Date: 4/25/18 6:39 am From: Gail Coffey <gcoffeywriter...> Subject: [NHBirds] FOY Broad-winged Hawks and Yellow-rumped Warblers in Wilton and Greenfield
I saw our local Broad-winged Hawk pair yesterday morning 24th (Wilton). I also saw 2 Broad-winged Hawks migrating in Weare, NH on Monday, April 23rd.
I hiked up Crotched Mt -trails on Crotched Mt. Rehabilitation Center side and saw 5 Yellow-rumped Warblers near the summit-all were males.
Date: 4/25/18 6:03 am From: Dana Duxbury-Fox <danafox...> Subject: [NHBirds] Crow Patrol - They are back at the New Balance Factory
I just counted and Bob and I have been observing what I now feel are "our" crows (but we share them with all of you) for SEVEN months. I can hardly believe it has been that long.
The key factors of why we have had that longevity are: we do it together, we are retired and for a variety of reasons have not travelled afar for long this winter, we live close by, and having changed our big meal of the day to an earlier time (our stomachs like going to bed less full) we are free and not hungry at most folk's dinner time which is crow patrol time.
The big news is that the crows have returned to their home base of October to very late December (and where they have been other years) to roost. You can not imagine the deep sense of excitement we had on Monday night (the 23rd) as we were wheeling along Merrimack St. eastward trying to find the murder of crows I was sure were headed to the New Balance Factory roost. Why did they leave this site is another question? They were 15,000 stronger at their best and it was a very cold winter. The original site could not have accommodated so many I am sure. Also, I do not know if they ever moved out other years. We just do not have the records to show their past habits.
We had started out that night on the north side of the river parked on the southern end of Ames St. where they had staged for many of the previous nights. There were about 800 birds there when suddenly they all flew across the river. Thank heavens I was watching at that moment. I could just see a few sitting high in leafless trees on the south side of the river through the line of trees on the north side. Oh, my - off we sped going east on Water St. to Broadway hoping against hope that they had not flown back, over the bridge, turned west on Shattuck St., none at the Riley Park, none on the trees to our right along the river as we drove, none down Eaton St. We got on Andover St. and headed towards Industrial Way back to our old crow hunting habitat of a month ago and turned right to the end of the road by Haffner's. There they were, some started moving east. We quickly pulled out to Andover St. and found them in the back of the next driveway at the Neuco Building many on the roof. Suddenly, they all took off east. Well, as they say "I wish you were there". That ole adage "As the crow flies" is not how I can drive but drive I did. It is sunset, getting darker, there are pot holes- some bigger than others, but I'm getting to know those! There are street lights, stop signs, and one way streets and these streets are not in a bee line to where the crows are going. I keep admonishing Bob to keep his eyes on the crows. Imagine they can fly faster than I can drive. Suddenly, we can't see any crows. Where have they gone? I press on, onto Broadway to Merrimack St. hoping against hope I am right. Suddenly, a flock of hundreds of crows is moving to my left along the river towards the New Balance Factory. You can not imagine how excited I was - even Bob was excited. We got to South Union St. and headed over the bridge looking carefully to our left at the thin line of River Birch trees we knew to well from months past. A few were milling around. I got turned around at the first opportunity and back over the bridge where we went into the New Balance Factory parking lot on the east side of the street. It was now about 8:05 just a half hour after sunset - they know the timing!!! I pulled over to the left and back up as close to the road where I could see the tree tops across the street. The crows were filling in- there was even enough light to take pictures. The crows had flown 1.45 miles to get there. I can't tell you how excited I was.
How did they know where to come? Which crows are these? They are both Fish and American. By the way, Fish Crows nest two weeks later than American crows. Are these all non-breeders? Why had they come back here. Now, some may have come back on Sunday night as we "lost" 500 crows after sunset that night. I just didn't think they would stage so far away and then fly so far to this roost. So many questions.
Well, as you can guess we had to go back to make sure this was not a one day wonder. So last night (the 24th) back to Ames St. where there were no crows and a few flying across the river. Over to the Industrial Park again. This time there were a few hundred staging on the roof of the Gem building - across from the New Balance Distribution Center. Where were the others? Why here? Well, about sunset, they took off east and we were in pursuit. Again I am no match and they won again disappearing to the east. A few crows kept moving in our direction and we finally found them staging on the roof of the buildings to the south of the New Balance Factory. We parked to the west of the factory on that horrid dirt road where we could see the river and the buildings. Once down on the roofs to the south, the crows were not visible but they soon started to lift and swirl some right out over the river. Some were on the rooves of buildings on the north side of the river. Swirl and settle down, another group would rise and swirl. Bob thinks there were over 800 birds. Many must have staged in a different location. Soon it was like the ole days - birds on the ground, on the wires, and on the rooves. Just after sunset, they rose and moved out over the river circling around and finally settling down in the trees where we watched them from the parking lot again and Bob got some street side pictures.
How long will this go on??????
Keep tuned!!
Also, a new exciting crow project is about to begin - more soon, and Craig Gibson and we are headed to "Crow School" as Craig calls it with the famous Professor John Marzluff in Washington State in June. What has happened to us?
Date: 4/25/18 3:25 am From: Mascoma Chapter NH Audubon <mascomabirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] "Warbler Wednesdays" Begin Wednesday, May 2nd
The first of our popular, early morning, May series of weekly birding
begins next Wednesday, May 2nd. We'll be seeking warblers and other spring
migrants at Lebanon’s secluded gem, Boston Lot Lake.
Meet in the more northerly of the two parking lots on NH Rt. 10 across from
Wilder Dam at 7:00 a.m.
At the outset, walking conditions include a fairly steep, uphill climb and
surfaces that are unpaved and uneven. Once at the lake, the surfaces are
level and grassy.
The event is free and open to the public. All experience levels are
welcome. Bring binoculars and/or spotting scopes as you prefer.
To be led by Mascoma Chapter Steering Committee Chair Blake Allison.
There was a noisy mixed flock of Kinglets. Both species. Among Paridae, Juncos, and some Goldfinch down closer to the Rail Road.
also of note: Both M&F Kingfishers Chipping Sparrow Song Sparrow White Throated Sparrow Cardinal Canada Goose (on nest) Mallard Osprey(Fly over) TV Robins Brown Thrasher and Flicker (In Ball Field across swamp from Mill Pond) Bald Eagles have been Present constantly hunting along the river system. We have not seen one Great Blue Heron, this is the first time in 8 years they have not been on time.
This Friday, (April 27) NH Audubon and the Lee Conservation Commission will be holding a woodcock viewing at the Joe Ford Wildlife Sanctuary, at 7:00 p.m.
The Joe Ford Wildlife Sanctuary is an established woodcock singing ground, with as many as four males observed displaying in recent weeks. We invite folks to spend an hour learning about, listening to, and observing these unique upland shorebirds. While we wait for the woodcock to get started with their courtship displays, we'll discuss their life history - what they eat, preferred habitats, courtship, nesting and migration. Also discussed will be the decline in woodcock population. Woodcock are among 46 avian species listed by NH Fish and Game as species of greatest conservation need. As lack of appropriate early successional habitats is the main factor in this species' decline, we will discuss the importance of creating and managing the type of open shrubland favored by woodcock.
As well as being able to hear, and (more difficult) see the woodcock, we'll have photographs of peenting woodcock, a weirdly wonderful woodcock skull, and a frozen woodcock to provide participants with a good look at the bird's beautiful cryptic plumage, distinctive beak, and those special primaries which create the whistling heard during the male's spiraling flight. During past events, we've often been treated to barred owl duets and the goodnight songs of hermit thrush, wood thrush, robin, song sparrow, cardinal and catbird.
The viewing area is a short walk along the field edge, which is somewhat rough and mounded; sturdy shoes are suggested. Ticks and mud are a definite possibility, and spring evenings can be damp and cool, so please dress accordingly. Feel free to bring a folding chair, and binoculars. All ages are very welcome, but children must be able to watch quietly while the woodcocks are displaying as noises and moving around can disrupt the birds - it's been our experience that this has never been an issue and that the children attending this event are extremely respectful.
Joe Ford Wildlife Sanctuary is located on Garrity Road in Lee - after turning onto Garrity from Mast Road (155A) the sanctuary is located about 1/2 mile down Garrity on the right. Traffic cones will be placed near the sanctuary entrance. Parking is along the sanctuary side of Garrity, and we request that cars pull well off the road and ask that folks not park on the crests of hills.
Date: 4/23/18 5:19 pm From: Mark Suomala <mrsuomala...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, April 23, 2018
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, April 23rd,
2018.
A NORTHERN WHEATEAR was reported from Moore Fields on Route 155A in Durham
on April 4th, and was relocated in fields along the Oyster River Forest in
Durham on the 14th. The bird was seen multiple times during the past week,
and was last reported on April 22nd. To look for the bird, park at the
trailhead near the Lee town line on Packers Falls Road, walk north about
one-half mile, and search the surrounding fields. The bird seems to favor
piles of wood debris from clearing operations.
A RED PHALAROPE was seen in Ashland on April 17th, but has not been
relocated.
At least 2 SNOWY OWLS continued to be reported from the coast during the
past week, mainly from Rye and Hampton.
A SHORT-EARED OWL was seen at the Concord Airport on April 17th.
2 male BARROW’S GOLDENEYES and 53 COMMON GOLDENEYES were seen on the
Androscoggin River in Errol on April 21st.
A RED-THROATED LOON was seen at the Charlestown Wastewater Treatment Plant
on April 17th. COMMON LOONS have been reported from numerous inland bodies
of water during the past week.
A BLUE-WINGED TEAL was seen at Great Meadows in Charlestown on April 17th,
and a pair was seen along the coast in North Hampton on April 20th.
40 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 24 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 12 GREATER SCAUP, 4 LESSER
SCAUP, 26 BUFFLEHEADS, 8 COMMON GOLDENEYES, a HOODED MERGANSER, and 6 COMMON
MERGANSERS were seen on the Connecticut River near Charlestown on April
17th.
4 BONAPARTES GULLS, 50 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, 12 GREATER SCAUP, 16
BUFFLEHEADS, and 42 PALM WARBLERS were seen at the Connecticut River in
Hinsdale on April 17th. A LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen here on the 18th.
3 BLACK SCOTERS and a RED-NECKED GREBE were seen at Wilson Pond, and 2
AMERICAN BITTERNS were seen near the airport, all in Keene on April 17th.
A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen at Little River in Exeter on April
19th. A GLOSSY IBIS was seen on Wetherby Road in Charlestown on April 20th.
A BROAD-WINGED HAWK was seen in Penacook on April 18th, 1 was seen in
Merrimack on the 21st, 1 was seen in Orford on the 22nd, 1 was seen in
Madbury on the 23rd, and 2 were seen in Lebanon on the 22nd.
VIRGINIA RAILS were reported from Durham and Concord during the past week.
A SOLITARY SANDPIPER was seen in Exeter on April 21st.
A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was seen in Rochester on April 17th.
Single COMMON YELLOWTHROATS were reported from Nashua and Deerfield on April
20th.
An AMERICAN PIPIT was seen in Lebanon on April 22nd.
15 NORTHERN FLICKERS were seen in fields adjacent NH Audubon’s McLane Center
in Concord on April 17th.
2 RED CROSSBILLS were reported from Antrim on April 18th, and 1 was reported
from Cornish on the 17th.
7 FISH CROWS were reported from Durham on April 22nd.
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 at:
<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
Date: 4/23/18 2:39 pm From: Jady Girlz <jadygirlz...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Re: hawk ID help please
Hi Deb, that looks like an immature Broad Winged Hawk
On Mon, Apr 23, 2018 at 5:15 PM, Jady Girlz <jadygirlz...> wrote:
> Hi Deb, that looks like an immature Broad Winged Hawk > > On Monday, April 23, 2018 at 4:21:55 PM UTC-4, deb powers wrote: >> >> I saw this hawk in Madbury today, it was relatively small, but does not >> have the head structure or eyes that I am use to for a cooper, would this >> be a sharp-shinned? I am thinking immature either way. >> >> Thanks so much for the help >> >> Deb Powers-South Berwick Maine >> >> >> https://www.flickr.com/photos/143862779@N08/40943957774/in/d >> ateposted-public/ >> > -- > 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 a topic in the > Google Groups "NHBirds" group. > To unsubscribe from this topic, visit https://groups.google.com/d/ > topic/nhbirds/LKwngmSUhJ8/unsubscribe. > To unsubscribe from this group and all its topics, send an email to > nhbirds+<unsubscribe...> > To post to this group, send email to <nhbirds...> > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/nhbirds. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >
Date: 4/23/18 2:15 pm From: Jady Girlz <jadygirlz...> Subject: [NHBirds] Re: hawk ID help please
Hi Deb, that looks like an immature Broad Winged Hawk
On Monday, April 23, 2018 at 4:21:55 PM UTC-4, deb powers wrote: > > I saw this hawk in Madbury today, it was relatively small, but does not > have the head structure or eyes that I am use to for a cooper, would this > be a sharp-shinned? I am thinking immature either way. > > Thanks so much for the help > > Deb Powers-South Berwick Maine > > > > https://www.flickr.com/photos/143862779@N08/40943957774/in/dateposted-public/ >
Date: 4/23/18 1:21 pm From: DEBRA M POWERS <dmp2ec...> Subject: [NHBirds] hawk ID help please
I saw this hawk in Madbury today, it was relatively small, but does not have the head structure or eyes that I am use to for a cooper, would this be a sharp-shinned? I am thinking immature either way.
Date: 4/23/18 11:12 am From: Donna Carkin <dcarkin1...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Re: info on moribund phoebes, tree swallows
Eastern Phoebe nesting at my parent's barn Groton, MA Donna
On Mon, Apr 23, 2018 at 2:04 PM, 'Deni Dickler' via NHBirds < <nhbirds...> wrote:
> > I was delighted to see an Eastern Phoebe in our Harrisville NH yard before > the inclement weather. The day after the snow and sleet here I found a > dead Phoebe under our raised deck. > On Friday, April 20, 2018 at 2:15:09 PM UTC-4, eric masterson wrote: > >> Hi all: >> Asking in my capacity as seasonal editor for NH Bird Records (spring). If >> anyone has encountered dead or dying phoebes, tree swallows, or any other >> migrants adversely affected by the inclement weather, please drop me an >> email. Thanks >> > -- > 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+<unsubscribe...> > To post to this group, send email to <nhbirds...> > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/nhbirds. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >
Date: 4/23/18 11:04 am From: 'Deni Dickler' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Re: info on moribund phoebes, tree swallows
I was delighted to see an Eastern Phoebe in our Harrisville NH yard before the inclement weather. The day after the snow and sleet here I found a dead Phoebe under our raised deck. On Friday, April 20, 2018 at 2:15:09 PM UTC-4, eric masterson wrote: > > Hi all: > Asking in my capacity as seasonal editor for NH Bird Records (spring). If > anyone has encountered dead or dying phoebes, tree swallows, or any other > migrants adversely affected by the inclement weather, please drop me an > email. Thanks >
Date: 4/23/18 10:05 am From: 'Molly Jacobson' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Duck ID help
Hi guys, thanks for the responses! Steve Mirick believes it to be an immature male white-winged scoter, and I've gotten that suggestion from a couple others too. I'm definitely unfamiliar with a lot of those immature/in-between plumages, so every chance to learn helps! White-winged scoter was my initial thought but the lack of white on the face had thrown me off. Thanks for your help once again!-Molly JacobsonMerrimack
On Monday, April 23, 2018 11:17 AM, Jack Swatt <jswattbirds...> wrote:
Not sure if you've got a response yet. The white patch on the wing bar looks like a White-winged scoter mark, possibly a female given the lack of color on the bill. The other possibility is Muscovy Duck. The bill looked two toned in the video but I'm not sure of the effect of lighting on it. I have seen some with larger and more distal white wing patches than the guides usually show (I use Sibleys). Size might help differentiate as Muscovies are much larger than scoters.
Thanks for sharing, I love bird challenges like this, even though I'm frequently wrong, but it helps if many people weigh in.
Jack Swatt
Lempster, NH
Wolcott, CT
On Sun, Apr 22, 2018 at 9:29 PM, 'Molly Jacobson' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> wrote:
Hi all,I had the chance to stop at Cape Neddick in York Maine while in the area today. Got a lifer harlequin duck! But I also saw a lone duck relatively close to shore that I've been stumped over for a few hours now. Any help would be greatly appreciated (even though it's a Maine bird)! It was about medium sized, dark brown head, brown back, and beige on its entire chest, with conspicuous white wing patches (it lifted from the water to flap its wings once, I am grateful). While at the time I was convinced it had a light-colored bill, upon reviewing footage it may have been light shining off of its wet bill, but I can't be sure. It had no white markings at all on its face. I don't have a scope so that is as good as I could do with my binoculars. You can see the video I took of it here:https://flic.kr/p/23FsAkN
With a still here:https://flic.kr/p/25mqQ9q
I'm not super experienced with ducks, especially seabirds, so this may be very simple, but I appreciate the opportunity to learn.
Thanks!!
-Molly JacobsonMerrimack--
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Date: 4/23/18 8:24 am From: Brian R <reillybj49...> Subject: [NHBirds] Keene "yard birds" - Sunday, 4/22/18
Behind my house here in Keene I have a fairly good sized field. While viewing the Bluebird pair currently checking out the nesting boxes I spotted two Palm Warblers feeding in the short grass. Later in the afternoon I spotted a grayish bird about crow size in that same field. I put my spotting scope of it and was pleasantly surprised to see a Peregrine Falcon. Sadly his dinner was a Northern Flicker. Both the Palm Warblers and Falcon were first time birds for me in my backyard.
Date: 4/23/18 6:21 am From: Suzanne Smith <zanne719...> Subject: [NHBirds] Monday am in Hebron
While out for a short before work walk, 2 Ruby crown kinglet males, both with their red crowns in full array. 1 Broad-tailed Hawk 1 chipping sparrow singing away and still a lot of juncos!
So I know you are “supposed” to have the best luck birding in the mornings,
but Morrissette Conservation Area in Exeter is pretty great in the
afternoons. Turned up 21 species between 4 and 5pm yesterday evening,
including several very vocal kinglets and a pair of palm warblers.
Date: 4/23/18 4:13 am From: Jean <jmullen43...> Subject: [NHBirds] Palm Warbler Portsmouth 04/22
Hi! While sitting on the deck had a beautiful Palm Warbler foraging on the ground - a FOY and new yard bird. Also had a pair of Eastern Bluebirds, Hairy, Downy,&Red-bellied Woodpeckers, as well as the usual woodland species. Heard Wild Turkey and had fly over Canada Geese, Mallards, and Red-tailed Hawk.
Date: 4/23/18 1:20 am From: Joshua Jarvis <menasor77...> Subject: [NHBirds] Keene kinglet and ducks
By the little trail bridge behind Agway in Keene their was a Ruby Crowned Kinglet.
At Brickyard Pond at Keene State College their were 3 ringneck ducks and a hooded merganser. (It was odd seeing the female hoody sticking close to the male ringneck like they were a pair.)
Date: 4/22/18 6:57 pm From: Cliff Otto <bye.bye.nh.birdy...> Subject: [NHBirds] Re: Oyster River Forest
My thanks to Terri Fratus, Miriam Simmons, and John Woolf for their instructions on finding the Oyster River Forest and its parking. Where my car's GPS took me was not where I thought I was...I was too far south, down near the area where the road crosses the Lamprey River. Guess I should have asked before going out on my own.
Date: 4/22/18 6:31 pm From: 'Molly Jacobson' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Duck ID help
Hi all,I had the chance to stop at Cape Neddick in York Maine while in the area today. Got a lifer harlequin duck! But I also saw a lone duck relatively close to shore that I've been stumped over for a few hours now. Any help would be greatly appreciated (even though it's a Maine bird)! It was about medium sized, dark brown head, brown back, and beige on its entire chest, with conspicuous white wing patches (it lifted from the water to flap its wings once, I am grateful). While at the time I was convinced it had a light-colored bill, upon reviewing footage it may have been light shining off of its wet bill, but I can't be sure. It had no white markings at all on its face. I don't have a scope so that is as good as I could do with my binoculars. You can see the video I took of it here:https://flic.kr/p/23FsAkN
With a still here:https://flic.kr/p/25mqQ9q
I'm not super experienced with ducks, especially seabirds, so this may be very simple, but I appreciate the opportunity to learn.
Thanks!!
-Molly JacobsonMerrimack
Date: 4/22/18 5:22 pm From: Jon Woolf <jsw...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Oyster River Forest
I'd like to add one more thing to Terri's and Miriam's otherwise-excellent answers. As Miriam's map shows, there are two parking areas along Packers Falls Road. The left-hand one on the map is directly at the Oyster River Forest Trail trailhead; the other is about 100 yards east. According to both Google Maps and Bing Maps, the address of the left (trailhead) parking area is approximately 352 Packers Falls Road, Durham NH. Put that into your GPS, and it should bring you right to the parking area. From there, the field where the Wheatear is being seen is about half a mile's walk straight down the trail.
One more thing: both Bing and Google Maps say that the first part of the trail is a road; Bing calls it "Worthen Road," while Google calls it an "unnamed road." BOTH ARE WRONG. The trail is exactly that: a wide dirt trail, passable only with a rough-terrain vehicle like a jeep or an ATV. It's also blocked by a locked metal gate. It is NOT accessible to regular cars.
-- Jon Woolf Manchester, NH
At 07:04 PM 4/22/2018, Cliff Otto wrote:
Is there a specified entrance to the Oyster River Forest and parking? While I had a map of where the Wheatear was being seen, I was unable to find my way there today and ended up on someone's private property off Packers Falls Road and was told I was nowhere near where I wanted to go (and not told how to get there).
Several herons/egrets in the marshes along Rte 1A from Odiorne down to Rye Harbor area.
Parking indicated by the circles, take the trail straight in (about .5 miles). At the opening into the field, look to your right. The Wheatear is perfectly colored to blend on the ground, but you will see her hopping or running, searching for food. We enjoyed observing her yesterday.
On Sun, Apr 22, 2018 at 7:26 PM, Terri Fratus <mizpah3149...> wrote:
> Cliff, > There is a small pull off with room for 5 or 6 cars. There's also a > sign. The property is located along Mill and Packers Falls roads. There > are two ways to reach the main access point which is off Packers Falls > Road. 1 > <https://maps.google.com/?q=Packers+Falls+Road.%C2%A0+1&entry=gmail&source=g>. > From Rt 155A (Mast Road) turn onto Packer's Falls Road. Follow Packer's > Falls Road 1.1 miles until you see a dirt road with a gate on your left. > Turn in and park to the side of the gate. If you reach Mill Road, you've > gone too far. 2. From downtown Durham, take Mill Road all the way to the > end (approximately 2.5 miles). Turn right onto Packers Falls Road. Almost > immediately you will see a dirt road with a gate on your right. turn in > and park there. If you see a trailer park or Jenkins Road on your left > you've gone too far. > > Best of luck, > Terri Fratus > Dover > > > > On Sunday, April 22, 2018 at 7:04:42 PM UTC-4, Cliff Otto wrote: >> >> Is there a specified entrance to the Oyster River Forest and parking? >> While I had a map of where the Wheatear was being seen, I was unable to >> find my way there today and ended up on someone's private property off >> Packers Falls Road and was told I was nowhere near where I wanted to go >> (and not told how to get there). >> >> Several herons/egrets in the marshes along Rte 1A from Odiorne down to >> Rye Harbor area. >> >> Cliff Otto >> Manchester >> > -- > 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+<unsubscribe...> > To post to this group, send email to <nhbirds...> > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/nhbirds. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >
Cliff, There is a small pull off with room for 5 or 6 cars. There's also a sign. The property is located along Mill and Packers Falls roads. There are two ways to reach the main access point which is off Packers Falls Road. 1. From Rt 155A (Mast Road) turn onto Packer's Falls Road. Follow Packer's Falls Road 1.1 miles until you see a dirt road with a gate on your left. Turn in and park to the side of the gate. If you reach Mill Road, you've gone too far. 2. From downtown Durham, take Mill Road all the way to the end (approximately 2.5 miles). Turn right onto Packers Falls Road. Almost immediately you will see a dirt road with a gate on your right. turn in and park there. If you see a trailer park or Jenkins Road on your left you've gone too far.
Best of luck, Terri Fratus Dover
On Sunday, April 22, 2018 at 7:04:42 PM UTC-4, Cliff Otto wrote: > > Is there a specified entrance to the Oyster River Forest and parking? > While I had a map of where the Wheatear was being seen, I was unable to > find my way there today and ended up on someone's private property off > Packers Falls Road and was told I was nowhere near where I wanted to go > (and not told how to get there). > > Several herons/egrets in the marshes along Rte 1A from Odiorne down to Rye > Harbor area. > > Cliff Otto > Manchester >
Date: 4/22/18 4:04 pm From: Cliff Otto <bye.bye.nh.birdy...> Subject: [NHBirds] Oyster River Forest
Is there a specified entrance to the Oyster River Forest and parking? While I had a map of where the Wheatear was being seen, I was unable to find my way there today and ended up on someone's private property off Packers Falls Road and was told I was nowhere near where I wanted to go (and not told how to get there).
Several herons/egrets in the marshes along Rte 1A from Odiorne down to Rye Harbor area.
Date: 4/22/18 3:57 pm From: Mascoma Chapter NH Audubon <mascomabirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] River Road in Hanover and Lyme on Saturday, April 21
The temperature may have been hovering near 30, and many of the Connecticut River's side bays and impoundments were showing patchy ice covering, but clear skies, a bright sun and the presence of avian migrants held forth the prospect that spring will arrive.
The Mascoma Chapter of NH Audubon. along with co-sponsors the Hanover Conservancy and the Upper Valley Land Trust (UVLT) hosted seventeen birders on a leisurely journey up the Connecticut beginning at Hanover's Wilson's Landing, then making several stops on River Road before finishing at Lyme's Grant Brook.
Forty species were seen over the course of two-and-a-half hours. Highlights among waterfowl were ring-necked ducks (18) and bufflehead (3). At Grant Brook, a juvenile bald eagle was seen flying downriver with a harassing crow in pursuit. Many of the songbird species observed were ones that would not be associated with migration such as dark-eyed juncos, black-capped chickadees, American goldfinches and the now ubiquitous northern cardinal. But sightings of swamp sparrows, eastern phoebes, red-winged blackbirds, common grackles, a pine warbler and yellow-bellied sapsuckers gave assurance that a new phase of bird watching was at hand. Complete eBird lists for the day can be found by clicking on the links below.
Thanks to The Hanover Conservancy's Gail McPeek, the UVLT's Kaytee Currie-Huggard and Mascoma Chapter Steering Committee members George Clark, Jeff MacQueen and Blake Allison for being co-leaders. Thanks to Blake for keeping the counts and preparing the eBird reports.
Date: 4/22/18 3:11 pm From: Samuel Lewis <samlewis100...> Subject: [NHBirds] Ruffed Grouse - Epping
In the housing development in the old apple orchard off of Prescott Road. 1 American Kestrel flying around the apple trees 1 Ruffed Grouse crossed the road right in front of us. Also heard numerous others including crows (no fish involved), a cardinal, chickadee, and tufted titmouse. Saw wood ducks in one of the holding ponds swimming around with some mallards. Happy rewards for helping family move.
Date: 4/22/18 7:20 am From: Christian Martin <cmartin...> Subject: [NHBirds] Coos County raptor and waterfowl loop on 4/21/18
On Saturday I drove a circuit of various raptor hotspots around Coos County, starting at Pinkham's Grant near Mt. Washington, and traveling thru Gorham, Milan, Cambridge, Errol, Dixville, Colebrook, Stewartstown, Groveton, Stark, and Berlin before ending at Pinkham's Grant again. Lots of snow still in woods and at higher elevation. Rivers open, but Umbagog Lake and other large water bodies still ice-covered. Highlights included the following:
Bald Eagle - 5, including 3 incubating/brooding at 3 nests in Milan, Dummer, Northumberland; known nests in Errol and Cambridge were empty when I checked
Peregrine Falcon - 5, including 2 pairs at nesting cliffs at Abeniki Mtn in Dixville and Devils Slide in Stark, Abeniki pair were actively harassing a Common Raven that was trying to incubate
Osprey - 7, all 7 perched on nests in Dummer, Columbia and Northumberland, 6 of 7 nests checked had birds present
Merlin - 2, pair copulating near Groveton Water wells in Northumberland
Pied-billed Grebe - 1 at Magill Bay on Pontook Reservoir in Dummer
Ring-necked Duck - 95 (about 50:50 males to females) on Mile Long Pond in Errol
Common Goldeneye - 53 (about 50:50 males to females) in pool below Errol Dam, several 1st yr males ID'ed
Barrow's Goldeneye - 2 with COGO flock, obvious half-moon facial spot
River Otter - 1 above Errol Dam
Mink - 1 above Errol Dam, checking out spot where otter had hauled out 5 mins before
- Chris
Chris Martin
Senior Biologist, NH Audubon
<cmartin...>
Date: 4/22/18 7:08 am From: Jane Rice <moultnews...> Subject: [NHBirds] FOYs in Moultonborough
This is more like it! FOY GC Kinglet, at least 6, nice close continuing views; several hermit thrush, YB Sapsucker, pair of kestrels has returned to the big field on Ossipee Mt Rd , barn swallows, tree swallows, also not FOY but lots of juncos, robins, RW blackbirds, cardinal, singing WT sparrow, grouse drumming, WB nuthatch, mourning dove, titmouse.
Had two FOY eastern towhees foraging in the leaf litter at Wildcat Falls conservation area in Merrimack. Saw them well this time so I am sure! Also a ruby-crowned kinglet and broad-winged hawk there - first time I've heard a RCKI sing actually!Still hunting for the elusive lifer purple finch...
-Molly JacobsonMerrimack
Date: 4/21/18 2:49 pm From: Stephen Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [NHBirds] Seacoast Owl Prowl in Durham (Barred & Great Horned Owls, PB Grebes, Virginia Rail)
Jane and I led the annual "Owl Prowl" field trip today for the Seacoast
Chapter of NH Audubon. We starting bright and (very) early, meeting at
4:00 AM! The weather today was clear and nice, but a bit cold with the
temperature in the 30's and a light wind. About 20 birders today.
including a few UNH students. As always, a beautiful walk in the woods
in a beautiful spot.
The owl show was not terribly great, with only some distant hooting
owls. But there were several nice birds including beautiful Pileated
Woodpeckers, two singing Winter Wrens, and a nice flotilla of
Ring-necked Ducks and 2 Pied-billed Grebes on Colby Marsh.
Another highlight (for me) was seeing Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter in the
morning sky!
Steve & Jane Mirick
Bradford, MA
Longmarsh Preserve--Colby Marsh, Durham, Strafford, New Hampshire, US
Apr 21, 2018 4:30 AM - 7:30 AM
Protocol: Traveling
2.0 mile(s)
Comments: About 20 birders with half of them UNH students. Nice
weather, but a bit cool. Temp in 30's with light wind and sunny.
Continued cold spring.
40 species
Canada Goose 5
Wood Duck 4
Mallard 2
Ring-necked Duck 30 High count for date.
Hooded Merganser 0 Remarkably zero Hoodies.
Common Merganser 2
Wild Turkey 2 Gobbling.
Pied-billed Grebe 2 Uncommon on pond.
Double-crested Cormorant 1
Great Blue Heron 4
Osprey 1
Northern Harrier 1 Adult male. Rare for this trip.
Virginia Rail 1 One came in to tape, but only brief views.
Mourning Dove 1
Great Horned Owl 1 One distant bird calling.
Barred Owl 2 Two calling to each other in distance only. Not a
great show for Barred Owls this year.
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Downy Woodpecker 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Pileated Woodpecker 4 Two pairs. Great show of Pileated Woodpeckers.
Eastern Phoebe 3
Blue Jay 1
American Crow 1
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Tufted Titmouse 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Brown Creeper 2
Winter Wren 2 One singing spontaneously right next to us at first
light.
Golden-crowned Kinglet 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2
Hermit Thrush 2
Palm Warbler 5
Pine Warbler 1
Chipping Sparrow 1
Song Sparrow 3
Swamp Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 4
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
American Goldfinch 3
Date: 4/21/18 10:09 am From: 'jenna_pett' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Snipe at Great Bay Farm
There were at least 8 Wilson's Snipe in the field at Great Bay Farm in Greenland.
There were also 3 at Chapman's Landing.
Jenna Pettipas - Auburn, NHSusan Wrisley - Hollis, NH
Sent via my Samsung Galaxy, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
OK, I lied, on the 20th there were several Fish Crows on the UNH campus, at least one of which was carrying nesting materials and speaking to a real estate professional.
This morning, the Surrey Lane marsh had 1 Grebe-billed Pie, 2 West Virginia rails grunting at each other, a Marsh Wren, and Swamp Sparrow.
Thompson Forest, town land .1 miles west of Packers Falls on Wednesday Hill Road added 75 (at least) Palm Warblers, feeding on the ground in the area recently cleared for cottontails. That was really an amazing sight. Also present were a Louisiana Waterthrush, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a couple of waxwings and bluebirds, and a sapsucker.
Plus 5 cars at Oyster River Forest, presumably wheatear seekers.
Date: 4/21/18 5:13 am From: 'Duane Cross' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] loon in Littleton
Was outside early this morning doing some chores when I heard a sound I hadn't heard since last November. A loon in flight was calling from down below on the Comerford Dam on the Connecticut River. . Perhaps Spring really is coming. Duane Cross Littleton NH
Date: 4/20/18 7:15 pm From: Jill Thompson <jilllvscts53...> Subject: [NHBirds] Re: info on moribund phoebes, tree swallows
On Friday, April 20, 2018 at 2:15:09 PM UTC-4, eric masterson wrote: > > Hi all: > Asking in my capacity as seasonal editor for NH Bird Records (spring). If > anyone has encountered dead or dying phoebes, tree swallows, or any other > migrants adversely affected by the inclement weather, please drop me an > email. Thanks >
I have only seen one phoebe this year- today- and it seemed healthy.
I took a ride up the coast today from Hampton salisbury bridge.
Boars head -- Black Scoter -- one. -- Common Mergansers -- Red Breasted Mergansers ------------------------------------------ Where route 111 and !a meet.--(Little Boars head?) -- Pair of Blue Winged Teals. -- Surf Scoters -- Common Mergansers -- Long-Tailed duck--- Many 1st year and winter plumage. ----------------------------------------------------
I stopped at Salisbury State Park in Mass and there was a Snowy Owl on the dunes a good distance away.
Date: 4/20/18 11:16 am From: 'Molly Jacobson' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Wheatear- yes
Was able to meet up with Kurk Dorsey, Scott Heron, and a few others and relocated the wheatear in the same place it had been seen. We watched it for about 45 minutes running around the woody debris pile on the right side of the field immediately upon entering the opening. We lost it about 15 minutes before leaving but I'm sure it's around probably over the hill. So excited to have seen this incredible bird!-Molly JacobsonMerrimack
Date: 4/20/18 11:15 am From: eric masterson <erictheirish...> Subject: [NHBirds] info on moribund phoebes, tree swallows
Hi all: Asking in my capacity as seasonal editor for NH Bird Records (spring). If anyone has encountered dead or dying phoebes, tree swallows, or any other migrants adversely affected by the inclement weather, please drop me an email. Thanks
Date: 4/19/18 6:13 pm From: Ed Norton <etnorton...> Subject: [NHBirds] First chick hatched in our Carolina Wren nest
We're so happy for our girl! She laid five eggs, one a day each morning, between March 31 and April 4. She laid a possible sixth on April 5 and began to incubate. She did not sit on the eggs for the first five days except at night.
After 14 days of incubating the first chick hatched tonight. Here are links to a few videos: the hatching, some later views of the chick, and a link to our live stream on YouTube which runs all day. In the video description there are some links to other clips (like when she laid her eggs).
Hi all,I am going to be at UNH tomorrow and was hoping to go and try and find the northern wheatear while I was in the area. I was just wondering if anyone else was planning to be out there at Oyster River Forest as well, maybe around 1-2pm? More pairs of eyes would probably be very helpful, and this is likely my only chance in the near future to find the bird, so if I could get there while there's others looking for it, that would be awesome! Alternatively, any updates on its whereabouts in that field tomorrow would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a bunch!
-Molly JacobsonMerrimack
Date: 4/19/18 12:06 pm From: Aaronian, Richard S. <raaronian...> Subject: [NHBirds] Exeter area birds
Took my Ornithology class out for a very quick trip from 1145-1245 today and turned up some good birds for late morning.
American Kestrel by Bodwell field 1 FOY Green-winged Teal # Bodwell field Wood Duck 2 Bodwell field Hermit Thrush, Lary Lane (at least 3, probably more) FOY Black-crowned Night Heron on edge of Little River off Court St. 1 FOY
Date: 4/18/18 7:22 pm From: Susan Irene <syokina...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Digest for - 13 updates in 12 topics
Last few days a pair of Palm warblers and a Yellow Rumped have been very active at the suet. Peanut butter and jelly from Birds Unlimited is the fav right now.
________________________________
From: <nhbirds...> <nhbirds...>
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2018 4:49 PM
To: Digest recipients
Subject: [NHBirds] Digest for <nhbirds...> - 13 updates in 12 topics
I'm on the Northern Wheatear with several other people, in the field at the north end of the Oyster River Trail, right as previously reported.
-- Jon Woolf
Sent from my iPhone
<hotto2010...>: Apr 18 01:22PM -0700
The Wheater was spotted at 2 pm in the field on the right about half way
back just where the grass stops and cutting starts. Quite actively feeding.
Spotted by Keven Couture.
On Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 10:58:26 AM UTC-4, Steve Mirick wrote:
After being out of state for the last two weeks (and hearing reports of less than ideal April weather - plus experiencing it Sun-Mon!), I finally got out on one of my weekly bird walks this morning. A friend and I walked around The Island from 7-9, and in the process tallied 38 species of birds. Highlights included:
Broad-winged Hawk
about a dozen Eastern Phoebes (my numbers are at home, hence the vagueness for some counts!)
multiple singing Ruby-crowned Kinglets
4-5 Golden-crowned Kinglets
2 Hermit Thrushes
1 Purple Finch (singing)
2 Chipping Sparrows
1 Fox Sparrow (singing)
dozens of Song Sparrows
3 Brown-headed Cowbirds
3 Pine Warblers
3 (Yellow) Palm Warblers
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
Good to see spring finally arrive, and looking forward to the Penacook Survey this weekend!
Further increases in songbirds this morning. Now at least 50 eastern palm warblers (no westerns yet), about 15 r-c kinglets (singing all over), 20 or so myrtles. Also present was a single long-tailed duck (the second this spring). Hermit thrushes were widespread with about 10 birds. There seems to have been a large fallout of hermits in the last couple of days with up to 20 in my yard in Dummerston (only a couple of acres). The north winds seem to be bottling the small birds up and preventing them heading further north.
In the wet meadow on the Science Center property along Rt. 113.
American Robin -- 50+
Hermit Thrush -- 2
Rusty Blackbird -- 2 -- male and female in breeding plumage
Cowbird -- 3
Flicker -- 1
Having not seen a Hermit Thrush all spring I saw them everywhere today.
Flying across the road in several places, around our pond and in the wet
meadow.
Hi,
This is probably off the mark for this list serve. It's a advanced version
of our AZ rare bird alert phone message. I started birding in '82 in
Tucson, AZ and had 2 great friends who chased birds all over the state.
Meeting at 330am and driving 150 miles to the Chihuahua mountains, birding
all day, and getting home after dark was a common event. Looking for
weekend birders to get together explore NH's birds. I don't know the great
areas in the state.
This afternoon I did some birding around the Connecticut River in Charlestown and despite there being no spring in sight the birds are still moving. The area is still rich in waterbirds and other migrants are starting to file in. The following are the highlights from today:
CT River opposite Herrick’s Cove:
While remaining relatively stationary, I came across 33 species in this one small area. Lots of ducks and FOY birds.
Waterfowl:
Canada Goose 4
Wood Duck 4
American Black Duck 6
Green-winged Teal ~40
Ring-necked Duck 24
Greater Scaup 12
Lesser Scaup 4
Bufflehead 26
Common Goldeneye 8
Hooded Merganser 1
Common Merganser 6
Common Loon 1
A quick stop at Woodmont Orchard yielded 7 American Kestrels and 4 Wilson's
Snipe. Kestrels are common at this location during migration so I often
overlook them so I was surprised when I reviewed the lazy pictures I took
of one bird that was close that the bird was banded.
I'm still researching what information the bands provide, best I can tell
HWI has been banding AMKE with color bands I'll report this sighting using
there website for starters.
So keep an eye out for banded birds, they're banded for a reason and
resightings provide valuable data!
The Wheater was spotted at 2 pm in the field on the right about half way back just where the grass stops and cutting starts. Quite actively feeding. Spotted by Keven Couture.
On Sunday, April 15, 2018 at 10:58:26 AM UTC-4, Steve Mirick wrote: > > Leo Mckillop reports the Wheatear again a few hundred feet from where it > was last seen right as you enter the field. > > Steve Mirick > Bradford MA > > >
After being out of state for the last two weeks (and hearing reports of less than ideal April weather - plus experiencing it Sun-Mon!), I finally got out on one of my weekly bird walks this morning. A friend and I walked around The Island from 7-9, and in the process tallied 38 species of birds. Highlights included:
Broad-winged Hawk
about a dozen Eastern Phoebes (my numbers are at home, hence the vagueness for some counts!)
multiple singing Ruby-crowned Kinglets
4-5 Golden-crowned Kinglets
2 Hermit Thrushes
1 Purple Finch (singing)
2 Chipping Sparrows
1 Fox Sparrow (singing)
dozens of Song Sparrows
3 Brown-headed Cowbirds
3 Pine Warblers
3 (Yellow) Palm Warblers
1 Yellow-rumped Warbler
Good to see spring finally arrive, and looking forward to the Penacook Survey this weekend!
Further increases in songbirds this morning. Now at least 50 eastern palm warblers (no westerns yet), about 15 r-c kinglets (singing all over), 20 or so myrtles. Also present was a single long-tailed duck (the second this spring). Hermit thrushes were widespread with about 10 birds. There seems to have been a large fallout of hermits in the last couple of days with up to 20 in my yard in Dummerston (only a couple of acres). The north winds seem to be bottling the small birds up and preventing them heading further north.
In the wet meadow on the Science Center property along Rt. 113.
American Robin -- 50+ Hermit Thrush -- 2 Rusty Blackbird -- 2 -- male and female in breeding plumage Cowbird -- 3 Flicker -- 1
Having not seen a Hermit Thrush all spring I saw them everywhere today. Flying across the road in several places, around our pond and in the wet meadow.
Date: 4/17/18 6:31 pm From: Chris Johnson <birdnerd2...> Subject: [NHBirds] Birding buddies
Hi, This is probably off the mark for this list serve. It's a advanced version of our AZ rare bird alert phone message. I started birding in '82 in Tucson, AZ and had 2 great friends who chased birds all over the state. Meeting at 330am and driving 150 miles to the Chihuahua mountains, birding all day, and getting home after dark was a common event. Looking for weekend birders to get together explore NH's birds. I don't know the great areas in the state.
Date: 4/17/18 5:06 pm From: <jacksonwrxt89...> Subject: [NHBirds] CT River Birding: RT Loon & more
This afternoon I did some birding around the Connecticut River in Charlestown and despite there being no spring in sight the birds are still moving. The area is still rich in waterbirds and other migrants are starting to file in. The following are the highlights from today:
Great Meadows:
Blue-winged Teal 1 drake
Green-winged Teal INTERGRADE!: A nice treat amongst the Teal there. Managed a poor documentation shot.
https://flic.kr/p/26gF9BZ
CT River opposite Herrick’s Cove:
While remaining relatively stationary, I came across 33 species in this one small area. Lots of ducks and FOY birds.
Waterfowl:
Canada Goose 4
Wood Duck 4
American Black Duck 6
Green-winged Teal ~40
Ring-necked Duck 24
Greater Scaup 12
Lesser Scaup 4
Bufflehead 26
Common Goldeneye 8
Hooded Merganser 1
Common Merganser 6
Common Loon 1
Other arrivals and notables
Bald Eagle 4 Three juveniles, one adult
BONAPARTE’S GULL 1
https://flic.kr/p/GBJ1qH Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Hermit Thrush 1
Palm Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
Field Sparrow 1
Charlestown WTP:
RED-THROATED LOON 1 A nice find in the otherwise almost lifeless stretch of the river outside the plant. It was quite far away but still managed some poor documentation shots.
https://flic.kr/p/26d5msw https://flic.kr/p/26d5mrj Double-crested Cormorant 1 FOY
VESPER SPARROW 1 Only my second ever in the county.
https://flic.kr/p/26d5mqY
Date: 4/17/18 4:16 pm From: Christopher McPherson <cmcpherson687...> Subject: [NHBirds] Banded American Kestrel, Woodmont Orchard
A quick stop at Woodmont Orchard yielded 7 American Kestrels and 4 Wilson's Snipe. Kestrels are common at this location during migration so I often overlook them so I was surprised when I reviewed the lazy pictures I took of one bird that was close that the bird was banded.
I'm still researching what information the bands provide, best I can tell HWI has been banding AMKE with color bands I'll report this sighting using there website for starters.
So keep an eye out for banded birds, they're banded for a reason and resightings provide valuable data!
Date: 4/17/18 7:35 am From: Fran Keenan <fkeenanhome...> Subject: [NHBirds] Loons a plenty Massabesic
Stopped at Lake Massabesic, Front Park en route to work around 9:45 AM and saw a record (for me) 10 common loons, all close to shore. They began to move out into the lake before I left.
Only 4 bonapartes gulls at Hinsdale this morning, but there were 50 d-c cormorants, 12 greater scaup, 16 buffleheads, 42 eastern palm warblers, and a dozen myrtles.
Well, the car passed its inspection, so off to the coast I went for some storm birding. Not sure how I missed Steve but ran into Leo a few times. Man, I looked like a drowned rat when I got home (ran out to retrieve a mylar balloon before it got swept into the sea).
Brant-2
Bonaparte's Gull-7, resting on Hampton Beach SP
Laughing Gull, 3 (2 at Town Line cove; 1 with other gulls behind Ray's Seafood)
Ring-billed Gull-X
Herring Gull-X
Lesser Black-backed Gull-15 (3 at Hampton Beach; 3, Little River Saltmarsh, 4 on lawns of "mansion mile" in North Hampton, 2, Townline cove; and 3, behind Ray's Seafoood)
Great Black-backed Gull-X
Date: 4/16/18 4:50 pm From: Mark Suomala <mrsuomala...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, April 16, 2018
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, April 16th,
2018.
A NORTHERN WHEATEAR was reported from Moore Fields on Route 155A in Durham
on April 4th, and was relocated in fields along the Oyster River Forest in
Durham on the 14th and 15th. To look for the bird, park at the trailhead
near the Lee town line on Packers Falls Road, walk north about one-half
mile, and search the surrounding fields.
A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen in Effingham on April 10th, and
possibly the same individual was seen at Sherman’s Farm in East Conway on
the 11th.
A TUNDRA SWAN was seen on Newfound Lake on April 9th and 11th but has not
been relocated.
2 SANDHILL CRANES were seen in fields along Ledge Farm Road near Route 156
in Nottingham on April 12th.
2 BLACK VULTURES were seen in Nashua on April 10th, and 2 were seen in
Portsmouth on the 13th.
A SNOWY OWL was seen near Rye Harbor State Park on April 14th, and 1 was
seen in Portsmouth on the 11th.
A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues to be seen near 31 Goddard Road in Rindge
and was last reported on April 13th.
24 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS and 9 LAUGHING GULLS were tallied on the coast
on April 16th.
72 BONAPARTE’S GULLS and a SURF SCOTER were seen on Spofford Lake in
Chesterfield on April 15th.
A male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was seen on the Androscoggin River in Errol on
April 11th.
A male BLUE-WINGED TEAL was seen in North Hampton on April 10th.
3 RED-NECKED GREBES, a LONG-TAILED DUCK, and a pair of BUFFLEHEADS were seen
on Turtle Pond in Concord on April 12th.
3 RED-NECKED GREBES, 3 GREATER SCAUP, and a FISH CROW were reported from the
Connecticut River in Hinsdale, and 7 RED-NECKED GREBES, 3 GREATER SCAUP, and
a RED-BREASTED MERGANSER were seen at Kilowatt South Park on the Connecticut
River, all on April 12th. 6 BUFFLEHEADS, 22 GREATER SCAUP, and a GADWALL
were seen here on the 14th, and a LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen here on the
15th. A pair of NORTHERN PINTAILS was seen on the Connecticut River in
Hanover on the 13th.
20 BRANT were seen in Rye Harbor on April 16th.
A GLOSSY IBIS was seen on Wetherby Road in Charlestown on April 15th, and a
SNOWY EGRET was seen in Rye on April 10th.
A PIPING PLOVER was seen at Hampton Beach State Park, and 19 PURPLE
SANDPIPERS were seen along the coast, all on April 14th.
3 RED CROSSBILLS were reported from Hillsborough on April 10th, and 1 was
reported from Cornish on the 13th.
3 FISH CROWS were reported from the coast on April 14th.
Early returning migrants reported during the past week included
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET,
BLUE-HEADED VIREO, BARN SWALLOW, EASTERN KINGBIRD, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER,
BROWN THRASHER, GRAY CATBIRD, FIELD SPARROW, VESPER SPARROW, EASTERN
MEADOWLARK, and EASTERN TOWHEE.
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 at:
<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
Date: 4/16/18 3:47 pm From: Stephen Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [NHBirds] Lesser Black-backed Gull FALLOUT on NH coast
Inspired by reports of a flock of 7 Lesser Black-backed Gulls yesterday
and Leo's report of Laughing Gulls on the coast this morning, I left
work after lunch and headed to the coast this afternoon during the
height of the coastal storm that has been hitting the coast. Off and on
heavy and light rain with a few torrential downpours and strong winds
out of the ENE at about 30 knots. "Downed" flocks of gulls were
gathered at random spots on the seacoast and with them, lots of Lesser
Black-backed Gulls. I covered the coast completely from Seabrook north
to Portsmouth.
Bonaparte's Gull 2 Only two birds. Both 1st cycle birds at Hampton
Beach SP.
LAUGHING GULL 9 Adult birds in breeding plumage. 4 together in
Little River salt marsh. 4 distinctly different birds in Philbrick
Marsh, and 1 further north in Rye.
Ring-billed Gull X Not a lot.
Herring Gull X
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL 24 21 adults, 1 3rd cycle, 2 2nd cycle.
Huge fallout caused by heavy rains and winds. I believe this represents
a new record high count for the State. Birds as follows: 1 on athletic
fields of Winnicunnet High School in Hampton, 3 at Hampton Beach SP, 3
in Little River Saltmarsh, 6 together on lawns of mansions in North
Hampton, 2 in townline cove, 4 in Philbrick Marsh, 3 in marsh opposite
Rye Harbor, 1 in pannes south of Odiorne, and 1 on flats at Wooden
Bridge. I don't believe I double-counted any birds, but it was
difficult to count birds due to winds and rain, and there was some
movement of birds. Flocks of gulls in Hampton salt marsh, townline
cove, and some of Rye salt marshes could not be scanned adequately due
to rain, and may have held more birds. All birds consistent with graellsii.
Great Black-backed Gull X
Date: 4/16/18 9:04 am From: Leo McKillop <weomck...> Subject: [NHBirds] Laughing Gulls - Rye
This morning I had 3 Laughing gulls in the marsh on east side of 1A just south of Rye Harbor, between Harbor and Locke Rd. Also had 1 Laughing gull in the marsh just south of Petey's on west side of 1A. Other notable sightings were 20 Brant in Rye harbor (that didn't stay long) and half a dozen lesser black-back gulls scattered along the coast.
Date: 4/15/18 7:20 pm From: eric masterson <erictheirish...> Subject: [NHBirds] big movement of bonaparte's gull
I had 72 Bonaparte's Gulls on Spofford this afternoon, smashing my previous high count away from the coast. Lake Onota in Western MA had 130 plus, including at least one little gull (report from western Mass Facebook). Worth getting out to check lakes tomorrow as it is unlikely anything will leave overnight.
MAybe I've just missed this in past years or maybe today's weather influenced behavior but to my delight today I watched at least 5, possibly more, Hermit Thrushes forage in my holly bushes right outside the window.
Date: 4/15/18 10:41 am From: silvia rano <silvia.ranos...> Subject: [NHBirds] Fwd: Us congress hearing of maan alsaan Money laundry قضية الكونغجرس لغسيل الأموال للمليادير معن الصانع
YouTube videos of
U.S. Congress money laundering hearing
of
Saudi Billionaire " Maan Al sanea"
with *bank of America*
and The owner of Saad Hospital and Schools
in the Eastern Province in *Saudi Arabia*
and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Awal Bank in *Bahrain*
Date: 4/15/18 9:12 am From: Aaronian, Richard S. <raaronian...> Subject: [NHBirds] Exeter Merlin’s
Dale Atkins called to report 2 Merlin sitting in a tree by her house on Union St. Went over to confirm. Most likely the same pair reported by Jim Nealon a few days ago on Gill St.
Date: 4/15/18 4:40 am From: Ned Beecher <ned.beecher...> Subject: [NHBirds] Tamworth CC Bird Walks 2018
Happy Spring, Bird Friends,
The Tamworth Conservation Commission (TCC) offers Wednesday morning spring bird walks. Anyone interested in birds is welcome. Meet at 7:00 am at the Tamworth Town House parking area at the west end of Tamworth Village. The group drives and walks to excellent birding spots in and around Tamworth and returns by 9:15 (but people can peel off earlier). Bring binoculars if you have them (but we have an extra or two). Dress for the weather. Rain or shine, but not in a deluge. Over the 5 weeks, we'll see (or at least hear) ~80 species & (re)learn many birds' songs. Contact: <ned.beecher...> ------
Date: 4/14/18 5:35 pm From: Rebecca Suomala <rsuomala2...> Subject: [NHBirds] A few more coast highlights
Zeke Cornell and I birded the NH coast today with a foray to see the Peregrine Falcon in Manchester and the Northern Wheatear. Thanks to Kurk Dorsey for staying on the bird until others arrived. Before we even left Zeke's house in Bow we had a Barred Owl, a Louisiana Waterthrush, a Northern Harrier and an influx of Swamp Sparrows and phoebes. Here are a few highlights not mentioned by Steve.
Piping Plover 1 at Hampton Beach State Park by the jetty
Greater Yellowlegs 8 behind Little Jack's, Hampton
Belted Kingfisher 2 at Meadow Pond, Hampton
Snowy Egret 8 at the marsh opposite Wallis Sands State Beach, Rye
Virginia Rail 3 at the marsh off Borthwick Ave., Portsmouth
Eastern Meadlowlark 4 at Pease from McIntyre Rd.
Moore fields, Rt. 155A, Durham
Eastern Meadowlark 1
American Kestrel 8
Northern Harrier 1
Northern Flicker 2 of the 12 that we heard were seen there earlier in the day by Mark and Dottie
Oyster River Forest, Durham - in addition to the wheatear, there was some nice bird activity
Date: 4/14/18 5:23 pm From: Stephen Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [NHBirds] More on Northern Wheatear with maps
The relocation of the Northern Wheatear by Kurk Dorsey today was really
an amazing find. This field is part of the Oyster River Forest trail
system owned by the town of Durham and NOT part of the Moore Fields
complex of agricultural fields, but it is actually very close. The
habitat is brushy pasture fields (managed for New England
Cottontail).....not what I would expect for a Wheatear, but it seems
that most of New Hampshire's Wheatears have shown up in very bizarre
locations!
In any event, the bird was first found by Mike Thompson on April 4th at
the Moore Fields. So the bird has been in the area for 10 days! So it
may very well stay longer in any of these fields. But good luck to
anyone who searches. Despite 8 people on the bird this morning, it
seems to have vanished in thin air while watching the bird. And (to the
best of my knowledge) was not seen again for the remainder of the day.
Not an easy bird to find! Thanks to Kurk for staying on the bird for
over an hour as birders finally showed up.
Of course I forgot my nice camera today! But I managed a decent
digiscope photo:
Continued cold has been the norm lately, but the warm weather on Friday
may have been the impetus for a nice coastal movement of mid-April
migrants along the coast today. Despite the light N to NE winds this
morning and temperatures in the mid-40's all day, birds appeared to be
moving. Lots of typical mid-April migrants including big numbers of
Hermit Thrush, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Northern
Flickers, Dark-eyed Juncos and a few species of Sparrows.
Green-winged Teal 4
Greater Scaup 2 in Hampton harbor
Wild Turkey 8 Male in full display with 7 females IN MIDDLE OF
SEABROOK SALT MARSH.
Double-crested Cormorant 46 MIGRATING
Great Egret 7
Snowy Egret 1 in Hampton Salt marsh (FOY)
Osprey 5
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Piping Plover 1 off Seabrook Beach (FOY)
Dunlin 15
Purple Sandpiper 19
Greater Yellowlegs 12
Gulls - Slow trickle of MIGRATING gulls (Herring and Ring-billed) all day
Snowy Owl 1 lingering bird near Rye Harbor State Park
Belted Kingfisher 2
Northern Flicker 12
American Kestrel 2 MIGRATING early in morning.
Merlin 2 both at Odiorne
Eastern Phoebe 11
Fish Crow 3
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 1 off Cross Beach Road
Tree Swallow 14 MIGRATING early in morning
Brown Creeper 1 at Odiorne
Winter Wren 2. Both at Odiorne. One singing!
Golden-crowned Kinglet 24. About 18 at Odiorne.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 19. About 15 at Odiorne.
Hermit Thrush 22. Big fallout of Hermit Thrushes. Ten at Odiorne.
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW 1 at Great Boar's Head. Actually my LATEST
spring record for NH!
Chipping Sparrow 6. Most at Odiorne. First of spring.
Field Sparrow 2 in Hampton area. First of spring.
Dark-eyed Junco 71. Nice number of juncos for date.
White-throated Sparrow 8
Savannah Sparrow 16
Swamp Sparrow 8. Scattered locations.
Eastern Towhee 1 at Odiorne.
Went to Pawtuckaway this morning to check the hepatica on North Mountain (just starting to bloom), and birds of note included 3 yellow-bellied sapsuckers, four wood ducks (three males, one female), phoebe and a pine warbler. Quiet morning in advance of more weather tomorrow. -- Kim Billings
Date: 4/14/18 2:26 pm From: Roger Frieden <roger...> Subject: [NHBirds] Palm Warblers in Nottingham
We arrived home around 5:00 after spending the afternoon on the coast; the scenic way home from Boston. The first thing we did was look out into the yard, and in flew a flock of warblers! There were at least 10 Palm Warblers, and 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers! What a nice welcome home.
Date: 4/14/18 11:48 am From: Dorsey, Kurk <Kurk.Dorsey...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Northern Wheatear relocated in Durham
The funny thing is that I went to Oyster River Forest (Packers Falls Road in Durham near the Lee town line) hoping to hear a Louisiana Waterthrush, and I really wanted to go at dawn but got invited to breakfast with the in-laws. So by dumb luck, which defines most of my birding, I happened to step out of the woods into the large field just as the wheatear walked across my path. 3 minutes either way and I probably would have missed it, since it spent almost no time near the trails. I observed the bird from 11:15 or so until I left at 12:15 or so with several birders on the bird. During that time, it mostly fed inconspicuously on the ground, some times getting within 10 feet of me (I must look sort of like whatever wheatears eat), but on a couple of occasions it flew up into trees as high as 25 feet off the ground or into the shrubs near the creek. I lost it 3 times, but it always came back to some open spot--more dumb luck. It moved in a huge U-shape around the field as I observed it. Good luck to others, and huge thanks to Michael Thompson for finding it in the first place last week, so I didn't faint when I had to call Steve about a wheatear.
Other birds around
4 Osprey
Kestrel (I just assumed American, but maybe.....)
Pileated, Hairy, Flicker
Blue-headed Vireo
several Pine and Palm Warblers
GCKinglet
(no waterthrushes....)
No Corn Buntings, Ricebirds, or Sorghum Suckers, but maybe I wasn't imaginative enough.
Kurk Dorsey
Durham
________________________________________
From: <nhbirds...> <nhbirds...> on behalf of Steve Mirick <smirick...>
Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2018 11:30 AM
To: NHBirds
Subject: [NHBirds] Northern Wheatear relocated in Durham
Caution - External Email;;;
********************************************************************************************************************************************
Northern Wheatear relocated by Kurk Dorsey at Oyster River forest. Park at
trail head near intersection of Mill Road and Packers Falls Road and walk.
5 miles in to open fields. Bird is in fields toward back near stream.
Date: 4/14/18 8:30 am From: Steve Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [NHBirds] Northern Wheatear relocated in Durham
Northern Wheatear relocated by Kurk Dorsey at Oyster River forest. Park at trail head near intersection of Mill Road and Packers Falls Road and walk. 5 miles in to open fields. Bird is in fields toward back near stream.
Date: 4/14/18 4:23 am From: Suzanne Smith <zanne719...> Subject: [NHBirds] Holderness marsh
Yesterday am at Holderness marsh
FOY Chipping sparrow FOY Savannah sparrow A chorus of song sparrows Many Northern flickers Golden crowned kinglets -- at least 4 Common mergansers Wood duck pair 1 Ring-necked duck
Hi again so soon, A couple of comments on the post and on here have informed me it's a spring peeper. That was definitely unexpected! I've never heard one sound like that. The second recording I can see, but the first, I would have never guessed. Well, mystery solved, and quickly!Thanks!-Molly Jacobson
On Friday, April 13, 2018 11:36 PM, Molly Jacobson <molly.j711...> wrote:
Hi Jon,I can't be sure they're birds, but they didn't seem like frogs while I was there? I'm familiar with gray treefrogs and spring peepers from my own backyard. At the time I was getting a distinctly avian impression from them, especially the first recording that I tracked down to a tree. But I can't be sure!-Molly
On Friday, April 13, 2018 11:04 PM, Jon Woolf <jsw...> wrote:
Hi Molly,
Are you sure these were bird calls? I think they're somethingelse. I could easily be wrong; it's just that in my experience,steady one- or two-note calls that keep up without changing for manyseconds are usually not a bird. Bird songs and calls always havebreaks in them. Your recordings sound to me like frogs - springpeepers to be exact.
They were quite loud, and were coming from different sides of the marsh.I tracked one down to a tall pine on the forest's edge, but for the lifeof me could not find what was making the noise. I eventually had to giveup, but maybe someone has an idea of who it belongs to. I give a bettersummary of the details on the actual posts.
Thanks for any input!
-Molly Jacobson
Merrimack
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Hi all,I was at Beaver Brook great meadow (Hollis) today and heard some bird calls that are puzzling me. I was able to record them and have uploaded them as mystery calls on xeno canto:https://www.xeno-canto.org/410736
https://www.xeno-canto.org/410737
They were quite loud, and were coming from different sides of the marsh. I tracked one down to a tall pine on the forest's edge, but for the life of me could not find what was making the noise. I eventually had to give up, but maybe someone has an idea of who it belongs to. I give a better summary of the details on the actual posts.
Thanks for any input!-Molly JacobsonMerrimack
Zeke Cornell and I birded at Horseshoe Pond and NH Audubon's McLane Center before work this morning. It was foggy at Horseshoe with poor visibility although we did find the Pied-billed Grebe.
NH Audubon was busy with lots of newly-arrived sparrows - Savannah Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows, and a couple of Field Sparrows with a load of juncos. Pine Warblers were singing so we had all three species of similar trillers going at once.
There were also 2 Palm Warblers and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Date: 4/13/18 2:35 pm From: Sylvia Miskoe <sylviasmiskoe...> Subject: [NHBirds] spring in the Peaceable Kingdom
2 red tails have been occasionally seen in the past week 2 turkeys in the back field Today, for the first time, I heard the peepers singing very loudly
I spent some time out birding in this wonderful spring weather this morning. Got a lot of good spring birds, including a couple of very nice first-of-years:
At Clair's Landing in Auburn, there were several Ring-necked Ducks and a beautiful pair of Wood Ducks. From several places around the lake, I was able to watch Common Loons on the water in the distance. On Priscilla Lane off Bypass 28, in Auburn, I got a Northern Flicker (yellow-shafted version).
At Massabesic Audubon Center, there were swarms of Tree Swallows, several Bluebirds, some Song Sparrows, Goldfinches that were actually all or mostly gold, and a couple of zippy little brown birds I never got a clear look at. I also encountered another birder, who had seen a warbler of some kind. She showed me a couple of pictures, and I'm pretty sure it was a CAPE MAY WARBLER.
There was a Chipping Sparrow at my backyard feeders in Manchester this afternoon.
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: 4/13/18 12:46 pm From: 'Blake Allison' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Many Happy Returns
My wife and I are spending our first spring in our new residence on Lyme's Acorn Hill Road. I anxiously have been wondering with what bird species will be sharing our new home. The habitat is quite different than that which we had at our Whipple Hill property. There we had perhaps six acres of fields and a small fire pond surrounded by woods sporting a mix of coniferous (mostly white pine and hemlock) and deciduous (maple, birch, poplar and oak). The new place is surrounded by open fields. Our relatively few trees are strung along the old stone wall behind the house. The nearest water source is Pout Pond which is about a mile away.
At Whipple Hill, I would by now be hearing our annually resident song sparrow. I wondered whether we now would have a song sparrow like we did before? Turns out we have three to date. Phoebes? I today came home from a morning of birding and was greeted by a first of season, tail-bobbing bird sitting on a utility wire next to the garage. Hooray!
Next up? Grassland birds and warblers?
Blake Allison
Lyme, NH 03768-3400
Date: 4/13/18 12:29 pm From: 'Blake Allison' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] "Pompy" Oxbow Drama Friday Afternoon
I was making my way north along US Route 5 around 12:30 p.m. When passing the oxbow area Chris Rimmer described earlier today, I slowed and observed a large number of waterfowl, mostly common mergansers and Canada geese, out on the water between the railroad causeway and the oxbow's riverside embankment.
Parking on the shoulder, I walked a few yards farther north trying to get a less obstructed view. Through the brush, I could see the gulls described by Chris in a posting earlier in the day. Suddenly, the gulls, I counted 19, rose skyward in a swirling mass. I thought, what spooked them? A flash of movement low across the impoundment made me think raptor. Sure enough, moments later, an adult bald eagle made another pass over the assembled waterfowl. I don't know whether it caught anything. I was not able to relocate it.
About five minutes later, the gulls settled back on the water and relative tranquility returned. Interestingly, the geese and mergansers did not take flight during the brief time when the eagle appeared and attacked.
Date: 4/13/18 6:04 am From: Stephanie Parkinson <sparkinson...> Subject: [NHBirds] Cap. Chpt. FT: WOODCOCK WALK (4/23)
Field Trip: Woodcock Walk
Date: Monday, April 23, 7:30 PM
Join Pam Hunt for this popular spring trip to see and hear the mating display of the American Woodcock. If we're lucky, maybe we'll hear an owl as well. Meet at the McLane Center. Contact: Pam Hunt at <biodiva...><mailto:<biodiva...> or 753-9137.
SULLOWAY & HOLLIS, P.L.L.C.: This message is a PRIVATE communication which may contain attorney / client privileged material. If you are not the intended recipient, please do not read, copy, use, or disclose to others. If you have received this message in error, please reply to sender and delete this message from your system. Thank you.
Date: 4/12/18 3:15 pm From: Suzanne Smith <zanne719...> Subject: [NHBirds] tundra swan today - no
After a couple reports of the no show swan earlier today, I spent about 2 hours between 3-5 at the beach and cruising the north end of the lake. No tundra swan.
This pond -wetland system is being seriously disturbed by the Town of Milford's Public Works Dept-gravel removal, deforestation, etc. It is a shame as it is a very important habitat for many herons-Green and Great Blue, swallows, waterfowl, and many other songbirds. I have seen more than 15 Green Herons here in late summer and one of the wetlands they used to frequent is now surrounded by massive gravel and sand mounds.
Took a walk around Heron Pond and associated wetlands. This pond is loaded with Wood Ducks - I scared up 32 Wood Ducks.
I also saw the following:
8 Great Blue Heron nests and 10 Great Blue Herons 25 Common Grackles 12 Red-winged Blackbirds 2 Hooded Mergansers 2 Common Mergansers 2 Mallards 35 Tree Swallows 8 Northern Rough-winged Swallows 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Brown Creeper
This morning at Hinsdale Setbacks: 3 red-necked grebes, 1 field sparrow, 1 northern rough-winged swallow, 1 tree sparrow. Also, lots of phoebes, tree swallows and 3 greater scaup.
Date: 4/12/18 9:30 am From: 'Ann' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Tundra Swan any reports?
Was there about 11:45. No swan.
Sent from my iPhone
> On Apr 12, 2018, at 10:27 AM, Bob Crowley <crbob...> wrote: > > Are there any reports of the Tundra Swan today, present or not. > > Thank You > > Bob Crowley > Chatham, 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+<unsubscribe...> > To post to this group, send email to <nhbirds...> > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/nhbirds. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
Date: 4/12/18 5:36 am From: Gail Coffey <gcoffeywriter...> Subject: [NHBirds] FOY Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in Wilton
This morning our woods resounded with the drumming of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers for the first time this spring. They have arrived. Last year, they were here on April 10th.
I thought I heard the Louisiana Waterthrush that arrives around this time each year, but it was too brief a sound to confirm.
Tom McShane provided these details on the location of the Tundra Swan. He was watching it from Hebron town beach which is at the end of Lakeshore Dr. (P). This is a private road normally reserved for Hebron town residents but there are few people there out of season. Coming from Rt. 3A, Lakeshore Dr. is just before the Grey Rocks Conservation Area on the left.
Date: 4/11/18 9:45 am From: Bob Crowley <crbob...> Subject: [NHBirds] White-fronted Goose, East Conway, NH
The White-fronted Goose found last evening by David Emmett was located this morning by Joe Scott at Sherman's Farm, East Conway in among the Canada Geese. It is there now.
Date: 4/11/18 8:30 am From: 'Nancy' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Tree swallow Nashua
A beautiful tree swallow has been checking out my blue bird house this morning. Last year they nested in it. I do not see any over the Nashua River though.
Date: 4/11/18 4:40 am From: Dana Duxbury-Fox <danafox...> Subject: [NHBirds] Crow Patarol Update
For those of you that have been tracking the Greater Lawrence Winter Crow Roost, there are still crows staging and roosting in Lawrence.
For the past week or so they have been staging on the North side of the Merrimack River in Lawrence mainly along Water Street. At the corner of Ames and Water Streets is an old brick building recently adorned with a painted white sign. With Crows standing on the ground in front of the message, it makes for a great picture. They seem to roost behind the Riverside Church and the U shape yellow two story apartment building to the east.
There are now 1,600 - 2000 crows. This includes a flock of about 30 Fish Crows. This is a far cry from the over 16,000 crows earlier in the winter.
I only wish some of these crows were tagged so I knew where they went in the day and where they eventually nest - if they are old enough to breed. Where have all the other crows gone? How many of them were migrants from the north? Where did they all go in the day? Questions we may begin to get answers to next year if we are successful in getting a project funded to track them.
Date: 4/10/18 5:55 pm From: Aaronian, Richard S. <raaronian...> Subject: [NHBirds] N. Hampton
Came across the following this morning with my Ornithology class. We were on Rt 111 in N. Hampton(?) just before crossing over Rt. 95. On the north side of the road is a house with some wet areas and we saw:
Wood Duck pair
Green-winged Teal 4 (1 drake, 3 hens)
Blue-w Teal (1 drake)
And the big surprise - 8 Wilson’s Snipe which flew in!
Coast - students saw 2 Red-tailed Hawks copulating ( N. Hampton marsh)
Seemed like spring was going to be here, but after a business apt, I headed out to see what might be around. A bit raw in the mid 30's but birds singing. Highlights. : Woodmont. 4 eastern meadowlark! I stirred one up in the lower fields as I crossed the path in snow showers, and seconds later 3 more. Most I've seen in NH. 2 American Kestrel in upper fields Nashua: 2 black vultures along route 3 (literally)! Thanks to Katrina for finding them. Off to Texas/Corpus Christi in am!
Date: 4/10/18 12:38 pm From: Robert Schongalla <robert.schongalla...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] ***NH Audubon Seacoast Chapter Wednesday April 11, 2018 Program: Hawk Watching in New Hampshire-What the Numbers Tell Us***
Hi Bethany and Heather,
Here are the details about a program that will take place tomorrow night at Odiorne Point State Park. I don’t know that I would go by myself, but if either Selim or Joshua wanted to go, or either of you or Nedim or Stan, I would go with you.
My guess is that being a school night it might be too late, especially for Joshie. Hoeever, we could also set a time to leave (or slip out if the talk goes on too long). I think it would be over by 8:30 pm.
I’ll give you a call to see if there’s any interest.
Love, Robert
> On Apr 8, 2018, at 10:03 PM, bikenbird via NHBirds <nhbirds...> wrote:
>
> New Hampshire Audubon Seacoast Chapter
>
> Wednesday April 11, 2018 7:30 pm Program: Hawk Watching in New Hampshire-What the Numbers Tell Us
>
>
>
> NH Audubon's Phil Brown, Director of Land Management and Raptor Observatory Coordinator, will discuss the history of hawk watching in NH, the role it plays in monitoring raptor populations at NH Audubon's raptor observatories, and the future prospects of a Seacoast area hawk watch. Phil's talk is timed close to peak spring migration for several species and the focus on raptor identification, complete with inspiring photography, will provide tips and strategies for enjoying raptors more and contributing important data to better protect them.
>
> All are welcome to attend our Wednesday April 11, 2018 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: http://goo.gl/maps/mfnQT <http://goo.gl/maps/mfnQT> ) . Refreshments are at 7:00 PM. Meetings begin at 7:30 PM. Entrance doors will be locked at 7:45 PM. For more information see our web site at http://www.seacoastchapter.org/programs <http://www.seacoastchapter.org/programs> . Cancellations will be announced on http://www.seacoastchapter.org/programs <http://www.seacoastchapter.org/programs> and this Google group.
>
> Make any donation to the Seacoast Chapter in the tin on the food table and pick up a NH Audubon Seacoast Chapter sticker as a thank you!
>
> Al Stewart, Jr.
>
> --
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Date: 4/10/18 11:49 am From: 'Phil Brown' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] upcoming birding tours and workshops
Birders,
I’dlike to highlight the following local birding opportunities I’ll beleading this spring and early summer:
Birdwatching Retreat Weekend atPurity Spring Resort – June 22-24, 2018
The weekend will focus on theamazing array of birds around Purity Spring Resort and other well-known andlittle-known locations around the Mount Washington Valley. Upwards of 100species of birds are possible, including some rare local breeders. This package birding weekend isnon-birding spouse-friendly and includes lodging, guide costs, presentations,Friday dinner through Sunday lunch, and use of resort amenities.
Connecticut Lakes of Northern NewHampshire – August 24-28, 2018
Five days of leisure AND birding in Pittsburg, NH andsurrounding locations in search of boreal birds, early migrants, and wild naturalplaces. Lodging at the scenic Glen Lodge on First Connecticut Lake. Onlya few spaces remain.
Please email me at <pbrownnature...> more details.
Birding by Ear field workshop withthe Harris Center – Thursday mornings, April 26 – May 24
Thisfive-week, field-based workshop explores a diversity of conserved habitats withinthe Monadnock Region’s ‘Supersanctuary’. Perfect for both beginners and thoselooking to apply their growing auditory birding skills in places full ofbirdsong.
NH Audubon received a photo of a Greater White-fronted Goose, taken today at a small pond behind a residence in Effingham. It is with a flock of Canada Geese and the geese only spend a few hours of the day there because the pond is frozen. We will hopefully have the homeowners' contact information to share if someone wants to visit. In the meantime, birders may want to check other area water bodies and fields where the geese may be feeding when they are not at this pond.
Becky Suomala
New Hampshire Bird Records
www.nhbirdrecords.org
Date: 4/10/18 3:12 am From: Alfred Maley <alfredmaley...> Subject: [NHBirds] Birding Notes From Old Iberia: The Odd Case of the Lesser Kestrel
Kestrels are nearly worldwide in occurrence, with the American Kestrel to
be found widely in both North and South America, and the (Common) Kestrel
found all over Europe and into Asia. The Kestrel of Europe looks and acts
much as its American cousin, and eats similar prey items. But there is
another bird, the Lesser Kestrel, that despite its VERY similar appearance
to the Kestrel, has vastly different breeding and migration habits.
While the Kestrel will retreat from northern Europe in winter, the Lesser
Kestrel deserts Europe almost entirely in winter. Its range is restricted
to southern Europe to begin with and its principal food (grasshoppers) are
mighty scarce in the winter time. But in nearby Los Barrios and in Tarifa
as well, a small number of Lesser Kestrels manage to withstand the "rigors"
of winter and are resident year round.
The first interesting difference between the two kestrels is that the
Lesser Kestrel migrates in single-species flocks. It is not uncommon to
encounter a field full of hunting Lesser Kestrels early in the morning,
looking for breakfast before they take off for the day on their way
north.What these groups of 20-30 birds represents is unknown, but it is
likely related to the second interesting difference: the Lesser Kestrel is
a communal nester.
Communal nesting may have evolved in favorable cliff nesting sites, with
lots of convenient crevices. But it has mostly switched to nesting in
buildings, often in cathedrals which had niches left over as part of the
building process. Today they are also found in other types of old
buildings, wherever there are numerous under-roof crevices in close
proximity. The smallish cathedral in Los Barrios is a stakeout for this
species, not only because of its niches, but also because the local
naturalists have taken to providing nest boxes specifically for them. There
are currently about 50 pairs of Lesser Kestrels using the boxes in Los
Barrios, on the cathedral and on the rooftops of several apartment
buildings as well. This is a good thing since church owners actively
discourage pigeons and in the process tend to exclude the kestrels.
The close proximity of the nesting sites to humans has made them
particularly easy to observe, which is convenient because one of their best
field marks is their white toenails! Also, you can focus your binoculars on
the church spires and the locals will simply assume you are admiring the
architecture close-up.
In other news Linda photographed a wintering Short-eared Owl in the pasture
by the house on Sunday, the fifth owl species for our 1000 acre “yard”. It
was odd to see this species against a green background. Hopefully there
will be some green somewhere when we get back to Hampstead in ten days time.
It could be a king pigeon. We have one. It was a rescue. They are bred for food and shows. The show pigeon is smaller. I think that's what we have based on photos. She likely escaped from a hunting preserve near Cornish, we are told.
Blake
On Monday, April 9, 2018 at 1:36:57 PM UTC-4, Molly Jacobson wrote: > > Just saw a completely white pigeon on a wire in Merrimack. Can't say I've > ever seen one that was 100% white before! I'm not sure how you'd tell the > difference between a leucistic pigeon and one of the white ones bred for > release at ceremonies and such. But it was pretty! > -Molly Jacobson > Merrimack >
Date: 4/9/18 6:00 pm From: Mark Suomala <mrsuomala...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, April 9, 2018
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, April 9th, 2018.
A NORTHERN WHEATEAR was reported from Moore Fields on Route 155A in Durham
on April 4th, but it has not been relocated.
A SANDHILL CRANE was seen in downtown Bristol on April 4th, and 1 was seen
along Kimball Hill Road in Wilton on the 6th.
A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues to be seen near 31 Goddard Road in Rindge
and was last reported on April 8th.
2 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS were seen along the coast in Rye on April 6th.
A SNOWY OWL was seen in coastal Hampton, and 1 was seen in coastal Seabrook,
both on April 7th.
A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen flying over Seabrook on April 7th, and 2 were
seen flying over Salem on the 9th.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen in Newport on April 4th.
A BLACK VULTURE continued to be seen in the Connecticut River valley during
the past week and was last reported from Walpole on April 7th. There was a
report of a BLACK VULTURE from Wilton on the 3rd.
A male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was seen at Turtle Pond in Concord on April 6th,
and a pair of BUFFLEHEADS was seen here on the 8th.
A SNOW GOOSE and a GREATER SCAUP were seen at Horseshoe Pond in Concord on
April 8th.
4 NORTHERN SHOVELERS and 2 GADWALL were seen in Meadow Pond in Hampton on
April 7th. A pair of AMERICAN WIGEON and a pair of LESSER SCAUP was seen at
Eel Pond in Rye on April 7th. 3 BLUE-WINGED TEAL were seen at Lower Meadows
in Charlestown on April 8th.
There was a report of an unidentified SWAN on Newfound Lake on April 9th.
A GLOSSY IBIS was seen on Wetherby Road in Charlestown on April 7th.
A GREAT EGRET was seen at Horseshoe Pond in Concord on April 8th, and 20
GREAT EGRETS were seen at Seabrook Marsh on the 7th.
A PIED-BILLED GREBE was seen at Horseshoe Pond in Merrimack on April 7th, 1
was seen at Horseshoe Pond in Concord on the 8th, 2 were seen on Great
Turkey Pond on Concord on the 8th, and 2 were seen on the Connecticut River
in Hinsdale on the 8th.
4 GREATER YELLOWLEGS were seen at Chapman’s Landing in Stratham on April
7th.
12 WILSON’S SNIPE and 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were reported from Moore Fields in
Durham on April 4th. 4 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen along River Road in
Walpole on April 8th.
A few RED CROSSBILLS were reported from Lempster, Newport, and Cornish all
during the past week. A flock of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS was reported from
Waterville Valley on April 6th, and 2 were reported from North Conway on the
5th.
8 BALD EAGLES were seen on the Connecticut River in Hinsdale on April 3rd.
14 AMERICAN KESTRELS were seen at the Pease International Tradeport on April
7th.
A flock of 17 TURKEY VULTURES was seen in North Conway on April 3rd.
8 FISH CROWS were reported from Concord on April 3rd, and 8 were reported
from the coast on the 7th.
A NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW was seen in Nashua on April 8th.
3 PINE WARBLERS were reported from Brookline on April 8th.
2 PALM WARBLERS, 4 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and a SWAMP SPARROW were all seen
at the Pickering Ponds in Rochester on April 3rd.
A few “IPSWICH” SAVANNAH SPARROWS were seen along the coast during the past
week.
An EASTERN TOWHEE was reported from Wilton on April 6th, and 1 was seen in
Mont Vernon on the 8th.
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 at:
<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
Date: 4/9/18 2:47 pm From: Jane Kelley <janeekelley...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Swan newfound lake
On Mon, Apr 9, 2018 at 5:22 PM Suzanne Smith <zanne719...> wrote:
> No camera and no scope but definitely a swan at north west end of Newfound
> Lake. Too far with only binocs to determine what kind. First time I’ve seen
> one here.
> Suzanne smith
> Hebron
>
> --
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>
Date: 4/9/18 2:22 pm From: Suzanne Smith <zanne719...> Subject: [NHBirds] Swan newfound lake
No camera and no scope but definitely a swan at north west end of Newfound
Lake. Too far with only binocs to determine what kind. First time I’ve seen
one here.
Suzanne smith
Hebron
Date: 4/9/18 10:37 am From: 'Molly Jacobson' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] white pigeon
Just saw a completely white pigeon on a wire in Merrimack. Can't say I've ever seen one that was 100% white before! I'm not sure how you'd tell the difference between a leucistic pigeon and one of the white ones bred for release at ceremonies and such. But it was pretty!-Molly JacobsonMerrimack
Date: 4/8/18 7:03 pm From: bikenbird via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] ***NH Audubon Seacoast Chapter Wednesday April 11, 2018 Program: Hawk Watching in New Hampshire-What the Numbers Tell Us***
New Hampshire Audubon Seacoast Chapter
Wednesday April 11, 2018 7:30 pm Program: Hawk Watching in New Hampshire-What the Numbers Tell Us
NH Audubon's Phil Brown, Director of Land Management and Raptor Observatory Coordinator, will discuss the history of hawk watching in NH, the role it plays in monitoring raptor populations at NH Audubon's raptor observatories, and the future prospects of a Seacoast area hawk watch. Phil's talk is timed close to peak spring migration for several species and the focus on raptor identification, complete with inspiring photography, will provide tips and strategies for enjoying raptors more and contributing important data to better protect them.
All are welcome to attend our Wednesday April 11, 2018 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: http://goo.gl/maps/mfnQT ) . Refreshments are at 7:00 PM. Meetings begin at 7:30 PM. Entrance doors will be locked at 7:45 PM. For more information see our web site at http://www.seacoastchapter.org/programs . Cancellations will be announced on http://www.seacoastchapter.org/programs and this Google group.
Make any donation to the Seacoast Chapter in the tin on the food table and pick up a NH Audubon Seacoast Chapter sticker as a thank you!
Zeke Cornell and I headed to the Connecticut River starting in Charlestown in search of waterfowl and a few other spring birds. Although the river is open, there's still a lot of frozen water bodies especially in the higher elevations. Rt. 12 in Charlestown was definitely the hot spot, especially the Lower Meadows and the ponds opposite Herrick's Cove. Hinsdale was fairly quiet. It was a chilly wind which seemed to keep landbirds down. Highlights below.
Lower Meadows
Blue-winged Teal 3, 2 males and 1 female
Green-winged Teal 4
Great Blue Heron 3
Connecticut River backwaters opposite Herricks Cove
Wood Duck 23
Green-winged Teal 13
Common Merganser 55
Ring-necked Duck 13
River Rd., Walpole
Rusty Blackbird 4
American Kestrel 1
Hinsdale setbacks
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Osprey 2
Goddard Rd., Rindge
Red-headed Woodpecker 1 at the same location it was present all winter
Saw FOY Pine Warblers along the beginning part of the trail. Saw 2 and heard a 3rd farther down the trail.
1 Osprey, 2 Hooded Mergansers,1 Ring-Necked Duck in ponds heading south on rail trail, and lots of chickadees and juncos along wetland off of Route 13.
This morning I took a hike up the Crawford Path to Mt. Pierce (trailhead at Crawford Notch) and it was birdier than it has been in some time. Re “winter” or boreal birds, species included: Gray Jay, Boreal Chickadee, Pine Siskin, Purple Finch and White-winged Crossbill. Additionally, there was a nice flock of 12-15 Cedar Waxwings which seem to have been somewhat scarce this winter (although for a brief time a large flock in N. Conway).
The full report was posted to eBird.
While driving up Rte 302 from Bartlett to the trailhead, I had at least four groups of Pine Siskins along the side of the road, totaling 30-40 individuals. So, some of our winter visitors are still around.
Date: 4/8/18 5:08 am From: Catherine Fisher <catherineckx...> Subject: [NHBirds] Frog Walks in Lee
With permission of the moderator:
The Lee Conservation Commission will be holding its 7th annual Frog Walk in
the Lee Town Forest Complex. A visit to some of the vernal pools in the
forest on Monday revealed wood frogs swimming beneath the ice, so these
hardy critters are already making their way to their natal pools. There,
in the course of a week or two they will find mates, breed, and lay eggs.
The only “cold blooded” vertebrate able to live and breed above the Arctic
Circle, the wood frog has mastered cryogenics - that is, it is able to
withstand the freezing of up to 60% of its body during hibernation. During
the winter, each frog becomes, in effect, a frogcicle, lying quiescent,
without respiration or heartbeat, until spring.
Anyone interested in learning more about these remarkable creatures and
observing them in their breeding pools is invited to participate. Two
walks are scheduled: a twilight walk on Friday, April 13 and a morning walk
on Saturday, April 14. We'll be visiting a vernal pool or two and we'll
also stop by the town bog where we'll take a look at the unique plant
species that are able to make a life for themselves in this difficult
habitat.
Both walks will meet at the Lee Town Library and are open to all ages.
Friday's weather forecast is for a warm day and mild evening; Saturday is
predicted to be much cooler, so please dress accordingly.
If you have any questions about these walks, please feel free to email me.
*Twilight Walk. Friday, April 13, 7:00 pm. *Early evening is a great time
to enjoy the frog chorus. Our walk will take us along the Town Bog and
through the Town Forest to one or two vernal pools. Though this is more of
a listening walk, we will get close to where to frogs are courting, and if
the weather and circumstances are right, we may see migrating amphibians.
Past walks have also afforded us good looks at wood ducks, woodcock and
barred owls. Flashlights may be useful.
*Morning Walk. Saturday, April 14th, 10:00 am. *We'll visit the Town Bog
and several vernal pools, check out the frogs, their crèches and perhaps
find other species who use the vernal pool; though it's early and the
run-up has thus far been cold, we may find spotted salamander egg masses as
well.
On Sun, Apr 8, 2018 at 7:16 AM, 'Geoff Niswander' via NHBirds < <nhbirds...> wrote:
> I forgot to sign again! > Geoff Niswander....Hillsboro > > -- > 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+<unsubscribe...> > To post to this group, send email to <nhbirds...> > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/nhbirds. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >
Date: 4/8/18 4:15 am From: 'Geoff Niswander' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Chickadee stuck in my feeder!
Yesterday afternoon after a long day out I arrived home hoping to relax for a bit before tackling supper. I got myself an ice water in a glass and sat to look over the mail, and then in my peripheral vision caught the fluttering outside at the feeder. It was empty as I knew it would be, and needed it's usual afternoon fill-in a few minutes I vaguely planned. At first look I passed the fluttering and flapping wings by and looked back to the mail. But the fluttering continued and I realized something wasn't right. Looking again I could see it was a chickadee, and my next thought was it must be injured. What to do? Getting outside and to the feeder, I realized the bird had managed to get it's head stuck inside the tube feeder. And it was in a near panic state, trying to free itself. This is a Duncraft tube feeder with the anti-squirrel cage around it. Looking close I could see the bird had stuck it's head straight in to the bottom hole (looking for that last seed) and then flexed it's head downward. The bird was trying to back out of the feeder, unable to figure out it had to first lift it's own head back to the position it was in when it stuck it's head in there. The head-beak length was way too long to get back out of the hole. I have no idea how long the bird was stuck before I arrived home.
So, what to do? You can't get your hands in there past the cage wire. Not without getting the tools out and starting to take the feeder apart. I took the feeder off the pole, and at first the chickadee didn't even realize I was there at all. It couldn't see me. But it figured it out after a minute and began to unhappily call out, struggling to free itself. About the only thing I could think of at first was to try and push its head forward, using a pencil eraser, as I could see, and get access to, the underside of the beak of the stuck bird. But then it dawned on me that perhaps by tipping the whole feeder over, 90 d trees on to the side, perhaps the orientation of the bird would change enough, to cause it to do what it needed to do, to be able to back out of the hole. So I tipped the feeder over, leaving it still and unmoving, on a bench seat. The chickadee stopped it's struggle, in a new position. I could see that it was lifting its head in there, but after 2-3 minutes it was still stuck, so I decided to tip it over just a little more, starting to put the bird slightly more toward the upside down position. I used a block of wood to keep the round cage from rolling off the bench seat, and then backed off. This time, the chickadee straightened it's head enough, and it immediately succeeded in getting it's head out of the hole. Yay! I love chickadees, they are my favorite feeder friends of all! I would NOT have been happy if this ended any other way. The bird flew to a nearby lilac and rested, it was obviously stressed and tired out. When the freshly filled feeder was hung up again a minute later, it didn't take too long for the same bird to come back to the feeder for seed (we were watching it)
I am not sure what the moral is here. This morning as I type, I still like my Duncraft feeder and have faith in it, but I now also know it might not be as "safe" as I assumed it was. One time, freak accident? Or something that could happen again? I doubt I am the first person who has had a welcomed-friend get trapped like this in a tube feeder, and my first guess is that the same thing could also happen in the Droll-Yankee version. So I am posting this, not with any agenda, just to let you all know it happened.
Date: 4/7/18 5:18 pm From: Rebecca Suomala <rsuomala2...> Subject: [NHBirds] New arrivals - yellowlegs, etc.
Zeke Cornell and I birded some of the coastal area and Concord (thanks, Debbie) for some new spring arrivals. Most have been reported by others but I think the yellowlegs are new.
Greater Yellowlegs - 4 at Chapman's Landing, Stratham
Osprey - 2 at Chapman's
American Kestrel - 14 at Pease Tradeport, total from both ends of the runways
Swamp Sparrow - 2 at Borthwick Ave. marsh, Portsmouth
Wilson's Snipe - 4 at Moore fields in Durham, visible from the parking area for Tecees Farm stand
Ring-necked Duck - 190 on Northwood Lake
Pied-billed Grebe - 1 on Horseshoe Pond in addition to the Snow Goose and Great Egret Debbie LaValley reported.
There's still a huge flock of blackbirds (3,000+-) at Great Bay Farm, mostly grackles, but we could find nothing unusual.
Hello, the Snowy Owl with the transmitter is from Boston I believe as there was a post previously and I also have a picture of her. She was relocated to this area for safety reasons. I saw her in Salisbury twice. I'm glad she is doing ok because I hadn't seen her since around February. They will be leaving us soon unfortunately but also I am happy so they can not be bothered by the people any longer. Tammy
On Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 4:04:46 PM UTC-4, Steve Mirick wrote: > > Not a lot to report today on the coast....but a bit. > > The seemingly endless winter continued today as I brushed some snow off > my car this morning. And the temperatures struggled (again) and never > got out of the 40's. Still lots of patches of snow here and there in > shaded areas. Cold temperatures and winds kept us mostly in the car > this morning. Also....the coastal damage from the winter storms > continues to be evident as it will take some time to patch things up as > rocks are strewn all over the place still. Other damage includes a > couple of homes along Seabrook beach which are getting perilously close > to the ocean's wrath and there is extensive damage to the parking area > at Bicentennial Park. And there are now "cliffs" in the Beach Grass > dunes at Hampton Beach SP. An interesting geographic feature. > > Highlights from this morning: > > Great Egret - 20 (!). A very high count for the date. All together in > Seabrook marsh near wastewater treatment plant > Great Blue Heron - 9 total. > Northern Shoveler - 4 (3 male and 1 female) in Meadow Pond in Hampton > Gadwall - 2 (male and female) in Meadow Pond in Hampton > American Wigeon - 2 (male and female) in Eel Pond in Rye. > Green-winged Teal - 7 IN OCEAN off Seabrook Beach and 2 on Eel Pond. > Amazingly ZERO in Meadow Pond. > Lesser Scaup - 2 (male and female) in Eel Pond in Rye. > Osprey - 2 (didn't search too hard for birds in Hampton/Seabrook area) > SNOWY OWL - 2 lingering birds on rooftops. One in Seabrook and one in > Hampton. The one in Hampton appeared to HAVE A TRANSMITTER ON IT. > https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevemirick/40406121405/in/dateposted/ > Fish Crow - 8. This species is showing no signs of slowing down its > northward expansion in the state. It is now almost the default crow in > areas of the coast! > Savannah Sparrow - 1 at Ragged Neck in Rye. > "Ipswich" Savannah Sparrow - 1 lingering bird continues at Ragged Neck > in Rye with regular Savannah. > > Notable misses: > > Glaucous Gull - 0. It appears that the adult Glaucous Gull in Seabrook > has left for its summer grounds since last weekend. > Piping Plover - 0. I walked Hampton Beach, but couldn't see any. Also a > quick scan in Seabrook, but no luck. > > Steve & Jane Mirick > Bradford, MA >
On Saturday, April 7, 2018 at 4:04:46 PM UTC-4, Steve Mirick wrote: > > Not a lot to report today on the coast....but a bit. > > The seemingly endless winter continued today as I brushed some snow off > my car this morning. And the temperatures struggled (again) and never > got out of the 40's. Still lots of patches of snow here and there in > shaded areas. Cold temperatures and winds kept us mostly in the car > this morning. Also....the coastal damage from the winter storms > continues to be evident as it will take some time to patch things up as > rocks are strewn all over the place still. Other damage includes a > couple of homes along Seabrook beach which are getting perilously close > to the ocean's wrath and there is extensive damage to the parking area > at Bicentennial Park. And there are now "cliffs" in the Beach Grass > dunes at Hampton Beach SP. An interesting geographic feature. > > Highlights from this morning: > > Great Egret - 20 (!). A very high count for the date. All together in > Seabrook marsh near wastewater treatment plant > Great Blue Heron - 9 total. > Northern Shoveler - 4 (3 male and 1 female) in Meadow Pond in Hampton > Gadwall - 2 (male and female) in Meadow Pond in Hampton > American Wigeon - 2 (male and female) in Eel Pond in Rye. > Green-winged Teal - 7 IN OCEAN off Seabrook Beach and 2 on Eel Pond. > Amazingly ZERO in Meadow Pond. > Lesser Scaup - 2 (male and female) in Eel Pond in Rye. > Osprey - 2 (didn't search too hard for birds in Hampton/Seabrook area) > SNOWY OWL - 2 lingering birds on rooftops. One in Seabrook and one in > Hampton. The one in Hampton appeared to HAVE A TRANSMITTER ON IT. > https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevemirick/40406121405/in/dateposted/ > Fish Crow - 8. This species is showing no signs of slowing down its > northward expansion in the state. It is now almost the default crow in > areas of the coast! > Savannah Sparrow - 1 at Ragged Neck in Rye. > "Ipswich" Savannah Sparrow - 1 lingering bird continues at Ragged Neck > in Rye with regular Savannah. > > Notable misses: > > Glaucous Gull - 0. It appears that the adult Glaucous Gull in Seabrook > has left for its summer grounds since last weekend. > Piping Plover - 0. I walked Hampton Beach, but couldn't see any. Also a > quick scan in Seabrook, but no luck. > > Steve & Jane Mirick > Bradford, MA >
Date: 4/7/18 1:04 pm From: Stephen Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [NHBirds] NH Coast (Snowy Owls, Great Egrets, etc.)
Not a lot to report today on the coast....but a bit.
The seemingly endless winter continued today as I brushed some snow off
my car this morning. And the temperatures struggled (again) and never
got out of the 40's. Still lots of patches of snow here and there in
shaded areas. Cold temperatures and winds kept us mostly in the car
this morning. Also....the coastal damage from the winter storms
continues to be evident as it will take some time to patch things up as
rocks are strewn all over the place still. Other damage includes a
couple of homes along Seabrook beach which are getting perilously close
to the ocean's wrath and there is extensive damage to the parking area
at Bicentennial Park. And there are now "cliffs" in the Beach Grass
dunes at Hampton Beach SP. An interesting geographic feature.
Highlights from this morning:
Great Egret - 20 (!). A very high count for the date. All together in
Seabrook marsh near wastewater treatment plant
Great Blue Heron - 9 total.
Northern Shoveler - 4 (3 male and 1 female) in Meadow Pond in Hampton
Gadwall - 2 (male and female) in Meadow Pond in Hampton
American Wigeon - 2 (male and female) in Eel Pond in Rye.
Green-winged Teal - 7 IN OCEAN off Seabrook Beach and 2 on Eel Pond.
Amazingly ZERO in Meadow Pond.
Lesser Scaup - 2 (male and female) in Eel Pond in Rye.
Osprey - 2 (didn't search too hard for birds in Hampton/Seabrook area)
SNOWY OWL - 2 lingering birds on rooftops. One in Seabrook and one in
Hampton. The one in Hampton appeared to HAVE A TRANSMITTER ON IT.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevemirick/40406121405/in/dateposted/ Fish Crow - 8. This species is showing no signs of slowing down its
northward expansion in the state. It is now almost the default crow in
areas of the coast!
Savannah Sparrow - 1 at Ragged Neck in Rye.
"Ipswich" Savannah Sparrow - 1 lingering bird continues at Ragged Neck
in Rye with regular Savannah.
Notable misses:
Glaucous Gull - 0. It appears that the adult Glaucous Gull in Seabrook
has left for its summer grounds since last weekend.
Piping Plover - 0. I walked Hampton Beach, but couldn't see any. Also a
quick scan in Seabrook, but no luck.
This post is a little dated. A Sandhill Crane landed in downtown Bristol on April 4. The Bristol Police Dept. posted a photo of the bird next to one of their cruisers on their facebook page.
I apologize, Mr. Moderator for inserting a photo, but I know some folks don't use FB.
Date: 4/7/18 11:13 am From: DEBRA LAVALLEY <dlv...> Subject: [NHBirds] Photos on Flicker (Snow Goose, Great Egret, and Molting Eagle)
For those interested this is my Flickr link https://www.flickr.com/gp/34155736@N07/9h7225. Not the best photos - but some shots of the snow goose and the great egret at Horseshoe Pond in Concord today. Also - photos of a molting eagle that I saw around the NHTI Boat Ramp too.
Date: 4/7/18 9:10 am From: Debbie <dlv...> Subject: [NHBirds] Great Egret ... Snow Goose
I am at Horseshoe Pond in Concord. There is a great Egret at the northern part of t Pond. There is also what seems to be a limping snow goose in with the Canada Geese. I saw it fly a short distance.
Debbie/Boscawen
Ps - I was at NHTI looking for the leucistic robin - now luck.
I live in Manchester on Cedar St between Union and Pine.
After searching for my cockatiel everywhere imaginable inside my apartment,
I am led to believe that he somehow got out of the apartment yesterday.
His name is Pikachu, and he may respond if you say his name in a soft voice.
He is 7 months old but he is a good flyer nonetheless. He is very shy but
knows the “step up” command, which means he will step up onto your finger if
you press it against his chest. However, he will not let you pet him.
Cockatiels are not meant to be outside in these temperatures. He is probably
very cold, scared and confused.
I am absolutely heartbroken as this is my baby. If people in the Manchester
area could please keep an eye out for him, I would really appreciate any
information anyone has. Even if you see a yellow bird with bright orange
cheeks and you don’t feel comfortable approaching him, please contact me
with the location you see him in!
Any information can be sent to me via Facebook messenger or you can
text/call my google phone number at 508-505-4834.
I am offering a reward to anyone who helps me find him. Please share this
and help spread the word! Thank you
Date: 4/6/18 8:12 pm From: Jon Woolf <jsw...> Subject: [NHBirds] Eagle and osprey at Chapman's Landing, 4/6
This morning at Chapman's Landing I was able to watch an adult Bald Eagle being harried by two very angry Osprey. I also stopped at Pease, where I had a pair of Bluebirds and at least one Kestrel. I tried for the Oystercatchers at Odiorne Point, but missed them.
At Front Park in Auburn this morning, I had a Common Loon, a pair of Canada geese, and a pair of Mallards. There's also a Fish Crow hanging around there; it's been there for at least a week.
Just a reminder that our Optics Day with Swarovski Optik is THIS Sunday, April 8, 2018 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at Bird Watcher’s Supply & Gift at the Route 1 Traffic Circle in Newburyport. A Swarovski Representative will be here with their latest products and will answer all of your questions. Come see the new BTX, binocular eyepiece module, for Swarovski’s newest ATX/STX Spotting Scopes! You can even trade your old Swarovski optics for an instant rebate toward the latest technology!
This is a FREE event where you can view, compare and purchase Swarovski products, and any of our other binoculars and scopes, in all price ranges, from Zeiss, Kowa, Nikon, Ricoh Pentax and Opticron, as well as Manfrotto Tripods. There are discounts and rebates on select products from the manufacturers.
At our Optics Day, everyone will receive an ADDITIONAL discount on all binoculars, scopes and tripods to offset the Massachusetts Sales Tax – so WE will pay the tax, not you!
There is no pre-registration for this event, just come and enjoy! We hope to see you at our Swarovski Optics Day this Sunday!
Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift is a long-time supporter of Mass Audubon, including Bird-a-thon, The Superbowl of Birding, and the MAS Ipswich River WS Annual Audubon Nature Festival. We are also supporters of the Brookline Bird Club and Essex County Greenbelt. We also pass along sightings in support of the Massbird, NHBirds, PlumIslandBirds, and CapeCodBirds communities as well.
Steve Grinley
Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift
194 Route 1
Route 1 Traffic Circle
Newburyport, MA 01950
<Birdwsg...>
978-462-0775
www.birdwatcherssupplyandgift.com
Date: 4/5/18 4:40 pm From: Charlie Nims <charlie.nims...> Subject: [NHBirds] Mt. Kearsage North WW Xbills
This morning, I hiked to North Kearsage (N. Conway) while the birding was fairly quiet—winds were 40-45 mph—I did have 2 White-winged Crossbills (m&f) at the top along with a Pine Siskin. What surprised me the most were two Wild Turkeys almost 2\3 of the way up, in mostly snow covered terrain.
Date: 4/5/18 2:33 pm From: 'Molly Jacobson' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Osprey and Green-winged teals Merrimack
Despite the wind I went over to Horseshoe Pond on a whim and was rewarded! A male and female green-winged teal, a peregrine falcon (making a dive at the tree swallows), and a curious osprey surveying the pond, flying only about 20-30 feet off the ground. I got better looks at it than I ever have an osprey. The ducks were unperturbed. These are all new species for me for this location! Spring has already been very exciting.-Molly JacobsonMerrimack
FOY (for me) osprey on New Boston Road today, Scott Heron heard it yesterday and I doubted him - ha - on me! He also saw an FOY loon on Kingston Lake yesterday.
Date: 4/5/18 7:14 am From: raqbirds via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Fish Crows in Concord
Monday evening a flock of eight calling Fish Crows flew over me at West Locke Road in Concord. This is slightly larger than my previous personal high (six) for the area in the spring. The only other noteworthy "sighting" were calling Wood Frogs.
Robert A. Quinn Merlin Wildlife Tours Webster, NH 603-746-2535 office 603-568-8582 cell
"Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of the earth." Chief Seattle
Date: 4/4/18 3:17 pm From: Stephen Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [NHBirds] Northern Wheatear - NO
There were no further positive reports of Mike's Northern Wheatear at
the Moore Fields off Mast Road in Durham. Several birders were on the
lookout, but I did not hear of any positive reports over the course of
the day. I visited late in the afternoon. Had a nice, but very wet
walk in light to moderate rain and lots of mud. Through and around the
fields. No luck with the Wheatear, but a few birds of interest
including my first Snipe of the year.
Canada Goose 4
Mallard 8
American Black Duck 2
Green-winged Teal 11
Wild Turkey 26
Killdeer 19
Wilson's Snipe 12
Ring-billed Gull 24
Herring Gull 2
Great Black-backed Gull 1
American Crow 4
Horned Lark 25
American Robin 50
European Starling 120
Dark-eyed Junco 6
Song Sparrow 15
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 20
Brown-headed Cowbird 30
Rusty Blackbird 2
Lily Pond 9:30 AM
43.537920, -71.473004
Plenty of open water, almost solid ice last visit 3/23/2018
** Ring-necked duck, 8 in a close group at East end, one laggard
Common Mergansers, at least seven perhaps 8 in a spread out group at West end. One female with a lot of red had an exceptionally long, ragged, and spiky "haircut" but I could not ID with scope at max zoom as Red breasted Merganser. And I have no idea if these mergansers are fellow travelers? The last red breasted Merganser in the Lakes region I saw was a solo merganser, a few miles from here, 4/14/2014.
I was driving around north Newport earlier today looking for spring Birds. Many of you know this area better as the Great Gray Owl hangout from last March. At around 11:20 this morning I found an adult NORTHERN SHRIKE hunting in the overgrown fields just north of the Newport High School athletic fields along Route 10.
https://flic.kr/p/HFLQEJ https://flic.kr/p/HFLQEo
Other takeaways included an American Kestrel outside Parlin Airfield and two Eastern Phoebes in the same field as the Shrike. Both birds are personal first-of-the-year arrivals.
Date: 4/4/18 8:47 am From: Alfred Maley <alfredmaley...> Subject: [NHBirds] Birding Notes From Old Iberia: Other Diurnal Migrants - Swallows, Swifts and Bee-eaters
The storks and raptors migrating across the Strait of Gibraltar garner most
of the attention, but in terms of numbers they are probably easily eclipsed
by the swallows, swifts and bee-eaters that also migrate during the daytime.
Perhaps it’s because these migrants follow the west coast of Africa instead
of defying the Sahara, but more swallows and swifts are noted crossing the
Strait rather than the open waters of the Mediterranean. The first to
arrive, in early March, are the Barn Swallows. They are followed quickly by
House Martins and then Bank Swallows. The last to arrive, by the end of
March, is the attractive Red-rumped Swallow, whose odd tail feathers remind
me of an earwig. The swallows are all headed in a northeast direction.
The swifts arrive in mid March; 99% of which are the local Palid Swifts,
but with the odd Alpine Swift if you look hard enough. The suspiciously
similar Common Swift arrives in April, and is destined more for the
northern European countries.
Both swallows and swifts fly low and are quite noticeable on cloudy, misty
days when few other birds are migrating. On days with high clouds you can
pick them out up high with the raptors. On days with clear blue skies, you
can’t see a one, but they’re (way) up there!
The first of April sees the arrival of the Bee-eaters, a noisy migrant that
always seem to like to be in flocks of about twenty individuals, perhaps
so they can hear each other’s conversation or warnings about Peregrines.
They are very obvious and the call is known to all - los abejarucos. Many
Spanish words (especially bird names) that begin with the letter ‘a’ are
Arabic in origin. This is one of them.
Meanwhile, during the nights, the other migrants have started to arrive:
Nightingale, Cuckoo, Woodchat Shrike and, today, Bonelli’s Warbler. By the
way, the Nightingale’s song can’t hold a candle to that of a Hermit Thrush,
but it does in fact sing at night.
Date: 4/4/18 5:55 am From: Chris Gagnon <cgagnon...> Subject: [NHBirds] Re: FOY American Kestrel - Brentwood
I saw 2 kestrels on West Side Road in Conway on my way home from skiing at Wildcat. Several crossbills were on the mountain.
-chris gagnon Hooksett, NH
On Monday, April 2, 2018 at 10:26:39 AM UTC-4, Sam Lewis wrote: > > Looking at a first of year female kestrel at Stout Oak Farm in Brentwood. > It is flying between and landing in the bird boxes in the field across from > the farm. The family is on 111A between Pine Road and Deer Hill Road. > > -- > Samuel Lewis > Exeter, NH >
I checked Turtle Pond in Concord today before work and had a nice selection of early spring birds. Below is the list. Becky Suomala Concord, NH
Turtle Pond, Concord, Merrimack, New Hampshire, US Apr 3, 2018 8:15 AM - 8:45 AM Protocol: Traveling 0.1 mile(s) 21 species
Wood Duck 14 Mallard 1 American Black Duck 1 Ring-necked Duck 24 Bufflehead 2 Hooded Merganser 3 Common Merganser 3 Bald Eagle 2 On the ice at the far edge of the pond. One was feeding on something dead on the ice. Downy Woodpecker 3 Northern Flicker 1 Eastern Phoebe 4 feeding in the brush on the edge of the pond Blue Jay 2 American Crow 3 Tree Swallow 24 Tufted Titmouse 1 American Robin 1 Song Sparrow 3 Northern Cardinal 2 Red-winged Blackbird 10 Common Grackle 2 American Goldfinch 5
Good evening. My wife and I are heading off to Hawaii in a few weeks. We'll be staying on "the bigc island." I would like to line up a birding outing with a reputable, knowledgeable guide. Suggestions anyone?
After returning from Montreal this afternoon, I went for a hike up the closed Hurricane Mountain Rd. (N. Conway) from the gate to the Black Cap trailhead. While not many species, there was a nice combination of winter\spring species with an Eastern Phoebe calling and several Pine Siskins. On my return home, there was a “kettle” of 17 Turkey Vultures over the intersection of Rtes 16 & 302. Full reports on eBird.
Date: 4/3/18 5:39 pm From: JM Maher <jeannemariemaher...> Subject: [NHBirds] a round about way to return home from Lebanon
Appointments took me to Lebanon today. Finished by noon and believing the day would stay dry and clear until evening, decided to try the Hinsdale Setbacks. Rain started falling lightly as I arrived, a cold wind blew. Aside from many Common Mergansers and numerous Bald Eagles, I found little new and different (they were smarter-hiding out the cold elsewhere).
So ‘on my way back’ I hoped to find the American Bittern in Keene. By the time I arrived it was snowing lightly. Being unfamiliar with this spot, could hardly find a place where any water birds might land (advice welcome).
From there I headed in search of the Evening Grosbeaks (which are being sorely missed north of the Whites this year). As well described by Sam Jaffee, they were in the wetlands (deep) across from the cabin. No feeders were up at the house. It was getting wetting and colder by the minute , and the daylight was dropping. But “since I was in the area” took my 3rd or 4th shot at the Redheaded Woodpecker.
The snow started to let up. Rain persisted, so after wandering around in search I took cover in the car . As described the bird has had a habit of showing up in the late afternoon and sure enough it did while I was warmly ensconsed in my car.
Hi All, Does anyone know if the Rochester Sandhill Crane is still present? I just received a report of a Sandhill in Bristol that is not afraid of people and am wondering if it could be the same bird.
Thanks, Becky Suomala New Hampshire Bird Records NH Audubon
Date: 4/3/18 12:35 pm From: 'Molly Jacobson' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Eastern Meadowlark at Woodmont, Hollis
Went down to Woodmont Orchard to try and relocate the snipe seen there yesterday, with no luck. It looks like all of the apple trees are being cut down, and workers were there blocking some of the paths and creating a massive debris pile. However, after walking where I could, I was able to stop down at one of the pulloffs and access one of the lower fields, albeit during the rain. There was a ton of activity there, including an eastern meadowlark in the field, vocalizing and flying around. I certainly wasn't expecting that! Also two kestrels, a phoebe, and I heard a broad-winged hawk call several times as well, though I couldn't see it through the trees. Too many song sparrows to count. I never know what I'll find there, make it more fun!
-Molly JacobsonMerrimack
Date: 4/3/18 6:13 am From: Jane Hills <jhbird...> Subject: [NHBirds] Early migrants - Head's Pond in Hooksett
This morning I walked most of the Head's Pond rail trail in search of early migrants. I found:
Wood Duck
Bufflehead
Common Merganser
Great Blue Heron
Fish Crow
Eastern Phoebe
Song Sparrow (lots!)
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: 4/3/18 5:46 am From: hector galbraith <hg2...> Subject: [NHBirds] Hinsdale bald eagle flock!
eight bald eagles at Hinsdale this morning: 3 adults and 8 juveniles. Hinsdale’s very own demographic bulge! Also around were single osprey and phoebe and 2 p-b grebes.
This evening while waiting for Aden at soccer practice, I drove over to a local farm and hung by some of their fields.
The farm is at the Freemont/Epping town line.
Along with a Red-tailed Hawk number of Robin and a few Starlings were around 16 Killdeer, and three Wilson’s Snipe that I happened to pick out of the air in an image.
Date: 4/2/18 5:59 pm From: JM Maher <jeannemariemaher...> Subject: [NHBirds] Good Weekend for Birds: Coast, Jackson, Nashua
On the 30th Michael and I headed up to Jackson for a last weekend of skiing, via the coast hoping to see the blue winged teal (no luck) and lousy weather, but we had a fabulous view of a snowy hiding in plain site well above the marsh during the blue moon flood tide.
During the weekend we had persistent siskin, crossbills (white winged and red), purple finches and even a couple of turkey vultures.
A quick trip to Sherman Farm on Saturday proved quite successful with many snow geese in the corn fields with Canada geese, wasn’t until they put up and flew that we realized there were 51! (including one blue morph). As they circled overhead also ran into Bob Crowley who had also been watching the spectacle. Nice to see other old friends enjoying the beautiful day and along with the weather our first of year tree swallow swooped over the field. (combined list compliments of Bob Crowley, with my photos added)
Today back in Nashua after the snow stopped headed over to Woodmont (never disappoints). 2 American Kestrel, in the upper fields and 2 Wilson’s snipe in the lower areas, (also killdeer) . On the way home, an Eastern Screech.
Date: 4/2/18 5:14 pm From: Mark Suomala <mrsuomala...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, April 2, 2018
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, April 2nd, 2018.
A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen near Eagle Cliff in Franconia Notch on March 31st.
A SNOWY OWL was seen at Rye Harbor State Park on April 1st.
A BLACK VULTURE continued to be seen in the Connecticut River valley during
the past week and was reported from Walpole on March 28th, and Charlestown
on the 31st. A possible BLACK VULTURE was reported from Somersworth on the
31st. 35 TURKEY VULTURES were seen in Exeter on March 27th, and 35 were seen
in Nashua on the 28th.
A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was seen near the Sky Valley Motel along Route 302
in Bartlett on March 28th.
Birders on a boat cruise to Jeffrey’s Ledge saw a NORTHERN FULMAR and a
COMMON MURRE offshore on March 31st. 7 RAZORBILLS were seen in coastal Rye
waters on March 31st.
An ICELAND GULL was seen in Berlin in the Bridge Street area near the
Androscoggin River on March 26th. A GLAUCOUS GULL was seen at the Seabrook
side of Hampton Harbor on March 31st. A BONAPARTE’S GULL was seen on the
Connecticut River in Hinsdale on March 30th.
51 SNOW GEESE were seen at Sherman Farm in Conway on March 31st, and 40 were
seen near the Connecticut River in Lancaster on April 1st.
A male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was seen on the Androscoggin River in Errol on
March 28th.
Water birds reported during the past week included: a RED-NECKED GREBE on
the Merrimack River in Concord on March 29th, a BLACK SCOTER on the Sugar
River in Newport on the 30th, 4 GADWALL on Wilson Pond in Keene on the 31st,
7 NORTHERN PINTAILS on Powder Mill Pond in Hancock on the 30th, 2 NORTHERN
PINTAILS and 2 AMERICAN WIGEONS in Charlestown on the 31st, a BLUE-WINGED
TEAL on Eel Pond in Rye on the 28th, 2 LESSER SCAUP in Cornish on the 30th,
a GREATER SCAUP in Hinsdale on the 31st,and a COMMON LOON on Pawtuckaway
Lake on April 1st.
There were a few inland sightings of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS reported
during the past week.
30 PURPLE SANDPIPERS were seen at Ragged Neck in Rye on March 30th.
A WILSON’S SNIPE was reported from Hanover on March 29th, and 1 was seen in
Durham on April 1st.
2 GREAT EGRETS were seen along the coast, and an AMERICAN BITTERN was seen
at the Dillant-Hopkins Airport in Swanzey, all on March 31st.
4 PINE GROSBEAKS were reported from the Tuckerman Ravine Trail on Mount
Washington on March 27th.
9 RED CROSSBILLS were reported from Lempster, and a few more were reported
from Hillsboro, and Hanover all during the past week. 7 WHITE-WINGED
CROSSBILLS were reported from Crawford Notch in the White Mountains on March
28th.
PEREGRINE FALCONS were reported from Franconia Notch, Manchester, Walpole,
and Epping, and a few MERLINS and AMERICAN KESTRELS were reported from
scattered locations, all during the past week.
An OSPREY was reported from Newington on March 28th, and 1 was seen in
Bridgewater on April 1st.
An AMERICAN PIPIT was seen in Seabrook on April 1st.
An EASTERN MEADOWLARK was seen in Warren on March 27th, and 1 was seen in
Charlestown on the 31st.
A few returning EASTERN PHOEBES were reported during the past week from
Nashua, Barrington, Concord, Haverhill, Etna, Holderness, Ashland, Hancock,
and Hillsborough.
An estimated 150 TREE SWALLOWS were reported from the Salmon Falls River in
Rollinsford on March 31st, over 40 were seen on Heron Pond in Milford on
April 2nd, and smaller numbers were reported from Merrimack, Rye, Hinsdale,
Holderness, Hopkinton, Charlestown, and Seabrook during the past week.
A few FISH CROWS were reported from Nashua, Keene, and Hampton during the
past week.
A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was reported from Plymouth on March 31st, and a
FIELD SPARROW was reported from Concord on April 2nd.
4 FOX SPARROWS were seen in Hopkinton on March 27th, 1 was seen in Newington
on the 28th, and 1 was seen in Richmond on April 2nd.
A PALM WARBLER was seen in Westmoreland on April 1st, and 1 was seen in
Rochester on the 2nd. A YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was seen in Hollis on March
28th, and 1 was seen in Rochester on April 2nd.
An EASTERN TOWHEE was reported from Wilton on March 31st, 2 HERMIT THRUSHES
were seen in Hinsdale on the 29th, a RUSTY BLACKBIRD was seen in Haverhill
on April 1st, and a WINTER WREN was seen in Jefferson on April 1st.
A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was reported from Gilsum on March 30th, 1 was
reported from Boscawen on the 31st, and 1 was reported from Nottingham on
April 1st.
5 NORTHERN FLICKERS were reported from a residence in Litchfield on April
2nd.
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 at:
<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
Date: 4/2/18 12:38 pm From: Suzanne Smith <zanne719...> Subject: [NHBirds] Newfound Lake today
North end of the lake. quick visit because not much open water. 5 wood ducks (3 male, 2 female) 1 pr. Hooded Merganser 1 immature bald eagle still lots of juncos
Date: 4/2/18 11:09 am From: 'Phil Brown' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Silk Farm Sanctuary/McLane Center birds
Field Sparrow singing in the field closest to the parking lot about an hour ago.2 Eastern Phoebes and a Purple Finch other new arrivals.53 Ring-necked Ducks, 4 Green-winged Teal, a Common Goldeneye and others on Great Turkey Pond which is about 1/3 open. Phil BrownHancock, NH
Date: 4/2/18 10:33 am From: Joshua Jarvis <menasor77...> Subject: [NHBirds] Fox Sparrow in Richmond and crossbills found in mass
Their was a Fox Sparrow under my feeder in Richmond today.
Yesterday (after I saw the pheasant) I went to Montague mass for the third time to look for crossbills. I finally found them (almost walked into them). Oddly they did not fly off until I crossed the road o give them more room. I also saw a FoY phoebe their.
Date: 4/2/18 7:26 am From: Samuel Lewis <samlewis100...> Subject: [NHBirds] FOY American Kestrel - Brentwood
Looking at a first of year female kestrel at Stout Oak Farm in Brentwood. It is flying between and landing in the bird boxes in the field across from the farm. The family is on 111A between Pine Road and Deer Hill Road.
Date: 4/2/18 6:32 am From: Pamela Hunt <phunt...> Subject: [NHBirds] Aerial insectivore conference April 28
Hi NH Birders,
At the end of April, the Ware River Nature Club is convening a one-day conference focusing on avian aerial insectivores. Details are below. Please share the information with anyone who might be interested. Both Becky Suomala and I from NH Audubon are presenting. For interested folks in southern NH, this is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the issues facing this declining group of birds.
Maybe see some NH folks there!
Pam Hunt
Avian Conservation Biologist
NH Audubon
Our Aerial Insectivorous Birds: Current Conservation Issues
Saturday April 28, 2018 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Harvard Forest, Petersham
$35 Members*/ $45 Non-members
Lunch is included
The guild of northeastern avian insectivores-birds that specialize in feeding on flying insects-includes Whip-poor-wills, Common Nighthawks, Chimney Swifts, several species of swallows and flycatchers, and Purple Martins. Most of these species are experiencing dramatic population declines and range contraction. The magnitude of the declines over the past
25 years has been alarming. For that reason the plight of aerial insectivores
is gaining increased attention among biologists in New England.
This conference will address the ecology and current status of many of these species, particularly in New England; present theories regarding population decline; summarize recent research strategies and findings; and explore citizen science opportunities.
*Ware River Nature Club members
(Annual membership dues are $15)
Drivers of Aerial Insectivore Declines
Kim Spiller, UMass ECO Graduate School
Threats and Coping Strategies of Neotropical Migrants on the Wintering Grounds: Examples from Southern Mexico
Jessie Knowlton, Wheaton College
The Whip-poor-will: Biology and Conservation of a Crepuscular Enigma
Pam Hunt, New Hampshire Audubon
Artificial Nest Patch Experiments, Monitoring Strategies, and Population Trends of Common Nighthawks in New Hampshire
Rebecca Suomala, New Hampshire Audubon
Mary's Mashpee Martins
Mary Keleher, Cape Cod Bird Club
KEYNOTE: The Disappearance of an Almost-Invisible Bird: The Mysterious Biology and Decline of the Chimney Swift
Margaret Rubega, University of Connecticut & Connecticut State Ornithologist
Migratory Connectivity of the Eastern Whip-poor-will
Marja Bakermans, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Andrew Vitz, State Ornithologist, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife
Conservation of Cliff and Barn Swallows, Two Species in Decline in the Northeast
Mara Silver, Northeast Swallow Conservation
Life Thru a Lens: Observing Nesting Birds and Bird Activity Through Live Streaming Cams and Camera Traps
Hollie Sutherland, UMass ECO Graduate School
9 species of waterfowl on Powder Mill Pond in Hancock this evening: 75 Ring-necked Duck63 Common Merganser28 Bufflehead7 Hooded Merganser6 Mallard3 Am. Black Duck 3 Canada Goose 2 Common Goldeneye 1 Wood Duck
No pintails or teal from 3/30.
1 Common Loon2 Great Blue Heron1 Eastern Phoebe Also, around the yard today in Hancock:3 Ring-billed Gull + 1 Herring Gull flyovers1 Northern Goshawk2 American Woodcock and a phoebe announcing its arrival at 6:34 am
Date: 4/1/18 6:13 pm From: Jon Woolf <jsw...> Subject: [NHBirds] Easter birding - several nice FOYs
I spent some time birding this morning, and scored several very nice sightings:
At Pease Tradeport, along the runway there were several (at least 3, maybe 4) American Kestrels. First of year for me.
Also at Pease, one of the Osprey nests in the old ammo storage area had two Ospreys on it. Also FOY for me.
And again at Pease, along the Peverly Ponds boardwalk trail I counted at least 3 Brown Creepers. To see one of these is noteworthy for me; I don't think I've ever seen three in a single day.
On the coast, the marsh inland from Wallis Sands beach produced two Great Egrets.
At Pulpit Rocks there was a sea-duck whose identity I'm not sure of. The size and color said "female eider," but it seemed subtly wrong for a female Common Eider. In particular the head, which had a pronounced 'stop' at the base of the bill, rather than the smooth bill-to-forehead shape of a Common Eider. And the head was cinnamon colored, a markedly different color from the body, unlike the Common Eiders I'm used to seeing where the whole body is a nondescript brown. I'm not at all sure, but I wonder if I was looking at a female King Eider.
And off Ragged Neck, there was a Common Loon in full breeding plumage.
Date: 4/1/18 5:45 pm From: 'Blake Allison' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Lyme American Kestrel Sunday Afternoon
For the last two weeks, I have been driving on E.Thetford Road, watching the adjacent, parallel power lines, in hopes of seeing an American kestrel. There is a pair that annually nests in a nearby barn. The sighting of a kestrel at this locale is a sure harbinger of spring.
Today, I was pleased to see an American Kestrel on the utility wire traditional perch. Hope springs eternal!
Date: 4/1/18 5:43 pm From: Dorsey, Kurk <Kurk.Dorsey...> Subject: [NHBirds] Durham firsts on the first
Birders,
There were some good birds around town today in my brief forays. At the Surrey Lane Marsh, 2 Common Mergs and 30 Ring-necked Ducks were present--first Common Mergs for the spot on eBird. At the Oyster River Forest in the evening I picked up my first phoebe and snipe of the year, as well as the first Woodcock for the preserve, pushing the list there up to a modest 130. Can 200 be far behind? yes.
Date: 4/1/18 5:33 pm From: 'Molly Jacobson' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Mystery Bird - Tufted Titmouse, a proper recording
Hi all!I hit it lucky today at Horseshoe Pond. The 'mystery bird' that we determined is a tufted titmouse showed itself at last, to confirm its identity, and I was able to get a good recording of its atypical 'towhee-like' vocalization!https://www.xeno-canto.org/408639
I also made an account on xeno-canto. I don't have any special equipment for recording but I hope to contribute any interesting or strange bird songs in the future to the best of my limited ability.
Thanks again to everyone who helped me figure out that bird's ID. It's all a learning process! And I hope uploading that recording can help someone else recognize that unusual titmouse song if they hear it.
-Molly JacobsonMerrimack
Date: 4/1/18 5:27 pm From: Iain Macleod <pandiain.im...> Subject: [NHBirds] Lakes Region Osprey, Phoebe, etc.
At Squam Lakes Natural Science Center yesterday: Eastern Bluebirds - 2 - pair singing and checking out nest boxes. Tree Swallow - 3 Song Sparrow - several singing.
At the Center today: Eastern Phoebe - 1
At house in Ashland yesterday: Red-bellied Woodpecker
At house today: Eastern Phoebe - 1 singing
In Bridgewater: Osprey - 1. Nice to see Art, an old friend, back at his nest after his 9500-mile round trip to Brazil and back. We satellite-tracked him in 2012-13. We removed his tag in August 2013, but his band still identifies him. So cool to see him back.
Date: 4/1/18 12:28 pm From: 'Molly Jacobson' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] FOY tree swallows, fish crows, DC cormorant Merrimack
Tree swallows, about a dozen, arrived today at Horseshoe Pond. A double-crested cormorant also flew in and landed on the water. Been seeing fish crows at the pond past couple times as well. It seems spring has suddenly - and finally- arrived!-Molly JacobsonMerrimack
Date: 4/1/18 11:25 am From: Chad Witko <chadjwitko...> Subject: [NHBirds] Belated Fish Crows
Greetings and apologies on the belated post.
On Friday, Steven Lamonde and I heard and then observed two fish crows from the Antioch University New England campus. They were flying adjacent to West street and were observed heading west.
Cheers, Chad Witko
-- Chad Witko www.chat-happens.com
"I came to believe birds are the most vivid expression of life. It made me aware of the world in which we live." Roger Tory Peterson
Date: 4/1/18 11:09 am From: Roger Frieden <roger...> Subject: [NHBirds] Common Loon on Pawtuckaway
The first Common Loon of the year just showed up in the South Channel on Pawtuckaway Lake! There is also a group of 6 Common Mergansers, 3 Hooded Mergansers, 2 Mallards, and 2 Wood Ducks sheltering from the wind off Horse Island.
Date: 4/1/18 9:26 am From: Christian Martin <cmartin...> Subject: RE: [NHBirds] Golden Eagle in Franconia Notch
A bit more on the immature-plumage golden eagle seen by me on 3/31 ...
Seen with binoculars in front of namesake Eagle Cliff from southbound I-93 pull-off by Profile Lake. First noticed a large shadow crossing the rock face, which incidentally was a golden eagle nest site in the late 1800s. Lighting was excellent with sun reflecting off snow below and lighting up ventral side of eagle. With binocs, circling bird showed smallish head, golden nape, comma marks on underwings, and broad white area at base of tail. Stopped circling and began flying directly north along ridgetop when relatively tiny peregrine falcon began pursuit. Soon joined in chase by a common raven. Eagle out of sight beyond Eaglet Spire about a minute later. Peregrine returned to Eagle Cliff.
Thanks to Phil Brown for posting for me yesterday.
- Chris
Chris Martin Senior Biologist, NH Audubon <cmartin...>
New Hampshire Audubon - Protecting New Hampshire's natural environment for wildlife and for people.
________________________________________ From: 'Phil Brown' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2018 2:36 PM To: NHBirds Group Subject: [NHBirds] Golden Eagle in Franconia Notch
Reported by Chris Martin at 1 pm today, being divebombed by a peregrine at eagle cliff!
Date: 4/1/18 7:20 am From: David Govatski <david.govatski...> Subject: [NHBirds] Easter Sunrise Birding at Pondicherry NWR in Jefferson
Kathi and I walked to Cherry Pond in Jefferson for Easter Sunrise. The rail trail from Airport Road was icy and we used microspikes on our walk. Snow cover is still 90 percent plus in the woods. Cherry Pond is fully ice covered except for a tiny open spot at the outlet. We watched an otter feed on fresh water mussels. Just a dozen species of birds including an early Winter Wren near the trailhead as we were coming out. Purple finches were singing from trees along the way and we estimated 24 of them. We had a big influx of robins last night and we saw an easy 60 plus at the Airport fields which are largely snow free and also along the trail. Five Canada geese were sitting on the ice at Cherry Pond. We also saw a two year old moose at Waumbek Junction that looked healthy. We were hoping to see the Easter Snowshoe Hare Bunny but did not find one. As for the sunrise, the appointed time came and went without any sun. A cold front brought in a bank of clouds and gusty winds. It was just nice to get out in the early morning hours.
Date: 3/31/18 8:01 pm From: Jon Woolf <jsw...> Subject: [NHBirds] Manchester Peregrines are on eggs
The nestcams in the nest-box for the Manchester Peregrine Falcon pair showed today that they have eggs. First one was apparently laid this morning; by early afternoon, there were two eggs. The nest Camera 1 right now (11pm) shows two eggs, one of which may be broken, and the female is standing nearby, not on the eggs.
At about 4:30pm this afternoon there were about 1000 Canada Geese with 51 Snow Geese at Sherman's Farm. One of the Snow Geese was a Blue Morph. This is right on the state line;
Date: 3/31/18 5:50 pm From: 'Peter Newbern' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Digest for - 13 updates in 13 topics
Today at Horseshoe Pond I had a FOY yellow-rumped warbler, a phoebe 3 green-winged and a ring-necked duck.
Peter NewbernNewbury,NH On Saturday, March 31, 2018, 4:53:14 PM EDT, <nhbirds...> wrote:
| <nhbirds...> | Google Groups | |
Topic digest
View all topics
- NH Coast (Tree Swallows, Eastern Phoebes, Great Egrets, etc.) - 1 Update
- Golden Eagle in Franconia Notch - 1 Update
- Eastern Blue Birds in New Boston! - 1 Update
- NH Audubon Spring Pelagic Birding Trip - 1 Update
- Tree swallows at MAC! - 1 Update
- Eastern Phoebe - 1 Update
- Spring Migrants, Wilson Pond Keene - 1 Update
- Looking for spring, 3/30 - 1 Update
- RFI Woodcock in Portsmouth - 1 Update
- E. Phoebe FOY - 1 Update
- spring arrivals, Contoocook River valley - 1 Update
- FOY cedar waxwings in Litchfield - 1 Update
- Black Scoter - Newport - 1 Update
NH Coast (Tree Swallows, Eastern Phoebes, Great Egrets, etc.)
| Stephen Mirick <smirick...>: Mar 31 04:39PM -0400
After a vacation in Panama, Jane and I headed back to the coast this
morning. Nice to see a few signs of spring:
Canada Goose 84 MIGRATING north in small groups.
Wood Duck 1
Double-crested Cormorant 1 MIGRATING north. Possibly a 2nd also.
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 2 Two birds flying north with GBHE past Bicentennial.
Later 2 birds (same?) in Little River salt marsh.
Turkey Vulture 3
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 6
Killdeer 4
Razorbill 7 7+ in area between Seal Rocks and Odiorne.
Glaucous Gull 1 Adult continues in Hampton harbor.
Snowy Owl 1 Perched on house north of Ragged Neck in Rye.
American Kestrel 2 MIGRATING.
Merlin 1
American Crow 3 MIGRATING.
Fish Crow 3 At Bicentennial Park. Two birds exploring possible
nest site in pine tree.
Horned Lark 4
Eastern Phoebe 2 at Odiorne Point State Park.
Tree Swallow 9 Six off Cross Beach Road in Seabrook at houses. 3
MIGRATING.
European Starling 7 MIGRATING.
American Tree Sparrow 2
Red-winged Blackbird 5 MIGRATING.
Brown-headed Cowbird 37 MIGRATING.
Common Grackle 40 MIGRATING.
Steve & Jane Mirick
Bradford, MA
|
Back to top Golden Eagle in Franconia Notch
| Phil Brown <downtownpab...>: Mar 31 02:36PM -0400
Reported by Chris Martin at 1 pm today, being divebombed by a peregrine at eagle cliff!
Phil Brown
Hancock
Sent from my iPhone
|
Back to top Eastern Blue Birds in New Boston!
| "Linda M. Charron" <clinda912...>: Mar 31 02:20PM -0400
Just saw a pair in my bird feeder! Beautiful sign of spring! Hope they stick around. Need to go fill the Meal Worm feeder!
Linda Charron
New Boston, NH
Cell: (603) 470-7037
|
Back to top NH Audubon Spring Pelagic Birding Trip
| Jon Woolf <jsw...>: Mar 31 12:09PM -0400
Listfolk,
The thermometer may still be shivering, but the birds say spring is coming. So it must be time to start thinking about NH Audubon's spring Pelagic Birding Expedition. How the time flies.... 2018 marks ten years we've been doing these trips. This year we're going back to Memorial Day as the date; this year, that's Monday, May 28th. Otherwise, the plan is pretty much the same as in previous years:
WHAT: An all-day trip into the Gulf of Maine, looking for pelagic birds (although we'll also check out any whales and other marine life that we encounter). As always, we've chartered the whale-watching boat Granite State for this day of birding along Jeffreys Ledge and wherever else the birds may lead us. Steve Mirick will be on the microphone, and our hosts will be the highly skilled and experienced Captain Pete Reynolds and his crew. We'll leave dockside at 8am and stay at sea the whole day. We should return to Rye Harbor around 5pm.
WHEN: Monday, May 28th (Memorial Day).
WHERE: Meet dockside at Rye Harbor at 7:30AM for an 8:00AM departure.
WHAT TO BRING: Binoculars, of course. A lunch if you want to. A digital camera if you have one -- these trips often produce excellent photo opportunities for both whales and birds. Weather on the open water is unpredictable, so dress warm, in multiple layers in case you get too warm and need to take off a layer. Certainly bring sunscreen, and either sunglasses or a hat. Bring motion-sickness pills if you're vulnerable to seasickness. Granite State's seating is mostly wooden benches, so a seat cushion is a good idea if you have trouble with sitting on hard surfaces.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Hopefully, good weather and lots of interesting birds! Every trip is different, of course, but past spring trips have produced Northern Gannets, Wilson's Storm-petrels, Great and Sooty shearwaters, Northern Fulmars, Red-necked Phalaropes in breeding plumage (a rare sight indeed), a number of migrants, and a number of near-shore species. We often get good looks at Common and Roseate Terns from the White/Seavey Island tern colony, and Black Guillemots also appear around the Isles of Shoals most years. We've also gotten good looks at several whales of various species. Last year we got a once-in-a-lifetime gem: a wandering BOWHEAD whale!
REGISTRATION: You must register in advance for this trip. We need a minimum of 30 people to pay for the trip. We've set a maximum of 50 so that the boat doesn't get too crowded. Cost is $70 for NH Audubon members, $90 for non-members. Contact Massabesic Audubon Center (phone 603-668-2045, email <mac...>) to sign up. Contact either MAC or me with any questions you might have. Please be certain that you leave a phone number or email address where you can be contacted on Sunday May 27th, in case we have to cancel due to weather. There is no rain date; we go on the 28th, or not at all.
To go with the trip, I will be holding a 1-hour workshop at Massabesic Center on Saturday May 26th, as a basic introduction to the most common pelagic birds and how to identify them. Since we generally see both whales and birds on these trips, the workshop also includes information on the common whales of the Gulf of Maine.
My thanks go out to all who have made these trips a success in past years, and I hope to see you again this year ... along with as many new faces as we can fit! :-)
-- Jon Woolf
Manchester, NH
(Massabesic Audubon Center Volunteer)
|
Back to top Tree swallows at MAC!
| Jon Woolf <jsw...>: Mar 31 11:58AM -0400
At least half a dozen Tree Swallows were zipping and zooming above
the fields at Massabesic Audubon Center this morning. And there were
a bunch of Song Sparrows foraging in the brush.
Signs of spring!
-- Jon W.
Manchester, NH
|
Back to top Eastern Phoebe
| Joel Huntress <joelhuntress...>: Mar 31 08:34AM -0400
Calling in the woods behind the house this morning.
Joel Huntress
Barrington, NH
Sent from my iPhone
|
Back to top Spring Migrants, Wilson Pond Keene
| Pam Blair <pamelynblair...>: Mar 31 10:12AM
Late yesterday, Friday, at Wilson Pond, Keene:
1 Muscovy Duck
2 Common Goldeneye
8 Ringneck
2 Bufflehead
4 Mallard
1 Canada Goose
2 Common Mergansers
4 Gadwell
Back to top Looking for spring, 3/30
| Jon Woolf <jsw...>: Mar 30 09:01PM -0400
I went out birding for a while today, just wherever I felt like
stopping. Massabesic Audubon Center, Chapman's Landing, Great Bay
Discovery Center, Route 1A along the coast... There was nothing
spectacular, and the intermittent rain didn't help, but I got a few
nice sightings:
Lake Massabesic had a couple of Common Mergansers visible from the
road past Front Park. Massabesic Audubon Center had Song Sparrows
mixed in with the other feeder birds, and a mixed flock of Starlings,
Red-winged Blackbirds, and Common Grackles in the middle
field. There were swarms of juncos everywhere, a Bluebird or two,
some Robins, and I heard and saw a Red-bellied Woodpecker.
The osprey/eagle nest at Chapman's Landing had no visible activity,
so maybe the eagles that tried to nest there last year didn't come
back. Or maybe there was something there, just hunkered down because
of the miserable cold seeping rain. I did get some Red-winged
Blackbirds and a Mockingbird there, though.
At Great Bay Discovery Center, there were a bunch of ducks on the
bay: at least two Green-winged Teal, several Common Mergansers, some
Mallards, some Black Ducks, and a great many ducks that I identified
as male Greater Scaup, because they had blazing white sides - not
gray - and no sign of the white shoulder mark that distinguishes
Ring-necked Ducks.
I checked briefly at Sunset Farm, and found an enormous flock of
blackbirds - Red-wings, Grackles, possibly other species. Best guess
somewhere between 500 and 1000.
The tide was very high along Route 1A, but I got a few interesting
things here and there: Canada Geese at Fairhill salt marsh, Great
Cormorants on the rocks at Odiorne Point, Song Sparrows at Ragged
Neck. The best bird of the day was also at Ragged Neck: 30+ Purple
Sandpipers on the rocks at the tip of the peninsula. Been a while
since I saw any of those little guys.
Not a great day, but not a bad one either. At least I have _some_
evidence that spring is coming...
-- Jon Woolf
Manchester, NH
|
Back to top RFI Woodcock in Portsmouth
| marsha richelli <marshaaido...>: Mar 30 05:36PM -0700
In the past I have observed Woodcocks in the vicinity of Great Bay
Community College in Portsmouth. They are also reported most year near
the bike trail at Odiorne State Park as well as grassy areas near the SSC.
Marsha, Portsmouth
On Friday, March 30, 2018 at 11:47:34 AM UTC-4, Jean wrote:
|
Back to top E. Phoebe FOY
| Geoff Niswander <gizamofoto...>: Mar 30 04:34PM -0700
Yesterday and then again today. In Hillsboro, 1 mile from East Washington village.
|
Back to top spring arrivals, Contoocook River valley
| Phil Brown <downtownpab...>: Mar 30 11:15PM
I checked a few flooded fields and ponds this afternoon between Hillsborough and Hancock with strong evidence that spring has arrived! Some new migrants included Eastern Phoebe, Killdeer, and American Kestrel, Ring-necked Duck, Northern Pintail, and Green-winged Teal, with higher numbers of waterfowl evident on Powder Mill Pond.
Highlights:American Kestrel - 1 male at Spring Meadow Farm in Hillsborough (Bear Hill Rd.)Great Blue Heron - 1 each at McLane Center (Concord) and over downtown HillsboroughKilldeer - 8 behind Winter Valley Farm along 2nd NH Turnpike in Deering; 5 at Tenney Farm in Antrim
Powder Mill Pond:8 species of waterfowl:Common Merganser - 65Mallard - 40Green-winged Teal - 38 in two large groups feeding mainly in pond along edge of iceAmerican Black Duck - 32Northern Pintail - 7 including a flock of 6 (I've only recorded this species once on the pond previously)Ring-necked Duck - 6Bufflehead - 6Hooded Merganser - 5plus Mallard x American Black Duck - 1
Eastern Phoebe - 1 calling along edge of pondRing-billed Gull - flock of 9 over the pondBald Eagle - 3 including 1 adult incubating eggs on island
Phil BrownHancock, NH
|
Back to top FOY cedar waxwings in Litchfield
| Jonathan Smith <jksmith69...>: Mar 30 10:20PM
Foy at least for me, approximately 50 cedar waxwings in a tree in my front yard right now
Sent from my Sprint Samsung Galaxy S8.
|
Back to top Black Scoter - Newport
| <jacksonwrxt89...>: Mar 30 05:54PM -0400
I stumbled upon an adult male Black Scoter in the Sugar River in Newport this afternoon. It was found along Route 11 just upstream from the dam behind Stone Eagle Firearms. A nice and unexpected treat as I usually find local migrant Scoters only on the large lakes and ponds which are still iced in. It’s my first Scoter in the Sugar River period.
https://flic.kr/p/24z3AzL https://flic.kr/p/24z3AAh
-Dylan Jackson
Sunapee
Sent from my iPhone
|
Back to top
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Date: 3/31/18 5:35 pm From: Dorsey, Kurk <Kurk.Dorsey...> Subject: [NHBirds] tree swallows and a possible Black Vulture, 3/31
Birders,
This evening about 6:30 there was a large swarm of tree swallows on the Salmon Falls River between Rollinsford and South Berwick--well over 150, but since they went around a bend in the river it was hard to see the extent of the flock.
Earlier in the evening, I had a possible Black Vulture in Somersworth near Green and Indigo Hill Road. I just saw it briefly at a distance, but the bird had an odd, short-tailed, deep wingbeat silhouette. I searched the area by car but couldn't find anything.
Date: 3/31/18 4:29 pm From: <jacksonwrxt89...> Subject: [NHBirds] Sullivan County Spring Birding
This morning I went down to Fall Mountain in Walpole in hopes of getting my first official state BLACK VULTURE. Unfortunately, after 45 minutes of waiting I finally gave up and moved on to the Charlestown WTP. While walking around the facility I heard some Ravens high up overhead and saw three birds in the sky. To my delight one of the Ravens wasn’t a Raven at all but a BLACK VULTURE. The Ravens mobbed the Vulture as it gained altitude and eventually left it alone. I last saw the bird moving north before I lost sight of it. The same bird that’s been seen down in Walpole?
https://flic.kr/p/24jJiF6 https://flic.kr/p/25C1h67 https://flic.kr/p/24jJiEp
Other highlights throughout the day include:
Great Meadow, Charlestown:
Pretty quiet here today. The usual waterfowl explosion hasn’t really happened yet.
Green-winged Teal 18
Fall Mountain, Walpole (Cheshire County):
Cormorant sp. 6 migrating (too distant for me to confidently ID)
https://flic.kr/p/25C1h43 Peregrine Falcon
Charlestown WTP:
American Wigeon 2 (pair)
Ring-necked Duck 2
Common Goldeneye 17
BLACK VULTURE 1
Tree Swallow 5 FOY all migrating
Eastern Meadowlark 1
https://flic.kr/p/25C1h5L https://flic.kr/p/25C1h5q
I ended the day up along Mountain Road in Lempster where I had a pair of RED CROSSBILLS gritting in the road. I also had one fly over in the Ashuelot River Headwaters Forest.
https://flic.kr/p/G2EVsM https://flic.kr/p/24jJiGi
Date: 3/31/18 3:41 pm From: Phyllis <pyaffie...> Subject: [NHBirds] Sometimes It Pays to Stay Home
We spent most of the day exploring the coast from Portsmouth to Hampton Beach State Park and saw 1 distant adult Bald Eagle and 4 robins at Wentworth Mansion and one unidentified duck species at Rye Harbor.
After all that driving, we came home to find first-of-the-year return of Hooded Mergansers, Wood Ducks, one Mallard pair and one beautiful Great Blue in the pond behind our house.
Canada Goose 84 MIGRATING north in small groups.
Wood Duck 1
Double-crested Cormorant 1 MIGRATING north. Possibly a 2nd also.
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 2 Two birds flying north with GBHE past Bicentennial.
Later 2 birds (same?) in Little River salt marsh.
Turkey Vulture 3
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 6
Killdeer 4
Razorbill 7 7+ in area between Seal Rocks and Odiorne.
Glaucous Gull 1 Adult continues in Hampton harbor.
Snowy Owl 1 Perched on house north of Ragged Neck in Rye.
American Kestrel 2 MIGRATING.
Merlin 1
American Crow 3 MIGRATING.
Fish Crow 3 At Bicentennial Park. Two birds exploring possible
nest site in pine tree.
Horned Lark 4
Eastern Phoebe 2 at Odiorne Point State Park.
Tree Swallow 9 Six off Cross Beach Road in Seabrook at houses. 3
MIGRATING.
European Starling 7 MIGRATING.
American Tree Sparrow 2
Red-winged Blackbird 5 MIGRATING.
Brown-headed Cowbird 37 MIGRATING.
Common Grackle 40 MIGRATING.
Date: 3/31/18 9:10 am From: Jon Woolf <jsw...> Subject: [NHBirds] NH Audubon Spring Pelagic Birding Trip
Listfolk,
The thermometer may still be shivering, but the birds say spring is coming. So it must be time to start thinking about NH Audubon's spring Pelagic Birding Expedition. How the time flies.... 2018 marks ten years we've been doing these trips. This year we're going back to Memorial Day as the date; this year, that's Monday, May 28th. Otherwise, the plan is pretty much the same as in previous years:
WHAT: An all-day trip into the Gulf of Maine, looking for pelagic birds (although we'll also check out any whales and other marine life that we encounter). As always, we've chartered the whale-watching boat Granite State for this day of birding along Jeffreys Ledge and wherever else the birds may lead us. Steve Mirick will be on the microphone, and our hosts will be the highly skilled and experienced Captain Pete Reynolds and his crew. We'll leave dockside at 8am and stay at sea the whole day. We should return to Rye Harbor around 5pm.
WHEN: Monday, May 28th (Memorial Day).
WHERE: Meet dockside at Rye Harbor at 7:30AM for an 8:00AM departure.
WHAT TO BRING: Binoculars, of course. A lunch if you want to. A digital camera if you have one -- these trips often produce excellent photo opportunities for both whales and birds. Weather on the open water is unpredictable, so dress warm, in multiple layers in case you get too warm and need to take off a layer. Certainly bring sunscreen, and either sunglasses or a hat. Bring motion-sickness pills if you're vulnerable to seasickness. Granite State's seating is mostly wooden benches, so a seat cushion is a good idea if you have trouble with sitting on hard surfaces.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Hopefully, good weather and lots of interesting birds! Every trip is different, of course, but past spring trips have produced Northern Gannets, Wilson's Storm-petrels, Great and Sooty shearwaters, Northern Fulmars, Red-necked Phalaropes in breeding plumage (a rare sight indeed), a number of migrants, and a number of near-shore species. We often get good looks at Common and Roseate Terns from the White/Seavey Island tern colony, and Black Guillemots also appear around the Isles of Shoals most years. We've also gotten good looks at several whales of various species. Last year we got a once-in-a-lifetime gem: a wandering BOWHEAD whale!
REGISTRATION: You must register in advance for this trip. We need a minimum of 30 people to pay for the trip. We've set a maximum of 50 so that the boat doesn't get too crowded. Cost is $70 for NH Audubon members, $90 for non-members. Contact Massabesic Audubon Center (phone 603-668-2045, email <mac...>) to sign up. Contact either MAC or me with any questions you might have. Please be certain that you leave a phone number or email address where you can be contacted on Sunday May 27th, in case we have to cancel due to weather. There is no rain date; we go on the 28th, or not at all.
To go with the trip, I will be holding a 1-hour workshop at Massabesic Center on Saturday May 26th, as a basic introduction to the most common pelagic birds and how to identify them. Since we generally see both whales and birds on these trips, the workshop also includes information on the common whales of the Gulf of Maine.
My thanks go out to all who have made these trips a success in past years, and I hope to see you again this year ... along with as many new faces as we can fit! :-)
-- Jon Woolf Manchester, NH (Massabesic Audubon Center Volunteer)
Date: 3/31/18 8:58 am From: Jon Woolf <jsw...> Subject: [NHBirds] Tree swallows at MAC!
At least half a dozen Tree Swallows were zipping and zooming above the fields at Massabesic Audubon Center this morning. And there were a bunch of Song Sparrows foraging in the brush.
Date: 3/30/18 6:01 pm From: Jon Woolf <jsw...> Subject: [NHBirds] Looking for spring, 3/30
I went out birding for a while today, just wherever I felt like stopping. Massabesic Audubon Center, Chapman's Landing, Great Bay Discovery Center, Route 1A along the coast... There was nothing spectacular, and the intermittent rain didn't help, but I got a few nice sightings:
Lake Massabesic had a couple of Common Mergansers visible from the road past Front Park. Massabesic Audubon Center had Song Sparrows mixed in with the other feeder birds, and a mixed flock of Starlings, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Common Grackles in the middle field. There were swarms of juncos everywhere, a Bluebird or two, some Robins, and I heard and saw a Red-bellied Woodpecker.
The osprey/eagle nest at Chapman's Landing had no visible activity, so maybe the eagles that tried to nest there last year didn't come back. Or maybe there was something there, just hunkered down because of the miserable cold seeping rain. I did get some Red-winged Blackbirds and a Mockingbird there, though.
At Great Bay Discovery Center, there were a bunch of ducks on the bay: at least two Green-winged Teal, several Common Mergansers, some Mallards, some Black Ducks, and a great many ducks that I identified as male Greater Scaup, because they had blazing white sides - not gray - and no sign of the white shoulder mark that distinguishes Ring-necked Ducks.
I checked briefly at Sunset Farm, and found an enormous flock of blackbirds - Red-wings, Grackles, possibly other species. Best guess somewhere between 500 and 1000.
The tide was very high along Route 1A, but I got a few interesting things here and there: Canada Geese at Fairhill salt marsh, Great Cormorants on the rocks at Odiorne Point, Song Sparrows at Ragged Neck. The best bird of the day was also at Ragged Neck: 30+ Purple Sandpipers on the rocks at the tip of the peninsula. Been a while since I saw any of those little guys.
Not a great day, but not a bad one either. At least I have _some_ evidence that spring is coming...
In the past I have observed Woodcocks in the vicinity of Great Bay
Community College in Portsmouth. They are also reported most year near
the bike trail at Odiorne State Park as well as grassy areas near the SSC.
Marsha, Portsmouth
On Friday, March 30, 2018 at 11:47:34 AM UTC-4, Jean wrote:
>
> Hi! Are there any places in Portsmouth that are known to have Woodcock I
> can check out? Any suggestions appreciated!
>
> Signs of migration are meager. Had Common Grackles in yard. Eastern
> Bluebirds are interested in my neighbor’s bluebird house. They had 2
> successful clutches last year from same box. I have a pair of
> White-breasted Nuthatches inspecting a box that had the same species fledge
> 3 birds last year. Carolina Wren made a couple of visits & Red-bellied
> Woodpecker is a daily visitor.
>
> Happy Migration,
>
> Jean Mullen
> Portsmouth, NH
> <jmul......> <javascript:>
>
> Sent from XFINITY Connect App
>
Date: 3/30/18 4:15 pm From: 'Phil Brown' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] spring arrivals, Contoocook River valley
I checked a few flooded fields and ponds this afternoon between Hillsborough and Hancock with strong evidence that spring has arrived! Some new migrants included Eastern Phoebe, Killdeer, and American Kestrel, Ring-necked Duck, Northern Pintail, and Green-winged Teal, with higher numbers of waterfowl evident on Powder Mill Pond.
Highlights:American Kestrel - 1 male at Spring Meadow Farm in Hillsborough (Bear Hill Rd.)Great Blue Heron - 1 each at McLane Center (Concord) and over downtown HillsboroughKilldeer - 8 behind Winter Valley Farm along 2nd NH Turnpike in Deering; 5 at Tenney Farm in Antrim
Powder Mill Pond:8 species of waterfowl:Common Merganser - 65Mallard - 40Green-winged Teal - 38 in two large groups feeding mainly in pond along edge of iceAmerican Black Duck - 32Northern Pintail - 7 including a flock of 6 (I've only recorded this species once on the pond previously)Ring-necked Duck - 6Bufflehead - 6Hooded Merganser - 5plus Mallard x American Black Duck - 1
Eastern Phoebe - 1 calling along edge of pondRing-billed Gull - flock of 9 over the pondBald Eagle - 3 including 1 adult incubating eggs on island
Phil BrownHancock, NH
I stumbled upon an adult male Black Scoter in the Sugar River in Newport this afternoon. It was found along Route 11 just upstream from the dam behind Stone Eagle Firearms. A nice and unexpected treat as I usually find local migrant Scoters only on the large lakes and ponds which are still iced in. It’s my first Scoter in the Sugar River period.
https://flic.kr/p/24z3AzL https://flic.kr/p/24z3AAh
Date: 3/30/18 12:28 pm From: 'Stephen Whitney' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Lakes Region NE area
<nhbirds...> "Stephen Whitney" <swhit_41...> >> 3/29/2018 Thursday Subject: Lakes Region NE area
Waukewan Bridge 10:30-- Hooded Mergansers, 2 (male and female). At ice edge within easy ID binoc range. Wetlands opening up with meandering narrow flow. Canada geese, 3.
Squam River, Ashland between Riveredge Marina and River Street Bridge-- Canada geese, nine in several groups. Two water birds cannot firmly ID. Possibly American Black Duck or hybrid? Broad blacker stripe from dark head down top of neck. Yellow bill.
Ashland Wastewater Plant (Collins Street) FOY-- Wood ducks, 2, male and female. Confirm with scope. FOY last year 4/9/2017 Sunday.
Observed a flock of large birds in the hemlock tree bordering the woods at the back of our property. Looked like jays without their crests. With binoculars, I saw that they were certainly bluejays.
Looked it up and found that when in a mutally supportive foraging flock, jays keep their crests down. Interesting.
Sent from my Verizon 4G LTE smartphone
-------- Original message --------
From: "'OMGoodness.' via NHBirds" <nhbirds...>
Date: 3/30/18 12:42 PM (GMT-05:00)
To: <nhbirds...>
Subject: [NHBirds] Thyrs..-- Up the coast
I took a quick ride up the coast from Route 111, North Hampton
to Seal Rock yesterday.
------------------------------------------------
--- Rye State Park,
-- Long Tail ducks --- 6 close to the rocks at low tide.
-- Many pairs of Common Eiders
-- Red Breasted Mergansers-
-- Savannah Sparrow.-- 1 -- at Rye State Park.
** I am not that good at Sparrow ID but I am
98% positive this was a Savannah Sparrow.
Flying about in the reeds on the north side of the Park.
-- Common Eiders at Seal Rocks between the rocks and the shore.
Bill Perry from Hampstead, NH
--
To Change your e-mail delivery settings (digest, daily, no mail) visit:
Date: 3/30/18 9:42 am From: 'OMGoodness.' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Thyrs..-- Up the coast
I took a quick ride up the coast from Route 111, North Hampton to Seal Rock yesterday. ------------------------------------------------ --- Rye State Park,
-- Long Tail ducks --- 6 close to the rocks at low tide. -- Many pairs of Common Eiders -- Red Breasted Mergansers- -- Savannah Sparrow.-- 1 -- at Rye State Park. ** I am not that good at Sparrow ID but I am 98% positive this was a Savannah Sparrow. Flying about in the reeds on the north side of the Park.
-- Common Eiders at Seal Rocks between the rocks and the shore.
Date: 3/30/18 8:47 am From: Jean <jmullen43...> Subject: [NHBirds] RFI Woodcock in Portsmouth
Hi! Are there any places in Portsmouth that are known to have Woodcock I can check out? Any suggestions appreciated!
Signs of migration are meager. Had Common Grackles in yard. Eastern Bluebirds are interested in my neighbor’s bluebird house. They had 2 successful clutches last year from same box.I have a pair of White-breasted Nuthatches inspecting a box that had the same species fledge 3 birds last year. Carolina Wren made a couple of visits&Red-bellied Woodpecker is a daily visitor.
Date: 3/29/18 3:34 pm From: Anthony Hill <anhinga13...> Subject: [NHBirds] class at Audubon camp in Maine
Posted with permission of the moderator:
An unusual scholarship opportunity is opening up at the Hog Island
Audubon Camp in Maine for their Hands-On Bird Science session, June
10-15.National Audubon will provide several 50% subsidies to individuals
who would like attend this program of the "doing of ornithology" -mist
netting and bird banding, preparing bird study skins, bird censusing on
a 330 acre island, and sound recordings of birds.See the program
description at the website, and then, if interested, contact Hog Island
program director Eva Matthews Lark at <hogisland...><mailto:<hogisland...> <mailto:<hogisland...><mailto:<hogisland...> for more information on how to
apply.These scholarships are worth approximately $550 towards the full
price of $1095 for this all-inclusive 6-day program, including food,
lodging, boat trips, instruction, etc.
Anthony Hill
Certified Trainer, Passerines and Hummingbirds
Co-Chair, Certification Committee
North American Banding Council (http://www.nabanding.net)
Coordinator, Appledore Island Migration Station
| Préservons l'environnement - Avez-vous réellement besoin d'imprimer ce courriel ? |
| Please consider the environment - Do you really need to print this e-mail? |
| Piense en verde - Antes de imprimir este email hágase la siguiente pregunta, ¿es necesario? |
** BUY TWO duck stamps at the Post Office and conserve habitat **
Date: 3/29/18 3:02 pm From: Christopher McPherson <cmcpherson687...> Subject: [NHBirds] Lost and Found: Nikon Lens Hood Great Meadow, Charlestown NH
I found a lens hood that appears to be for a Nikon camera at the Old House overlooking Great Meadow, Charlestown, NH.. Contact me off line if you know who owns it.
Date: 3/29/18 11:47 am From: Bird Watcher's Supply <birdwsg...> Subject: [NHBirds] 16 Black Vultures! Essex, MA 3/29
Phil Brown called at 2:30pm to report a kettle of 20 vultures over Essex, SIXTEEN of which were BLACK VULTURES! The tight circle of vultures were not too high and were drifting toward the center of town and Route 133. I don't remember ever hearing of this many black vultures north of Boston!
I post this to PIBirds and NHBirds in case this kettle of vultures makes its way further north!
Steve Grinley
Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift
194 Route 1
Route 1 Traffic Circle
Newburyport, MA 01950
<Birdwsg...>
978-462-0775
www.birdwatcherssupplyandgift.com
We would like to invite everyone to our Optics Day with Swarovski Optik on Sunday, April 8, 2015 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at Bird Watcher’s Supply & Gift at the Route 1 Traffic Circle in Newburyport. A Swarovski Representative will be here with their latest products and will answer all of your questions. Come see the new BTX, binocular eyepiece module, for Swarovski’s newest ATX/STX Spotting Scopes! You can even trade your old Swarovski optics for an instant rebate toward the latest technology!
This is a FREE event where you can view, compare and purchase Swarovski products, and /or any of our other binoculars and scopes, in all price ranges, from Zeiss, Kowa, Nikon, Ricoh Pentax and Opticron, as well as Manfrotto Tripods. There are instant rebates and mail-in rebates on select products from the various manufacturers.
At our Optics Day, everyone will receive an ADDITIONAL discount on all binoculars, scopes and tripods to offset the Massachusetts Sales Tax – so we will pay the tax, not you!
Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift is celebrating 24 years of serving the birding community. We are a proud, long-time supporter of Mass Audubon, including Bird-a-thon, The Superbowl of Birding, and the MAS Ipswich River WS Annual Audubon Nature Festival. We are also supporters of the Brookline Bird Club and Essex County Greenbelt. We also pass along sightings in support of the Massbird, NHBirds, PlumIslandBirds, and CapeCodBirds communities as well.
There is no pre-registration for this event, just come and enjoy! We hope to see you at our Optics Day on Sunday, April 8!
Steve Grinley
Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift
194 Route 1
Route 1 Traffic Circle
Newburyport, MA 01950
<Birdwsg...>
978-462-0775
www.birdwatcherssupplyandgift.com
Date: 3/29/18 4:58 am From: Dana Duxbury-Fox <danafox...> Subject: [NHBirds] Where is Whitney NIchols
An old friend of mine (great birder) who grew up in Reading MA asked me if I know the whereabouts of Whitney Nichols who also lived in Reading a long time ago and my friend thinks he moved to Vermont.
Anyone have any contact information for Whitney? Please respond off line.
Date: 3/29/18 4:37 am From: Dana Duxbury-Fox <danafox...> Subject: [NHBirds] Crow Patrol March 28 and 27 Lawrence MA
March 28th - Bob and I arrived home from a meeting in Wolfeboro, NH in time for crow patrol. What will they do next? Last night we arrived an hour before sunset (a little after 6 PM) and there were very few crows to be seen from the boathouse on Eaton St. at the crow bar and a few going in to the southside to the west of us. We followed them to the industrial park and saw 12 Robins, 25 Grackles, a Cowbird, Red-winged Blackbird and a couple of Juncos from Haffner's. A few crows were peeling off the back. Going to the other side of the Merrimack River to stage??????
Back to the boathouse a Lesser Black-backed Gull landed briefly on the river. It was a warm sunny evening and a beautiful spot to be observing the crows. Much to our surprise - THEY WERE STAGING ON THE OTHER NORTH SIDE OF THE RIVER. They perched high in the leafless trees lining the river from the crow bar east some way. Most of those trees stood higher than the ones behind them so the birds were silhouetted against the sky. Vast numbers kept pouring in from the east and some from the west. All staged to the west of their roosting area the past few nights. Bob got a chance to really get a good count and there were over 4000 birds by sunset. At one point, a great number of them became very noisy (as the seem to do when they are going to lift up and swirl around) and lifted up. The majority of them circled back into the same trees but two groups broke off - one going west to the south side and one going east of us to the south side. Otherwise they were quite settled down last night. Eventually both of those groups returned to the northside. The west group all seemed to drop down to the river's surface trying to catch something from the surface of the water. Too far away to tell what. It was beautiful with the colorful sky reflected in the river and thrilling watching the numbers grow and grow and more trees being occupied by the incoming crows that seem to be arriving later than usual.
At about a half hour after sunset 7:30 PM, the noise level rose again and a large group of crows rose from the middle of the group and flew over others to the east of them to the trees behind the church were they roosted since Sunday . Slowly, the others all followed suit. The roosting crows roosted far more densely that the staging crows. There was a dramatic difference.
Another night on crow patrol - another fascinating memory to savor in the months ahead.
March 27th - It was much cooler and cloudy. The crows roosted to the east of Industrial Way and took off at 7:07 PM to roost. They flew away from us and from the boathouse we saw them headed for the church. On the other side of the river, they were scattered further west than the past two nights. Were there more of them???
Wish you were there to enjoy the spectacle. They may be just crows but they are spectacular crows!
Date: 3/28/18 6:58 pm From: Mark Suomala <mrsuomala...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, March 26, 2018 Revised
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, March 26th,
2018.
A SNOWY OWL was seen at Rye Harbor State Park, and 1 was seen at Pulpit
Rocks in Rye, both on March 24th. A SNOWY OWL was reported from coastal
Seabrook on March 20th.
A BLACK VULTURE and a PEREGRINE FALCON were seen at Fall Mountain in Walpole
on March 23rd.
A GLAUCOUS GULL was seen at the Seabrook side of Hampton Harbor on March
24th and 25th.
2 EURASIAN WIGEONS were seen on Great Bay from the Great Bay Discovery
Center in Greenland on March 23rd, and 1 was reported from there again on
the 25th.
A male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was seen on the Pemigewasset River in Franklin on
March 24th, and 1 was seen on the Connecticut River in Hinsdale on the 23rd.
4 REDHEADS were seen at the Hillsdale Setbacks on the Connecticut River on
March 24th, and 1 was seen at World End Pond in Salem on the 21st.
A LESSER SCAUP was seen on the Connecticut River in Charlestown on March
24th, and 1 was seen on Lake Winnisquam South on the 26th. A GADWALL was
reported from Eel Pond in Rye on the 21st.
A few RED CROSSBILLS were reported from Lempster, Bethlehem, Jefferson,
Ashland and Barnstead all during the past week.
A BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was seen near Little Cherry Pond at the
Pondicherry National Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson on March 20th.
2 OSPREY were seen along the Connecticut River in West Chesterfield on March
23rd. A MERLIN was seen in Lebanon on March 21st, and 3 MERLINS were
reported from the Lakes Region on the 26th.
A few FISH CROWS were reported from Manchester, Durham and the coast during
the past week.
An EASTERN TOWHEE was reported from Moultonborough on March 20th, a HERMIT
THRUSH was seen in Newington on the 24th, and a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was
reported from Lincoln on the 22nd.
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 at:
<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
On Sunday, March 25, I viewed 5 white-winged crossbill at the AMC Highland Center. Marsha Richelli
On Tuesday, March 27, 2018 at 5:21:48 PM UTC-4, David Govatski wrote: > > While xc skiing at Bretton Woods I saw two boreal chickadees along the > Dartmouth Brook Trail and heard another one on the Split Rock Trail. This > is good habitat for boreal chickadees with a lot of young red spruce > stands. Other birds included approximately 20 purple finches, 30 pine > siskins, 2 white-winged crossbills, several robins and black-capped > chickadees. Still plenty of snow in the woods and great xc skiing but > Bretton Woods Touring Center is closing for the season on April 1. > > David Govatski > Jefferson, NH
Date: 3/28/18 7:23 am From: Catherine Fisher <catherineckx...> Subject: [NHBirds] Blackbirds, hooded mergansers, Lee
In Stevens' fields along Tuttle Road, Lee
Hundreds of robins, red-wingeds, grackles cardinals pair of black ducks in Little River Canada geese w.b. nuthatch in pond in east field: pair of mallards, pair of hooded mergansers red-bellied woodpecker
13 Allen's Ave.
golden crowned kinglet continues house finch song sparrow many, mostly male dark-eyed juncos, including Mr. Goggles whose leucism manifests as two white rings around, but s bit away from, his eyes.
Date: 3/28/18 5:54 am From: Jim Sparrell <jimsparrell...> Subject: [NHBirds] Osprey at Great Bay NWR
This morning I headed out on the trail and there was no osprey to be seen. Coming back at 8:15 am there was one on the nest and then it flew over to a telephone poll. I have been checking daily so it seems like it just arrived.
If anyone is interested in some pictures of the newly welcomed ABA Hawaii birds there are some pictures from our recent trip at https://flic.kr/s/aHsmhHCu2F
Yesterday afternoon, soaring over house. Had binocs on it for a solid two min before it soared out of sight. Also, 14 robins at our crabapple tree for past 3 days and a pair of bluebird's checking out our nest boxes. Crocuses blooming in south facing gardens!!
Date: 3/28/18 4:45 am From: deanneart via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Turkey Vultures
The dead tree behind out house has again become a Turkey Vulture roost. There are currently 35 vultures in the tree. This has happened the last several years during spring migration. Pretty impressive sight to see that many huge birds up close. Monday one of them swooped down and flew by at eye level right outside my windows. All I can say is WOW!
So far I haven't see any Black Vultures in the group
Date: 3/27/18 11:36 pm From: Siobhan Basile <smbasile...> Subject: [NHBirds] Sunday, March 25 Epping crows and peregrine falcon
This past Sunday, March 25, I went to the Epping Conservation Area behind Lowe’s. I was surprised to see five American crows feasting on staghorn sumac fruits. There were also about 30 American robins eating the sumac as well. The crows flew to the roof of Lowe’s and began alarm calling, then flew away.
I turned to look around and saw a falcon flying over the pond and towards me. The bird flew back to the direction it came from and landed on the water tower. I believe this is my first peregrine falcon for my town. The peregrine looked interested when a mourning dove began cooing and even more interested at the sound of a duck calling.
Here are a couple digiscoped videos and photos of the crow and peregrine:
Date: 3/27/18 2:21 pm From: David Govatski <david.govatski...> Subject: [NHBirds] Boreal Chickadees at Bretton Woods
While xc skiing at Bretton Woods I saw two boreal chickadees along the Dartmouth Brook Trail and heard another one on the Split Rock Trail. This is good habitat for boreal chickadees with a lot of young red spruce stands. Other birds included approximately 20 purple finches, 30 pine siskins, 2 white-winged crossbills, several robins and black-capped chickadees. Still plenty of snow in the woods and great xc skiing but Bretton Woods Touring Center is closing for the season on April 1.
Date: 3/27/18 11:24 am From: Marnich, Debra - NRCS, Conway, NH <debra.marnich...> Subject: [NHBirds] FOY Bluebird North Conway
Saw a FOY bluebird in North Conway today on the West Side Road.
Debra Marnich
Soil Conservationist
USDA, NRCS
73 Main Street, PO Box 533
Conway , NH 03818
603-901-3004
This electronic message contains information generated by the USDA solely for the intended recipients. Any unauthorized interception of this message or the use or disclosure of the information it contains may violate the law and subject the violator to civil or criminal penalties. If you believe you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete the email immediately.
Date: 3/27/18 5:19 am From: Dana Duxbury-Fox <danafox...> Subject: [NHBirds] Crow Patrol Many Crows have moved on
Last night they staged in Lawrence on the SOUTH side of the Merrimack River off of Fallon St. to the east of the Eaton St. boathouse and roosted on the NORTH side of the river off of Water St. behind the Riverside Church - fitting isn't it at Easter time?? On Sunday night they staged behind the New Balance Distribution building off of Industrial Way in Lawrence and also roosted behind the church. They are still fun to watch if you haven't seen them yet.
They are now roosting a mile from their original roosting spot (behind the New Balance FACTORY along the Merrimack in a narrow row of trees)!! The furthest they got from the original spot was 2.97 miles in Methuen to the west of the cemetery. Will they finally get back there????
This past week has shown a tremendous change in the number of crows coming into the Greater Lawrence Winter Crow Roost. Our maximum number was 16,000 which we counted when they were in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in January where they were easier to count. They have been more difficult to count during their staging south of the Merrimack River in the Andover/Lawrence industrial Park off of River/Andover St. but we have had a few nights when we counted 12,000+
Last night there were 1600+ . Are these just the local crows and were the others all migrants? Has anyone seen flocks of crows migrating north in New Hampshire, Maine or Vermont? My local crows are not staying on territory yet but none of the crows we saw this winter are tagged - YET - so it is hard to know.
We are looking for a researcher who would like to study the roost next year. Tagging the crows is expensive as you need to buy the tags, pay to download the data and then analyze it. We have identified an experienced organization that will capture and tag them. We will keep you posted on our plans and how you might be able to help. So much to learn!
Any observations that you had and want to share are appreciated.
Dana Duxbury-Fox, Bob Fox and Craig Gibson (the full team)
Date: 3/26/18 6:27 pm From: Mark Suomala <mrsuomala...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, March 26, 2018
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, March 26th,
2018.
A PACIFIC LOON was reported from the Squamscott River in Stratham, and 1 was
seen on the coast from Bicentennial Park in Hampton, both on March 25th.
A SNOWY OWL was seen at Rye Harbor State Park, and 1 was seen at Pulpit
Rocks in Rye, both on March 24th. A SNOWY OWL was reported from coastal
Seabrook on March 20th.
A BLACK VULTURE and a PEREGRINE FALCON were seen at Fall Mountain in Walpole
on March 23rd.
A GLAUCOUS GULL was seen at the Seabrook side of Hampton Harbor on March
24th and 25th.
2 EURASIAN WIGEONS were seen on Great Bay from the Great Bay Discovery
Center in Greenland on March 23rd, and 1 was reported from there again on
the 25th.
A male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was seen on the Pemigewasset River in Franklin on
March 24th, and 1 was seen on the Connecticut River in Hinsdale on the 23rd.
4 REDHEADS were seen at the Hillsdale Setbacks on the Connecticut River on
March 24th, and 1 was seen at World End Pond in Salem on the 21st.
A LESSER SCAUP was seen on the Connecticut River in Charlestown on March
24th, and 1 was seen on Lake Winnisquam South on the 26th. A GADWALL was
reported from Eel Pond in Rye on the 21st.
A few RED CROSSBILLS were reported from Lempster, Bethlehem, Jefferson,
Ashland and Barnstead all during the past week.
A BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was seen near Little Cherry Pond at the
Pondicherry National Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson on March 20th.
2 OSPREY were seen along the Connecticut River in West Chesterfield on March
23rd. A MERLIN was seen in Lebanon on March 21st, and 3 MERLINS were
reported from the Lakes Region on the 26th.
A few FISH CROWS were reported from Manchester, Durham and the coast during
the past week.
An EASTERN TOWHEE was reported from Moultonborough on March 20th, a HERMIT
THRUSH was seen in Newington on the 24th, and a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was
reported from Lincoln on the 22nd.
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 at:
<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
Date: 3/26/18 2:43 pm From: DEBRA M POWERS <dmp2ec...> Subject: [NHBirds] spring in Durham/Newmarket area
Spring has sprung, the great blue heron are back in Durham and Newmarket. 8 wood ducks in Durham, 5 Ring-necked ducks in Newmarket. Along with one Eagle over durham and two redtails.
While checking on Eagles this morning in Moultonborough, I heard a pair of Merlins vocalizing at Long Island Beach. At my house in Ashland I had a flyover Merlin and a Red Crossbill.
At Lake Winnisquam South: Lesser Scaup -- 1 Bufflehead -- 1 Common Goldeneye -- 4 Ring-necked Duck -- 3
I've confirmed incubation at four Lakes Region Bald Eagle nests in the last week. Another pair looks like it failed already (likely laid just before one of the big snow storms) and two other pairs hadn't laid as of yesterday.
Yesterday at Waukewan Inlet: Black Ducks - 21 Hooded Merganser - 7
Date: 3/26/18 5:48 am From: Stephanie Parkinson <sparkinson...> Subject: [NHBirds] Capital Chpt. FT: CANOE BIRDING ON THE MERRIMACK
Field Trip: Canoe Birding on the Merrimack River
Date: Saturday, April 7, 8:00 AM. Ends in the early afternoon.
Bring your canoe or kayak and join us for a morning of drifting down the Merrimack River from Boscawen to Penacook as we look for birds along the way. Bring snacks or a light meal, as we will be on the river until early afternoon. Pre-registration is required for this trip. If the river conditions are not suitable to paddle we will bird from land. Meet at 8:00 A.M. at the Hannah Dustin Park 'N Ride in Penacook, on Route 4 West, one mile off Exit 17 of I-93. Contact Bob Quinn at <raqbirds...><mailto:<raqbirds...>.
SULLOWAY & HOLLIS, P.L.L.C.: This message is a PRIVATE communication which may contain attorney / client privileged material. If you are not the intended recipient, please do not read, copy, use, or disclose to others. If you have received this message in error, please reply to sender and delete this message from your system. Thank you.
