Date: 6/1/26 12:39 pm From: Dan Hubbard <danielhubbard...> Subject: [NHBirds] eBird Report - Pickering Ponds nest walk, Rochester, May 31, 2026 66 species
Nineteen birders joined me for the annual Nest Walk at Pickering Ponds trails in Rochester. Some form of breeding behavior was observed for 19 species with active occupied nests for 10 (3 warblers). Probably the star performance was displayed by a pair of Brown Creepers that made numerous entrances to their nest under a large piece of bark to deliver food and remove a fecal sack. A redstart building a nest at the parking area was a good omen for the walk which also included a redstart giving the group the evil eye from her very convenient nest site trailside. Good views of Northern Yellow Warbler and Eastern Warbling Vireo nests were nice also. Of the 10 warbler species, the very shy Mourning Warbler was the highlight. Thanks to Holly Bauer for keeping the eBird list below and to nest sleuth Alan Murray and his eagle-eyed assistant Melissa Fleming for discovering the many nests. Dan Hubbard, Rochester
Pickering Ponds, Rochester, Strafford, New Hampshire, US
May 31, 2026 7:06 AM - 12:33 PM
Protocol: Traveling
2.008 mile(s)Checklist Comments: Seacoast Audubon field trip led by Dan Hubbard focused on breeding birds. Alan Murray and Melissa Fleming provided the majority of the research on nest locations. Mostly sunny with temperatures in the 40s to the low 60s at the end. Vying for favorite bird of the day were a Mourning Warbler, two Brown Creepers feeding nestlings under bark, and an eye-level view of a nesting American Redstart.
66 species (+2 other taxa)
Canada Goose 52
Wood Duck 5
Mallard 2
Wild Turkey 1
Mourning Dove 4 failed nest with eggs
Chimney Swift 20
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 4
Virginia Rail 1 heard by a few people
Killdeer 2
Spotted Sandpiper 4
American Herring Gull 1
Green Heron 1
Turkey Vulture 7
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 2
Least Flycatcher 1
Empidonax sp. 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 2
Eastern Kingbird 3
Yellow-throated Vireo 1
Eastern Warbling Vireo 11
Red-eyed Vireo 6
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Tufted Titmouse 3
Bank Swallow 2
Tree Swallow 15
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1
Barn Swallow 2
swallow sp. 20
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
Brown Creeper 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1
Northern House Wren 3
European Starling 6
Gray Catbird 10
Veery 3
Hermit Thrush 1
Wood Thrush 3
American Robin 6
Cedar Waxwing 4
Purple Finch 1
American Goldfinch 7
Song Sparrow 9
Lincoln's Sparrow 1
Eastern Towhee 1
Orchard Oriole 3
Baltimore Oriole 9
Red-winged Blackbird 7
Brown-headed Cowbird 4
Common Grackle 3
Ovenbird 2
Black-and-white Warbler 5
Mourning Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 11
American Redstart 15
Magnolia Warbler 1
Northern Yellow Warbler 15
Chestnut-sided Warbler 3
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 1
Northern Cardinal 3
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2
