he/him/his*
*“Those who have the privilege to know have the duty to act, and in that
action are the seeds of new knowledge.”*
Albert Einstein
*“We are **sacrificing our money, sacrificing what is big and permanent, to
prolong what is small, temporary and harmful. We're sacrificing animals,
peace and children to retain wastefulness- while enriching those who
disdain us." Carl Safina*
*“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of
excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of
intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that
makes life worth living.”*
David Attenborough
Date: 4/27/24 5:16 pm From: Susan <slhunter...> Subject: [NHBirds] Whip-poor-will
I can hardly believe my ears !!! A first EVER Whip-poor-will has been signing just outside my door! It started at 8pm and sang for 10 minutes but now has gone silent. I stepped out side to get a better fix on his location and then he stopped singing.
Observation start time: 09:15:00 Observation end time: 15:15:00 Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Rob Woodward
Observers:
Visitors: 55 visitors, a busy day at the hilltop. The best group was what I am certain could only be the Belknap Mothers & Infants Hiking Club. There were 6 or 8 of them, all the children were about 4 months old in packs on their mother's back. Did the mothers meet at the hospital 4 months ago and form a group?
Weather: What a fine day for a hawk watch! Clear skies followed by thin high cirrus by 10:00 am, allowing for better spotting conditions. Winds were mostly southerly and light, varying from the east to SE to South to SW, but mostly South, at times dead calm. Warm, 50 to 64 F.
Raptor Observations: Welcome to the 3rd spring hawk count at Alton Bay Hawk Watch. Not a huge flight considering the ideal conditions. All Broad-wings were in ones, twos, or threes, some flying very high at the limit of perception; do some fly even higher? Alton Bay Hawk Watch is the only systematic spring hawk watch in the state, who knows how many in the region. Many questions surround spring migration since there is so little data because nobody is watching. I'm watching. My first goal is to determine the peak of Broad-wing migration. We know it to the day for the fall migration but do we know it for spring? Over the next 3-5 years we should have an answer. The "eagle spuh" I'm almost sure was a Golden Eagle. But this would be a first record for Alton Bay and an important milestone for my county list so I'm leaving it off for lack of certainty. Maybe I'll see one tomorrow.
Non-raptor Observations: My first Mourning Cloak for the year and a probable Brown Elfin.
Predictions: Tomorrow's forecast calls for favorable SW winds, but possibly some AM showers but otherwise there should be a good flight. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rob Woodward (<toucanrob...>)
Date: 4/27/24 9:45 am From: Steve Smith <kwedun...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Ruby-throated Hummingbird-Wilton
I have my hummingbird feeders out in Hancock but no sightings yet -
The link below is for hummingbirds that have been seen this spring - there are sightings including as far north as Berlin, NH, Maine and Nova Scotia. My first hummingbird showed up May 1st last year but a lot of the sighting reports say they are early - click on a hummingbird icon on the map and the details of when and where it was seen will be shown.
Date: 4/26/24 10:04 am From: KC <deedemail...> Subject: [NHBirds] FOY female Baltimore Oriole in Derry
This was a surprise. A female oriole was perched on the top of the hook of my deck bird feeder. It's an orange-colored oriole feeder for jelly, but in the winter, I use it without the cover to offer mealworms to the bluebirds. So, I'm guessing she was attracted to the orange color. Unfortunately, the dish was empty. I did have some suet out, so I hope she found that. That was around 11 am this morning and I haven't seen her since.
This is about a week earlier than I usually see my first male BAOR, and two weeks earlier than I usually see a female BAOR in my yard.
My experience here is that the orioles, catbirds, rose-breasted grosbeaks, and hummingbirds all arrive within the same week.
Date: 4/25/24 12:45 pm From: Martin Mick <mdmick01...> Subject: [NHBirds] Pipers are back FOY
Today I found one solitary Piping Plover at the roped-off area at Hampton Beach State Park. Timing is amazing, the barrier went up three days ago, almost as if they knew...
Date: 4/25/24 5:18 am From: Bill Chaisson <wpchaisson...> Subject: [NHBirds] white throated sparrows in Wilmot
We have had them here and there over the last two weeks but this morning this is a small flight of them in the vicinity of Pedrick Road. Both white and tan morphs. They are singing, although it seems like a slightly rushed and tentative version of their song.
Date: 4/22/24 12:41 pm From: Mark Suomala <suomalamark...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, April 22, 2024
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, April 22nd,
2024.
A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was seen at the former Laconia State School Campus on
April 15th and 16th. It was hunting in the fields north of the entrance
road and west of Route 106.
A SANDHILL CRANE was seen flying over Poverty Plains Road in Chichester on
April 16th.
A BLACK VULTURE was seen in Lyndeborough on April 19th.
A LITTLE GULL was seen with a flock of 22 BONAPARTE’S GULLS on Goose Pond
in Canaan on April 20th.
A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen at Airport Road in Swanzey on April
17th.
4 COMMON GOLDENEYE were seen on the coast at Rye Ledge, and 2 were seen in
Errol, all on April 20th. 3 RUDDY DUCKS were seen at Nutts Pond in
Manchester on April 10th through 18th.
2 UPLAND SANDPIPERS were reported from Pease International Trade Port on
April 19th.
A SPOTTED SANDPIPER was seen in Penacook on April 17th, 1 was seen in
Durham on the 19th, and 1 was seen in Sharon on the 19th.
A LESSER YELLOWLEGS was seen at Jackson’s Landing in Durham on April 16th,
and 17 GREATER YELLOWLEGS were seen there on the 22nd.
A GREEN HERON was reported from Durham Town Landing on April 19th, and 1
was seen along the Bedford Heritage Trail Bedford on the 21st.
A HOODED WARBLER was seen at a private residence in Newfields on April 17th
and again 18th, but has not been relocated.
A LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was reported from Freedom on April 17th. A
BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER was seen at Quincy Bog in Rumney on April 21st.
A CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER was seen in Kensington on April 17th.
2 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS were seen at Pulpit Rock Conservation Area
in Bedford on April 22nd.
A few ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS were reported from Rockingham County during
the past week.
A CLIFF SWALLOW was seen at Hampton Beach State Park on April 16th.
2 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS were seen at Pickering Ponds in Rochester on April
15th and 17th, and 1 was seen in Durham on the 16th.
16 RED CROSSBILLS were seen at Beaver Brook Association on Brown Lane in
Hollis on April 16th, 4 were seen at the Lancey Brook Wetlands in Brookline
on April 20th, and a few more small flocks were reported from scattered
locations during the past week.
2 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen in Keene on April 19th, and 4 were seen in
Littleton on the 21st.
7 VESPER SPARROWS were reported from Errol on April 21st.
25 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS were seen migrating over Pitcher Mountain in Stoddard
on April 21st.
Additional new arrivals during the past week included: BLUE-HEADED VIREOS,
HOUSE WRENS, MARSH WRENS, LOUSIANA WATERTHRUSHES, PALM WARBLERS,
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, FISH CROWS, GRAY CATBIRDS, BROWN THRASHERS, and
EASTERN TOWHEES.
This message is also available by phone recording: call (603) 224-9909 and
press 4 as directed or ask to be transferred.
If you have seen any interesting birds recently, you can leave a message at
the end of the recording or send your sightings to the RBA via e-mail to:
<birdsetc...> Please put either "bird sighting" or "Rare Bird
Alert" in the subject line and be sure to include your mailing address and
phone number. The RBA is also available on-line at the New Hampshire
Audubon web site, www.nhaudubon.org
Thanks very much and good birding.
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By Robert A. Quinn
Boreal birds and dramatic vistas await you most any time of the year in New
Hampshire’s North Country. Follow birder and naturalist Robert A. Quinn’s
detailed new guide, *Birding in Northern New Hampshire* to the best birding
in northern Coos County. All proceeds go to NH Audubon. For more info and
to order a copy, check out this link:
Learn more about birds and birding in New Hampshire with New Hampshire Bird
Records: www.nhbirdrecords.org (read a free article in each
issue). This quarterly publication is produced by NH Audubon thanks to the
work of many volunteers. It is available for free in digital format to all
NH Audubon members, and also by print for an additional fee:
https://nhbirdrecords.org/join-or-donate/
Date: 4/22/24 8:33 am From: Randy Langer <randylanger52...> Subject: [NHBirds] Backyard Birding
All, Now that the weather is improving I'm back to spending my mornings on the deck with a cup of coffee, binoculars, and pen and paper.
Not sure if it's our physical location or if it's the habitat I've created on our property or a combination of both, but I'm often struck by the number of species we see on any given day in the spring, wondering if others have similar experiences. Recorded this morning from the back deck at 6 Tucker Mountain Rd, Meredith:
American Robin Northern Flicker Eastern Phoebe Great Blue Heron (flyover) Wild Turkey Mallard Blue Jay Turkey Vulture (flyover) American Goldfinch Tufted Titmouse Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird (two pair nesting in two/six boxes on the property) Dark-eyed Junco Yellow Bellied Sapsucker Hairy Woodpecker Barred Owl (heard not seen) Downy Woodpecker Black Capped Chickadee Broad-winged Hawk (two engaged in mating behavior overhead) Red-tailed Hawk (flyover) Mourning Dove American Crow White-breasted Nuthatch
Date: 4/21/24 6:43 pm From: Jon Woolf <jsw...> Subject: [NHBirds] birding in various locations, 4/21
This morning I needed to be over on the coast, so I stopped at a couple
of interesting birding spots along the way. Mostly it was just the
usual suspects, but I got a few good sightings:
At Deer Hill Wildlife Area, pond #1 had a male Hooded Merganser and Pond
2 had a pair of Ring-necked Ducks and a Pied-billed Grebe. There was
also a bird I couldn't identify. It had a blackbird shape and beak, but
without the long tail of a grackle or the epaulets of a Red-winged
Blackbird. The primary feathers had a definite pale edge to them, and
it flicked its tail up and down repeatedly. But it didn't match the
Sibley illustrations of adult Rusty or Brewer's blackbirds. Was this a
first-year Rusty Blackbird?
At Chapman's Landing, there was an Osprey on the osprey nest tower, and
a collection of Mallards, American Black Ducks, and Green-wing Teal in
the marsh. Oh, and a single Lesser Yellowlegs.
At the Short Street (northwestern) end of the Pease Tradeport runway,
there were several singing Eastern Meadowlarks, a pair of Eastern
Bluebirds, and a Kestrel.
At Peverly Ponds, there were a couple more Ring-necked Duck pairs, and
also a pair of Bufflehead.
And when I got home, I found several Chipping Sparrows either foraging
by the street or singing from nearby trees.
Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 4 hours
Official Counter: Levi Burford
Observers:
Visitors: Many folks weren't interested in what I was doing. A kid and his Grandpa asked what I was doing and so did another father who mentioned that they had missed their opportunity to visit Pack Monadnock last Fall.
There were several shifty-eyed, young twenty-somethings who seemed to be up to no good (as usual for Pitcher Mountain, a nice unsupervised area). But then I found out the reason for the shity-eyedness was that they were waiting to do some surprise documenting of a friend's marriage proposal. I guess I can support that type of shifty-eyeness. She said "yes" (amongst a lot of four-letter words).
Weather: It was a bit chillier than I expected with a bit of a breeze and blue skies turning cloudy by noon.
Raptor Observations: At the Northeast Hawk Watch Conference in March Trudy Battaly issued us the challenge to get out on April 20th and 21st as much as we could to get some data. She highlighted Pitcher as one of the sites that fell off the face of the earth in 2023. Well, I was able to make the long drive south for the weekend and put in some time at Pitcher on Sunday.
While the flight was not as strong as I had hoped, we did have some Broad-winged Hawks to view. I think that if it had remained sunnier the numbers would have picked up. Nevertheless, there seemed to be a steady stream coming with about 7 an hour. I think we should just extrapolate and consider that 7 will come per hour for the rest of the migration season...
Also observed were 4 Bald Eagles of varying ages, 2 territorial Broad-winged Hawks on either side of the mountain, and about 10 Turkey Vultures. All as non-migrants.
Non-raptor Observations: The usual suspects today, but I did hear a Common Loon calling from some water body down below. The Raven crew totaled 19 at most. Not a bad show.
Predictions: Meh, who knows? Probably famine, floods, droughts, insect invasions, bad guys doing naughty things, extinctions, etc.
I'm out for the year. Peace! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Levi Burford (<lbburford...>)
Date: 4/21/24 11:42 am From: Roger Stephenson <rstephenson...> Subject: [NHBirds] a new bird for the patch
Out and about in Sally's Field next door this morning, added Virginia Rail for the first time to this patch . In the lower cattails, kid-ick calls mostly, but two grunts for good measure. The rail brings the patch total to 94 spp in my e bird records. Historically I've had Meadowlark, Great Horned Owl too. Roger Stephenson Stratham
Date: 4/21/24 10:46 am From: Ducky Darrick <dadams...> Subject: [NHBirds] You're gonna call me crazy BUT
You're going to think I'm off my rocker but I want to report a very unconfirmed but possible gyrfalcon in Swanzey just now. It was soaring over the vacant lot across from the post office on route 32 where they are constructing some sort of new building. The best way that I can describe the bird that I saw was that it looked like a cross between a peregrine and an osprey in several regards. The coloration and the size both appeared to be a cross between the two if you know what I'm trying to say. The wingspan seemed about like that of a red-tailed hawk the wings were bent like a falcon or an osprey and the tips were sharper than an osprey's but duller than a peregrine's in terms of pointiness and the trailing edges seemed rougher than a peregrine's but smoother than an osprey's. This happened at roughly 1:40 p.m..
Date: 4/21/24 3:17 am From: Jacob Rhodes <jacobrhodes100...> Subject: [NHBirds] Re: Red Crossbills with young in Walpole
I was at the Concord pine barrens early this afternoon and there was a
flock of about 18 red crossbills with a mixture of adults/juveniles.
Largest group I've seen yet.
On Friday, April 19, 2024 at 7:08:02 PM UTC-4 Jason K Pietrzak wrote:
> This afternoon I had a group of adult crossbills feeding on fallen white
> pine cones on the ground, and then occasionally feeding begging juveniles
> in low branches above the yard. Incredible to think these crossbills are
> already wrapping up their breeding season!
>
> Jason Pietrzak
> Walpole, NH
Date: 4/20/24 1:10 pm From: Jon Woolf <jsw...> Subject: [NHBirds] Loon on Head's Pond
This morning I took a short walk on the trail past Head's Pond in
Hooksett. It was around 10am, much too late for really good morning
birding, but I did get a woodpecker sweep -- Hairy, Downy, Red-bellied,
and Pileated. And a Common Loon in breeding plumage on Head's Pond. I
can't recall ever seeing a loon there before.
I was fishing last night from the Nubanusit boat ramp and I saw a large flock of whitish birds in the distance. They were very active and right over the water, reminiscent of swallows but larger. I could not make out any detail in my binoculars as they were a quarter to half a mile away. Could they have been terns? Have those been sighted there before? The flock was huge. Three dozen or more
Just had to brag.
I walked on an abandoned golf course here in town where they’re going to build an age restricted golf club, eventually. It being now left alone, the critters have taken over. I flushed some flickers, not usually in a “flock”, but I counted 9 flying from the ground to the trees!
Evy Nathan
Kingston
Date: 4/17/24 6:13 am From: Pamela Hunt <phunt...> Subject: [NHBirds] Whip-poor-will survey route available in Whitefield
Greetings NH birders,
Another whip-poor-will survey route has opened up. This time the route is in Whitefield/Jefferson. Any North Country folks interested in a bit of nocturnal birding?
Here's the repeat of the info I sent out for the other open route (New Boston) yesterday:
The key requirement to survey a route is a flexible schedule. Routes need to be surveyed during 2-week intervals centered on the full moon, and when the skies are clear. In some years this makes it difficult to get a survey conducted despite each observer's best intentions. This year's survey windows are May 15-30 and June 14-28, with the first half of each logistically better (which I can explain in more detail to interested parties. Each route only needs to be surveyed once. Counts are conducted after dark, along roads, and consist of 10 points spaced 1 mile apart. They take about 1.5 hours to complete. Observers must be willing to drive at night (you are welcome to bring a friend for companionship/safety) and recognize the call of a whip-poor-will.
Please reply with interest and/or questions,
Pam
Pamela Hunt, Ph.D.
Senior Biologist for Avian Conservation
NH Audubon
603-753-9137 (home phone since I'm still rarely in the office)
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