Date: 3/1/25 5:56 pm From: eric masterson <erictheirish...> Subject: [NHBirds] spring is here
And we're off. March 1st marks the beginning of the spring birding season, at least from a NH Bird Records perspective. Rockingham County now has three months in which to restore its honor after a disastrous showing in 2024, when the vaunted and celebrated coastal plain spectacularly failed to live up to its star billing. It wasn't until late May that Brett Hillman finally restored some honor by finding a Black-necked Stilt in Rye, but the crown had long since drifted inland by then, first to Laconia, then Dummer, before circling back and landing in Keene. Folks know what I'm talkin 'bout. If you don't, see the spring issue of NH Bird Records.
I will be doing my best to restore Rockingham's glory by manning Star Island, the state's premier vagrant trap, for 10 days in mid-May. Come on, Swainson's Warbler. You're gonna love it out here. However my commitment to the coastal plain is coming at great cost, as I have recently been informed of a pending investigation into my Rockingham County birding activities by the Hillsborough County Board of Ornithological Oversight. Some members feel that my commitment to my home county has been derisory. Someone even used the word unHillsborough. I will be mounting a robust defence.
In the meantime, let's not lose sight of the real enemy - the fall season. Spring species count has come close a few times, but we've always fallen short. It's those damn western vagrants. There just aren't enough spring overshoots to compete. However, it's long past time to make spring great again, so let's get busy birding.
First up, Bean Goose in Charlestown on St. Patrick's Day. Tundra or Taiga, I'm not fussy. Rockingham - over to you.
