Just had to brag.
I walked on an abandoned golf course here in town where they’re going to build an age restricted golf club, eventually. It being now left alone, the critters have taken over. I flushed some flickers, not usually in a “flock”, but I counted 9 flying from the ground to the trees!
Evy Nathan
Kingston
Date: 4/17/24 6:13 am From: Pamela Hunt <phunt...> Subject: [NHBirds] Whip-poor-will survey route available in Whitefield
Greetings NH birders,
Another whip-poor-will survey route has opened up. This time the route is in Whitefield/Jefferson. Any North Country folks interested in a bit of nocturnal birding?
Here's the repeat of the info I sent out for the other open route (New Boston) yesterday:
The key requirement to survey a route is a flexible schedule. Routes need to be surveyed during 2-week intervals centered on the full moon, and when the skies are clear. In some years this makes it difficult to get a survey conducted despite each observer's best intentions. This year's survey windows are May 15-30 and June 14-28, with the first half of each logistically better (which I can explain in more detail to interested parties. Each route only needs to be surveyed once. Counts are conducted after dark, along roads, and consist of 10 points spaced 1 mile apart. They take about 1.5 hours to complete. Observers must be willing to drive at night (you are welcome to bring a friend for companionship/safety) and recognize the call of a whip-poor-will.
Please reply with interest and/or questions,
Pam
Pamela Hunt, Ph.D.
Senior Biologist for Avian Conservation
NH Audubon
603-753-9137 (home phone since I'm still rarely in the office)
Date: 4/16/24 11:28 am From: 'A. Robbins' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Re: Loggerhead Shrike sightings in NH
Thanks for the great find, Ian.
We were able to see the Loggerhead Shrike today.
A little history of George Robbins' Loggerhead Shrike....
He was a college student at UNH when he found it in Durham in 1974.
He was all excited to see a shrike in NH, since he was hoping it was a
Northern Shrike,
which would have been a life bird for him.....
But, he was actually a bit disappointed !!!
to discover that, instead, it was JUST a Loggerhead, since he had seen
plenty of them
while growing up in Maryland.
George had no clue how rare a Loggerhead Shrike was in NH until
he got back to Ornithology class and his professor, Art Borror, told him
how amazing the record was.
So, this is his second Loggerhead Shrike for the state, with his first only
50 years ago....
Andrea and George Robbins
On Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at 11:00:27 AM UTC-4 Iain MacLeod wrote:
> I'm glad lots of people got to see the shrike in Laconia yesterday. And,
> hopefully more will see it today. I did a little digging in ebird on
> previous sightings in the state, and in the breeding bird atlas for some
> additional records that haven't made it to ebird. Most of the modern-day
> records have been one-day (or actually one-minute) wonders and single
> observer records. Apparently only one has been photographed in the state
> prior to yesterday. Thousands of photographs were taken of the bird
> yesterday.
>
> Loggerheads used to breed in the state until about 1910. After that it
> became a rare vagrant.
>
> The following records are in ebird:
> One is East Conway in 1951
> Two records from Dublin – in 1957, 1970.
> Monroe ("nesting pair"!) in 1961
> Strafford County (seen by George Robbins only) in 1974
> Newington (seen by Steve Mirick only) in 1997
> Hillsborough (photographed by Robin Feustel only) 2020
>
> The Atlas of Breeding Birds in NH lists the following records that are not
> in ebird:
> Lancaster 1963
> Shelbourne 1971
> Canterbury 1974
> Hebron 1980
> Sunapee 1982
> Bridgewater 1983
> Carroll 1986
>
> So, enjoy this very cooperative bird now. It may be a while before we see
> one again in NH.
>
> *Iain MacLeod*
> Executive Director
> Squam Lakes Natural Science Center
> PO Box 173, 23 Science Center Road,
> Holderness, NH 03245
> 603-968-7194 x123 <(603)%20968-7194>
> www.nhnature.org
>
>
Date: 4/16/24 8:15 am From: Pamela Hunt <phunt...> Subject: [NHBirds] Whip-poor-will survey route available in New Boston
Greetings NH birders,
A long-time volunteer who has surveyed one of NH's 18 whip-poor-will routes is "retiring" this year and thus in need of replacement. The route in question is located primarily in New Boston.
The key requirement to survey a route is a flexible schedule. Routes need to be surveyed during 2-week intervals centered on the full moon, and when the skies are clear. In some years this makes it difficult to get a survey conducted despite each observer's best intentions. This year's survey windows are May 15-30 and June 14-28, with the first half of each logistically better (which I can explain in more detail to interested parties. Each route only needs to be surveyed once. Counts are conducted after dark, along roads, and consist of 10 points spaced 1 mile apart. They take about 1.5 hours to complete. Observers must be willing to drive at night (you are welcome to bring a friend for companionship/safety) and recognize the call of a whip-poor-will.
Please reply with interest and/or questions,
Pam
Pamela Hunt, Ph.D.
Senior Biologist for Avian Conservation
NH Audubon
603-753-9137 (home phone since I'm still rarely in the office)
Date: 4/16/24 8:00 am From: 'Iain MacLeod' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Loggerhead Shrike sightings in NH
I'm glad lots of people got to see the shrike in Laconia yesterday. And, hopefully more will see it today. I did a little digging in ebird on previous sightings in the state, and in the breeding bird atlas for some additional records that haven't made it to ebird. Most of the modern-day records have been one-day (or actually one-minute) wonders and single observer records. Apparently only one has been photographed in the state prior to yesterday. Thousands of photographs were taken of the bird yesterday.
Loggerheads used to breed in the state until about 1910. After that it became a rare vagrant.
The following records are in ebird:
One is East Conway in 1951
Two records from Dublin – in 1957, 1970.
Monroe ("nesting pair"!) in 1961
Strafford County (seen by George Robbins only) in 1974
Newington (seen by Steve Mirick only) in 1997
Hillsborough (photographed by Robin Feustel only) 2020
The Atlas of Breeding Birds in NH lists the following records that are not in ebird:
Lancaster 1963
Shelbourne 1971
Canterbury 1974
Hebron 1980
Sunapee 1982
Bridgewater 1983
Carroll 1986
So, enjoy this very cooperative bird now. It may be a while before we see one again in NH.
Iain MacLeod
Executive Director
Squam Lakes Natural Science Center
PO Box 173, 23 Science Center Road,
Holderness, NH 03245
603-968-7194 x123
www.nhnature.org<http://www.nhnature.org>
Date: 4/16/24 5:40 am From: 'Rob Woodward' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Shrike gone
I just watched the Loggerhead Shrike at the state school fly from his perch, where he was singing persistently, and head high and away to the southeast in a manner that suggested he is not coming back. i will double check later but for now he is a goner.
Date: 4/15/24 4:01 pm From: 'Rob Woodward' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] if you missed the Shrike today
The Loggerhead Shrike was still present when the last of us left at 6:30 pm, actively feeding in the field in front of the old milking parlor. I will get there early tomorrow to relocate it for those of you who did not get a chance to see it today.
Date: 4/15/24 12:23 pm From: Evelyn Nathan <evynathan...> Subject: [NHBirds] small flock of palm warblers ion Newton
Walked the Peanut Trail in Newton today. There were palm warblers and tree swallows everywhere. Very hard to capture the warblers with a camera! They’re fast and flitty and don't sit long - always careful to keep branches between me and them.
Evy Nathan
Kingston
Date: 4/14/24 7:05 pm From: Jon Woolf <jsw...> Subject: [NHBirds] NH Audubon Spring 2024 Pelagic Birding Trip
Listfolk,
Spring is here, so it must be time for Massabesic Audubon Center's
Spring Pelagic Birding Trip!
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, Jane Mirick will be helping spot birds, 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 27 (Memorial Day).
WHERE: Meet dockside at Rye Harbor at 7:30AM for an 8:00AM departure.
WHAT TO BRING: Binoculars, of course. Plan on bringing a lunch;
/Granite State/'s on-board snack bar will be open, but it serves
primarily snack foods. A digital camera if you have one -- these trips
often produce excellent photo opportunities for both birds and whales.
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 and
impressive 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. In 2017 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 capped group size at 50
to make sure the boat doesn't get too crowded. Sadly, there has been one
unpleasant change: due to increased costs, we've been forced to raise
the price a little. A ticket will now cost $80 for NH Audubon members,
$100 for non-members.
Contact either NHA or me with any questions you might have. When you
sign up, *please* be certain that you leave a phone number where you can
be contacted on Sunday May 26, in case we have to cancel due to
weather. There is no rain date; we go on the 27th, or not at all.
To go with the trip, I will be running a 1-hour workshop from 6:30pm to
7:30pm on Thursday May 23, 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. This will be a virtual
workshop, conducted online via a Zoom conference. It's free to anyone
who has signed up for the trip on Monday; otherwise, the workshop will
cost $5 for NHA members and $6 for non-members. It has a separate
sign-up link:
https://www.nhaudubon.org/event/introduction-to-pelagic-wildlife-webinar-may-2024/ <https://www.nhaudubon.org/event/introduction-to-pelagic-wildlife/>
If you want to sign up, please hurry -- there aren't many spots left,
and they're going fast!
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: 4/14/24 2:41 pm From: 'Molly Jacobson' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Red crossbills Merrimack
Hi all,Substantial numbers of red crossbills remain at Wildcat Falls in Merrimack, where they've been hanging around in the white pines this winter. I had at minimum a dozen, potentially more but I couldn't tell if each flock was unique. But they were chattering away and flying around overhead actively for a couple hours this afternoon. Also pine siskins, RC kinglets, FOY towhees, and FOY broad-winged hawk.
-Molly Jacobson Merrimack
Today I had a pair of Purple Finches at my feeders. The NH State bird, but rarely seen!
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: 4/14/24 8:43 am From: Pam Hunt <biodiva...> Subject: [NHBirds] Penacook April 14
Greetings all,
It was a gorgeous morning for a 10k, and the "second wave" of spring migrants are now well-ensconced here in Penacook. After being absent last weekend, Chipping Sparrows and Pine Warblers reached double digits, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Hermit Thrush, and sapsucker also occurred in multiples. Single Eastern Towhee and Yellow-rumped Warbler rounded out the list of new arrivals. Siskins and juncos have started to clear out, and there was only one Fox Sparrow compared to last week's record-breaking 13. There were only six vultures at the Thirty Pines cell tower this morning (not sure why), but one Black was among them.
I barely reached my goal of 50 species when three American Crows finally flew by around 9:30, having been completely absent for the preceding 6 miles and 3.25 hours. The mid-April record of 57 (which is actually pretty remarkable) will stand for at least another year.
Three more good weather days coming up - get out and celebrate this stage or spring!
We are in Springfield and had a similar event . It was foggy and rainy but
our woods were absolutely teeming with junco song late afternoon on
Wednesday, 4/10. We have never heard anything like it! We generally have
had 20+ on a daily basis throughout the winter and the recent snows - but
this was way more than 20. Today, a handful of Juncos are singing, maybe
5, out in the trees - none at the feeders - so I think the rest must have
headed toward your house. Enjoy!
Sallie Barker
Springfield
On Sat, Apr 13, 2024 at 8:01 PM Linda M. Charron <clinda912...>
wrote:
> We have some DE Juncos but fewer now than we had all winter. They all went
> to your house Susan!
>
> Linda M. Charron
> 10 Pearson Lane
> New Boston, NH 03070
> Cell: 603 470-7037
> Home: 603 487-3760
>
>
> On Sat, 13 Apr 2024 17:10:43 -0400, Susan Fogleman <
> <sfogleman...> wrote:
>
>
> Hello all,
>
> We’re experiencing an amazing fallout (don’t know what else to call it!)
> of D-e Juncoes here at 1200’ elevation on Mt Pero in Campton.
> For the last half hour it has been raining these critters into our back
> yard. There must be hundreds and hundreds of them. The moss is covered
> with a moving carpet of grey and white.
>
> Is anyone else seeing something similar?
>
> Susan Fogleman
> Campton
>
>
>
> Susan Fogleman
> *<sfogleman...> <sfogleman...>*
>
> "the fate of all conservationists [who] fall in love with the earth [is]
> to die broken hearted.”
>
> Nigel Collar
>
>
>
> --
> To Change your e-mail delivery settings (digest, daily, no mail) visit:
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>
> --
> To Change your e-mail delivery settings (digest, daily, no mail) visit:
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>
We had a small flight of migrant raptors go over our house in Pittsfieldstarting at 8 am this morning (4-13-2024) ahead of a cloud bank approaching from the South.
We had:
Broad-winged Hawk 8Sharp-shinned Hawk 3Cooper's Hawk 4American Goshawk 1Turkey Vulture 3
Date: 4/13/24 5:07 pm From: 'Bill' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] up the coast today
I birded up the NH coast from Little Boars Head to Seal Rock.
Little Boars Head pulloff.
--Several common Eiders.--one Long Tailed pair.----------------------in the marsh across from Wallis Sands Beach
--4 Little Blue Herons--2 white immatures and 2 dark adults.--1 Snowy Egret--1 Great Egret---------------------------Seal Rock
--Many Common Eiders--1 Long Tailed ----- 2 pairs of Surf Scoters------------------------------------A beautiful day by the ocean with the waves and the wind.
Bill Perry from Hampstead, NH
Date: 4/13/24 5:01 pm From: Linda M. Charron <clinda912...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Junco storm!
We have some DE Juncos but fewer now than we had all winter. They all went to your house Susan!
Linda M. Charron
10 Pearson Lane
New Boston, NH 03070
Cell: 603 470-7037
Home: 603 487-3760
On Sat, 13 Apr 2024 17:10:43 -0400, Susan Fogleman <sfogleman...> wrote:
Hello all,
We’re experiencing an amazing fallout (don’t know what else to call it!) of D-e Juncoes here at 1200’ elevation on Mt Pero in Campton.
For the last half hour it has been raining these critters into our back yard. There must be hundreds and hundreds of them. The moss is covered with a moving carpet of grey and white.
Is anyone else seeing something similar?
Susan Fogleman
Campton
Susan Fogleman
<sfogleman...>
"the fate of all conservationists [who] fall in love with the earth [is] to die broken hearted.”
Nigel Collar
We’re experiencing an amazing fallout (don’t know what else to call it!) of D-e Juncoes here at 1200’ elevation on Mt Pero in Campton.
For the last half hour it has been raining these critters into our back yard. There must be hundreds and hundreds of them. The moss is covered with a moving carpet of grey and white.
Is anyone else seeing something similar?
Susan Fogleman
Campton
Susan Fogleman
<sfogleman...>
"the fate of all conservationists [who] fall in love with the earth [is] to die broken hearted.”
Nigel Collar
Date: 4/13/24 2:05 pm From: '<cga......>' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Red Crossbills in Hooksett
I just had 4 red crossbills in the top of a pine tree in Granite Hills Condos in Hooksett. Not sure if this is even worth posting at this point because of how common they have been, but for the record they're still here.
Date: 4/13/24 9:53 am From: Linda M. Charron <clinda912...> Subject: [NHBirds] siskins etc.
I have 8 to 10 Pine Siskins eating seeds here this year. Never had them as regular visitors before. And I have been enjoying watching them take "pony hair" that I put out in the spring for nesting material. I've watched them go way up in the Blue Spruce tree with it. I didn't think Siskins nested in southern NH. Is this unusual for them?
Linda M. Charron
10 Pearson Lane
New Boston, NH 03070
Cell: 603 470-7037
Home: 603 487-3760kt
I took a trip up to Charlestown to the location of the three greater white-fronted geese that were seen earlier this week and I had no luck. I also attempted to hedge my bets by stopping at every location along that entire route 12 corridor where at least one member of that species was cited either last year or the year before and I totally struck out as far as they are concerned. I did have other bird sightings along the way that were notable like a first of year greater Scott at the Charlestown water treatment plant and several for severe kestrels down by Morningside in Northern Charlestown
Has there been any word on the greater white-fronted geese in Charlestown I'm up there right now but I've been having trouble finding any geese in general lol
Date: 4/12/24 3:50 am From: <jim...> Subject: [NHBirds] Varied Thrush at Dartmouth
On a dark, drizzly, dreary afternoon, dreadful for decent digital photography, Dartmouth was the place to be yesterday. I traveled to College Park to try to photograph a Varied Thrush which Joseph Ransdell-Green found earlier in the day.
Date: 4/11/24 8:27 am From: birdrecords <birdrecords...> Subject: [NHBirds] Those Little Brown Jobs
Sparrows can be frustratingly hard to identify; even if seen well, their confusing array of streaks, crown stripes and facial markings can make them maddeningly hard to tell apart. One interesting bird is the Ipswich Sparrow a subspecies of the Savannah Sparrow. Learn how to tell this bird apart from the Savannah and other sparrows in the Fall 2010 issue of New Hampshire Bird Records: https://nhbirdrecords.org/nhbr-pdfs/V29%20N3%20Fall%202010.pdf (“Quiz Photo” on page 3 with Answer on page 65).
Other articles in this issue include: Using eBird to Find When and Where a Species Occurs; Musings from Pack Monadnock’s Hawkwatch; Herring and Seabirds: Prey to Industrialized Fishing; and photos and field notes from the 2010 fall season. Enjoy them all!
New Hampshire Bird Records continues to provide free access to its archives to help birders find information on birding locally and to remind us of the joy of birding.
Date: 4/11/24 6:19 am From: Jane Hills <jhbird...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rockingham rail trail this morning
This morning I walked on the Rockingham rail trail west of the 28 Bypass. Early migrants heard were: Swamp Sparrow, Pine Warbler, and Eastern Phoebe (several).
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: 4/11/24 1:49 am From: evyn <evynathan...> Subject: [NHBirds] Re: Butterfly Opportunities in New Hampshire
thank you Steve. Joined!
On Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 12:29:38 PM UTC-4 Steve Mirick wrote:
> Sorry to go "off-topic", but I wanted to share some information related
> to Butterfly activities in the State of NH.
>
> * There is an email list for people interested in just butterflies (and
> assorted bugs). It's very similar to NHBirds, but I call it
> NHButterfly. We post recent sightings and upcoming field trips,
> surveys, and programs. If you would like to follow posts or subscribe
> to the list, you can check out this link:
>
> https://groups.google.com/g/nhbutterfly >
> * Geroge DeWolf will be giving a Zoom session for people interested on
> the Butterflies of New Hampshire. This is a free session and George
> does a great job. Check it out!
>
> Introduction to New Hampshire Butterflies (Wed, April 17 @ 6:30 pm): You
> might be surprised to learn that if you travel the length of the state
> from spring to fall, you can potentially spot more than 100 species of
> butterflies. During this 1.5-hour online (Zoom) presentation we’ll set
> you on a course to learn more about these beautiful creatures, what
> distinguishes them from moths, how they’re organized into butterfly
> families, photos of our most common species, and how you can become more
> involved in fostering their protection. Click below to register:
>
>
> https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUvc-2hqD8tE9cuhQZKPf3p46M__T4TeJlq >
> Steve Mirick
> Bradford, MA
>
>
We stayed at home in Hillsboro to observe what we could of the eclipse, on a local cliff, and as the time for totality (which we were too far south to see) neared, a group of 8 Turkey Vultures appeared, soared around for a few minutes, and then found a place to roost. They were still roosting there when we left 20 minutes later. In other news, in our yard we have been seeing at least 25 Pine Siskins at our feeder, as well as 2 Pine Warblers at our suet, a pair of Carolina Wrens at the suet, a Red-bellied Woodpecker at the suet, and 14 goldfinches at the feeder, along with 1 White-throated Sparrow and one Song Sparrow.
Date: 4/10/24 12:26 pm From: Christian Martin <cmartin...> Subject: RE: [NHBirds] Osprey in Auburn, NH
Hi Pam –
Many, many Ospreys are migrating through right now, so no guarantee the one you saw today is the same one you saw on Monday. Lots of possibilities of unreported nests in general vicinity on Massabesic, however nesting eagles on the northeastern side of the lake would likely force the ospreys to nest at some distance from the lake itself. I’m aware of several reported osprey nests on cell towers within 5 miles of the lake in recent years.
- Chris
New Hampshire Audubon - Protecting New Hampshire's natural environment for wildlife and for people.
From: <nhbirds...> <nhbirds...> On Behalf Of Pam Weeks
Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2024 2:56 PM
To: NHBirds <nhbirds...>
Subject: [NHBirds] Osprey in Auburn, NH
Hi all,
On Monday morning during my walk on Massabesic Drive, I heard an osprey call, and looked up to see one headed east.
This afternoon around 1 as I was driving home from Manchester on Rte 121, I spotted one sitting on top of a dead pine tree at the edge of Lake Massabesic, about a mile east of the Massabesic traffic circle.
Anyone know if they've nested on Lake Massabesic before, or usually chased away by the eagles?
Date: 4/10/24 11:55 am From: Pam Weeks <pamela.weeks...> Subject: [NHBirds] Osprey in Auburn, NH
Hi all,
On Monday morning during my walk on Massabesic Drive, I heard an osprey call, and looked up to see one headed east.
This afternoon around 1 as I was driving home from Manchester on Rte 121, I spotted one sitting on top of a dead pine tree at the edge of Lake Massabesic, about a mile east of the Massabesic traffic circle.
Anyone know if they've nested on Lake Massabesic before, or usually chased away by the eagles?
Date: 4/10/24 11:51 am From: Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift <birdwsg...> Subject: [NHBirds] Swallow-tailed Kite update
I just spoke with the person who saw the swallow-tailed kite in Newbury MA this morning. It sounds like a credible report. He lives in Newburyport and knows birds quite well. He was driving south on 1A (High Rd ) toward Tendercrop when the birds crossed in front of him at about 40-50 ft twice. He was able to stop the car and view the bird further as it continued north. He was just back from 6 weeks in FL and was very familiar with them. Worth keeping a lookout in Salisbury and Southern NH.
Steve Grinley Bird Watcher’s Supply & Gift Port Plaza Newburyport, MA
Date: 4/10/24 9:38 am From: 'Blake Allison' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Lyme American Robins Wednesday Morning
A first of season flock of 17 individuals appeared in the yard around 9:30 and spent about 20 minutes foraging on the lawn and in last year's garden debris.
Date: 4/10/24 9:29 am From: Steve Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [NHBirds] Butterfly Opportunities in New Hampshire
Sorry to go "off-topic", but I wanted to share some information related
to Butterfly activities in the State of NH.
* There is an email list for people interested in just butterflies (and
assorted bugs). It's very similar to NHBirds, but I call it
NHButterfly. We post recent sightings and upcoming field trips,
surveys, and programs. If you would like to follow posts or subscribe
to the list, you can check out this link:
* Geroge DeWolf will be giving a Zoom session for people interested on
the Butterflies of New Hampshire. This is a free session and George
does a great job. Check it out!
Introduction to New Hampshire Butterflies (Wed, April 17 @ 6:30 pm): You
might be surprised to learn that if you travel the length of the state
from spring to fall, you can potentially spot more than 100 species of
butterflies. During this 1.5-hour online (Zoom) presentation we’ll set
you on a course to learn more about these beautiful creatures, what
distinguishes them from moths, how they’re organized into butterfly
families, photos of our most common species, and how you can become more
involved in fostering their protection. Click below to register:
Date: 4/10/24 8:38 am From: Marjorie Watson <marjwtsn...> Subject: [NHBirds] Possible Swallow Tailed Kite heading north
Just saw a report that some one called the Bird Watchers Supply Store in Newburyport to report a Swallow Tailed Kite seen flying north on Rt1A between Tendercrop Farm and Rolf’s Lane Newbury MA. Not NH but it’s heading that way so I wanted to get the word out.
Marjorie Watson
Georgetown MA
Sent from my iPhone
Date: 4/10/24 6:58 am From: Steve Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [NHBirds] Seacoast Arrivals (Phoebes, Song Sparrows, etc)
Jane and I walked Odiorne on Sunday.....two days later (yesterday) I
walked it again. I probably walked gave the park a little bit more
coverage on my walk yesterday, but nevertheless, there was a big
increase of a few birds in those two days. Highlighted by the following:
The Song Sparrow total is my highest ever for Odiorne. There were
probably 40 or more in the grasses near the bath houses alone! The Fox
Sparrow count is not a terribly high number at 4, but it is still my
highest for Odiorne as well. The 15 Eastern Phoebes is my 3rd highest
Eastern Phoebe count for spring migration (23 on 4/3/21 and 16 on 4/2/21).
Date: 4/10/24 6:41 am From: Pam Hunt <biodiva...> Subject: [NHBirds] Contoocook Island Survey: new arrivals
Greetings all,
After hovering around 30 species for the last two months, my 2.5 mile Contoocook Island Survey finally broke out of the proverbial pack this morning with a new early April record of 41 species. The "second wave" of migrants is now starting to arrive, with today's highlights being Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Louisiana Waterthrush. Also fun were Chipping Sparrow, Pine Warbler, and a nice push of flickers (N=4). Yesterday Unity and I had a couple each of sapsucker and Field Sparrow at the Concord pine barrens. Next up: Hermit Thrush, Palm Warbler, towhee, yellow-rump, and Blue-headed Vireo.
Date: 4/9/24 8:12 pm From: '<bikenbird...>' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] REMINDER ***NH Audubon Seacoast Chapter Wednesday April 10, 2024 7:30 pm Program – Exploring the Wonders of a Pollinator Garden through its Insects***
* There will be refreshments from 7-7:30 pm. Feel free to bring in refreshments for others to enjoy at the program. Thank you!
Wednesday April 10, 2024 7:30 pm Program – Exploring the Wonders of a Pollinator Garden through its Insects
Sometimes, you don't have to leave your backyard to explore the wonders of the natural world. Join Paul Lacourse on his quest to understand the ecology of his pollinator garden through its insects. He will introduce you to the diversity of the plants and insects that inhabit a pollinator garden and the role they play in it. It's a beautiful and sometimes creepy look at an often overlooked world within an arm's reach.
Bio: Paul Lacourse taught Life Science, including a Study of NH Birds course, at Winnicunnet High School for 30 years. He is a former President/Vice President and field trip leader of the Seacoast Chapter of NH Audubon. Over the last 8 years, he has immersed himself in creating and studying a very productive pollinator garden that incorporates many native plants.
All are welcome to attend our Wednesday April 10, 2024 program which is free of charge at the Seacoast Science Center (wheelchair accessible), Odiorne Point State Park, 570 Ocean Boulevard, Rye NH (click here for Google maps, Seacoast Science Center) There will be refreshments starting at 7 pm. Meetings begin at 7:30 pm. Entrance doors will be locked at 7:45 pm. Cancellations will be announced on http://www.seacoastchapter.org/programs and this Google group.
Thank You! Dunkin’ of 802 Lafayette Rd, Portsmouth, NH (603) 436-9717 donates hot coffee and more for our programs. When you visit the location mention a thank you!
Date: 4/9/24 11:28 am From: Tom Momeyer <tom...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Solar Eclipse
Watched the eclipse from High Five, Wilson's Hill in Dearing, NH, with friends with around 96% totality. Snow on the ground and no or few birds present. Crows flying. At around 10-15 minutes before maximum, there was a distant turkey vulture moving north that came in close for a look (or thermals) and continued north. Tom Momeyer Peterborough, NH
Date: 4/9/24 11:28 am From: Ashton Almeida <ashtonipod...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Solar Eclipse
Check out my checklist with Aidan Felch during the eclipse at Seabrook Town
Forest. Black Vulture was the highlight of the eclipse. We also had went
birding there early in the morning where we had at least 3 Red Crossbill. I
will attach both of our checklists for the day.
On Tue, Apr 9, 2024, 10:48 AM Pam Hunt <biodiva...> wrote:
> I'd be interested to hear other's stories of birding the eclipse. Becky,
> Zeke, and I were up in Vermont's NE Kingdom, and during totality a woodcock
> started going. Also a Barred Owl, but they're a LOT more likely to sound
> off in the middle of the day to begin with.
>
> As for the traffic part of the experience, it "only" took us eight hours
> to get back to Concord, with close to an hour of that in the I-93 parking
> lot between Littleton and Franconia before Zeke opted to drive through the
> median and reroute us through Lisbon, Haverhill, Warren, Plymouth, Bristol,
> Franklin, and Boscawen.
> Pam Hunt
> Penacook
>
> On Tue, 9 Apr 2024 10:36:46 -0400, Randy Langer <randylanger52...>
> wrote:
>
> Went up to view in Dummer/Milan, NH, a little impromptu birding too, found
> several common and hooded mergansers, mallards, Canada geese, etc, two
> standouts, one osprey, and one Northern harrier/marsh hawk. Took 1.5 hour
> to drive up, 10 hours to get back home! Well worth it, spectacular show!
> Regards,
> Randy
>
>
> --
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>
Date: 4/9/24 11:11 am From: Randy Langer <randylanger52...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Solar Eclipse
All,
Really Pam, eclipsing and obscuring me… gotta have some fun here, yes,
drive home was apocalyptic.
I asked dog owners (there were more than we could count) how their pets
reacted and the responses were the same, nada.
During the event, deathly silent, people and animals alike, nothing moved
or spoke.
As soon as the “darkness” ended, we had a small (7-10) flock/group of
finches (sp unknown) fly over us as if they were startled or confused.
We were caught up in the moment as everyone else was, that’s all I recall
from the experience.
Randy
On Tue, Apr 9, 2024 at 12:12 PM lori charron <lpcharron...> wrote:
> Hi Pam, My feeders stayed very active even with the sharpie that decided
> to come hunting a few times. just as temperature started to drop and just
> before totality everything went very silent here. Not a bird in the area to
> see. At totality we were hoping to hear the owls, but the only sound was
> the robin singing. What an unbelievable experience this was! There was not
> a cloud in the sky here in Errol!
> Happy Birding!
> Lori
>
> On Tue, Apr 9, 2024 at 10:48 AM Pam Hunt <biodiva...> wrote:
>
>> I'd be interested to hear other's stories of birding the eclipse. Becky,
>> Zeke, and I were up in Vermont's NE Kingdom, and during totality a woodcock
>> started going. Also a Barred Owl, but they're a LOT more likely to sound
>> off in the middle of the day to begin with.
>>
>> As for the traffic part of the experience, it "only" took us eight hours
>> to get back to Concord, with close to an hour of that in the I-93 parking
>> lot between Littleton and Franconia before Zeke opted to drive through the
>> median and reroute us through Lisbon, Haverhill, Warren, Plymouth, Bristol,
>> Franklin, and Boscawen.
>> Pam Hunt
>> Penacook
>>
>> On Tue, 9 Apr 2024 10:36:46 -0400, Randy Langer <randylanger52...>
>> wrote:
>>
>> Went up to view in Dummer/Milan, NH, a little impromptu birding too,
>> found several common and hooded mergansers, mallards, Canada geese, etc,
>> two standouts, one osprey, and one Northern harrier/marsh hawk. Took 1.5
>> hour to drive up, 10 hours to get back home! Well worth it, spectacular
>> show!
>> Regards,
>> Randy
>>
>>
>> --
>> To Change your e-mail delivery settings (digest, daily, no mail) visit:
>> https://groups.google.com/group/nhbirds/subscribe?hl=en >> ---
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>> "NHBirds" group.
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>> email to nhbirds+<unsubscribe...>
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>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nhbirds/CACO18f6AuTcZ5o8%2BA%2BZiS16ws0Ah8cpFLUWreHWQQ7%<2B2FoCkRg...> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/nhbirds/CACO18f6AuTcZ5o8%2BA%2BZiS16ws0Ah8cpFLUWreHWQQ7%<2B2FoCkRg...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer>.
>>
>>
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>>
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>
Date: 4/9/24 9:12 am From: lori charron <lpcharron...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Solar Eclipse
Hi Pam, My feeders stayed very active even with the sharpie that decided to
come hunting a few times. just as temperature started to drop and just
before totality everything went very silent here. Not a bird in the area to
see. At totality we were hoping to hear the owls, but the only sound was
the robin singing. What an unbelievable experience this was! There was not
a cloud in the sky here in Errol!
Happy Birding!
Lori
On Tue, Apr 9, 2024 at 10:48 AM Pam Hunt <biodiva...> wrote:
> I'd be interested to hear other's stories of birding the eclipse. Becky,
> Zeke, and I were up in Vermont's NE Kingdom, and during totality a woodcock
> started going. Also a Barred Owl, but they're a LOT more likely to sound
> off in the middle of the day to begin with.
>
> As for the traffic part of the experience, it "only" took us eight hours
> to get back to Concord, with close to an hour of that in the I-93 parking
> lot between Littleton and Franconia before Zeke opted to drive through the
> median and reroute us through Lisbon, Haverhill, Warren, Plymouth, Bristol,
> Franklin, and Boscawen.
> Pam Hunt
> Penacook
>
> On Tue, 9 Apr 2024 10:36:46 -0400, Randy Langer <randylanger52...>
> wrote:
>
> Went up to view in Dummer/Milan, NH, a little impromptu birding too, found
> several common and hooded mergansers, mallards, Canada geese, etc, two
> standouts, one osprey, and one Northern harrier/marsh hawk. Took 1.5 hour
> to drive up, 10 hours to get back home! Well worth it, spectacular show!
> Regards,
> Randy
>
>
> --
> To Change your e-mail delivery settings (digest, daily, no mail) visit:
> https://groups.google.com/group/nhbirds/subscribe?hl=en > ---
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> email to nhbirds+<unsubscribe...>
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>
>
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>
Date: 4/9/24 7:48 am From: Pam Hunt <biodiva...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Solar Eclipse
I'd be interested to hear other's stories of birding the eclipse. Becky, Zeke, and I were up in Vermont's NE Kingdom, and during totality a woodcock started going. Also a Barred Owl, but they're a LOT more likely to sound off in the middle of the day to begin with.
As for the traffic part of the experience, it "only" took us eight hours to get back to Concord, with close to an hour of that in the I-93 parking lot between Littleton and Franconia before Zeke opted to drive through the median and reroute us through Lisbon, Haverhill, Warren, Plymouth, Bristol, Franklin, and Boscawen.
Pam Hunt
Penacook
On Tue, 9 Apr 2024 10:36:46 -0400, Randy Langer <randylanger52...> wrote:
Went up to view in Dummer/Milan, NH, a little impromptu birding too, found several common and hooded mergansers, mallards, Canada geese, etc, two standouts, one osprey, and one Northern harrier/marsh hawk. Took 1.5 hour to drive up, 10 hours to get back home! Well worth it, spectacular show!
Date: 4/8/24 9:13 am From: Aaronian, Richard S. <raaronian...> Subject: [NHBirds] Stratham/Greenland
Field trip with Chris Matlack’s PEA Ornithology class this morning.
Stratham
2 Bohemian Waxwing in a group of 30+ Cedar Waxwing. All feeding on a fruit tree in Shaw’s parking lot. Thanks to Patti Wood for reporting the birds yesterday.
Great Bay Discovery Center, Greenland
Osprey 2 (on nest)
Killdeer 2
Scaup sp. 4 seen at distance, assume Greater?
Red-breasted Merganser 7
Wood Duck 1 flyover
N. Flicker 1
E. Phoebe 1
Just before 6:30 pm, while eating dinner at the 110 Grill in Stratham, a flock of 25 Bohemian Waxwings flew in and landed on what looked like Hawthorn Trees from where I was sitting. They were larger, grayer and had a rusty wash over their faces and rusty under tail coverts. Patti Wood Exeter/Lempster
Date: 4/7/24 12:48 pm From: Aaronian, Richard S. <raaronian...> Subject: [NHBirds] Coast
Headed to the coast to look for the Brant. When I arrived, none were seen on the grass at Ragged Neck. As I was checking the harbor, a group flew over the north jetty, made a counterclockwise loop in the harbor and flew out to the NNE. Followed them as best I could until they were out of sight still flying NNE. My count was 22.
Eel Pond
Double-crested Cormorant 57 (!) careful count
Bufflehead 6
Huckleberry Lane, Hampton
Great Egret 1
Snowy Egret 1
This is an informal birding outing that begins at the McLane Center parking lot in Concord and explores the trails with Mark Suomala, NH Audubon volunteer and former NHA field biologist. All ages and skill levels of birders are welcome. If you are new to birding, come and learn the basics! If you are an avid birder, come to learn new techniques, network with other birders, or share your expertise with the group.
Binocular rental included with ticket. Please dress for the weather, with sturdy shoes. Expect to walk between 1-2 miles over mostly flat, but uneven trails through grassy and wooded terrain. Trails may be soggy or muddy in the rainy season. Dogs are not permitted at Audubon sanctuaries .Fee. Registration required. All proceeds to benefit NH Audubon
Date: 4/5/24 4:01 pm From: Steve Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [NHBirds] Bohemian Waxwings in Dover
Bohemian Waxwings have finally made it to the seacoast region today!
Cameron Johnson texted me this morning to report a small group of
Bohemian Waxwings near 249 Washington Street in Dover. I decided to
explore Dover this afternoon and found some of my own, but then Cameron
found more! They seem likely to continue in the area this weekend.
Some areas where they were seen this afternoon may be worth checking:
25 Bohemian Waxings - Henry Law Park near downtown Dover. There is a
fruit tree that is covered with fruit that they were working on.
18 Bohemian Waxings - Area of Baptist Church/Post Office in Dover off
Washington Street.
35 Bohemian Waxings - 195 Dover Point Road and area near St Thomas
Aquinas High School.
2 Bohemian Waxings - Empty Liberty Mutual Office complex. There was one
fruit tree that had some robins and these 2 birds.
Some of you may remember the Eastern Meadowlark blitz we did back in 2019 or thereabouts, and the time has come for another comprehensive survey of important grassland bird sites in New Hampshire. I typically do a full survey of Grasshopper Sparrows every 3 years and am now adding meadowlark to that same rotation. The information collected is critical for updating the status of these two state-threatened species and is well-timed since NHFG and its partners are in the process of revising the NH Wildlife Action Plan (due in 2025).
I will be surveying sites with restricted access (e.g., airfields, capped landfills), and this will keep me busy. As a result I'm looking for interested volunteers to take on one or more of the other sites. These are mostly in the Connecticut and Merrimack Valleys and near the Seacoast, with a couple of outliers like Jefferson and the Ossipee Pine Barrens (for Vesper Sparrow). Depending on the site and its history of use, I'll be expecting volunteers to visit their assigned locations 2-4 times from mid-May to mid-July, but otherwise there's not a terribly specific protocol. I *will* be collecting data on all grassland birds this year, not just the listed ones, since this can also inform future conservation actions (i.e., even if there are "only" Bobolinks at a site it'll still be good to know!).
If interested, let me know, and be sure to tell me where you live. I'll also likely be contacting some of you directly (you know who you are!). I'll start assigning people to sites later this month.
Thanks,
Pam
Pamela Hunt, Ph.D.
Senior Biologist for Avian Conservation
NH Audubon
603-753-9137 (home phone since I'm still rarely in the office)
Date: 4/4/24 8:33 pm From: '<bikenbird...>' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] ***NH Audubon Seacoast Chapter Wednesday April 10, 2024 7:30 pm Program – Exploring the Wonders of a Pollinator Garden through its Insects***
* There will be refreshments from 7-7:30 pm. Feel free to bring in refreshments for others to enjoy at the program. Thank you!
Wednesday April 10, 2024 7:30 pm Program – Exploring the Wonders of a Pollinator Garden through its Insects
Sometimes, you don't have to leave your backyard to explore the wonders of the natural world. Join Paul Lacourse on his quest to understand the ecology of his pollinator garden through its insects. He will introduce you to the diversity of the plants and insects that inhabit a pollinator garden and the role they play in it. It's a beautiful and sometimes creepy look at an often overlooked world within an arm's reach.
Bio: Paul Lacourse taught Life Science, including a Study of NH Birds course, at Winnicunnet High School for 30 years. He is a former President/Vice President and field trip leader of the Seacoast Chapter of NH Audubon. Over the last 8 years, he has immersed himself in creating and studying a very productive pollinator garden that incorporates many native plants.
All are welcome to attend our Wednesday April 10, 2024 program which is free of charge at the Seacoast Science Center (wheelchair accessible), Odiorne Point State Park, 570 Ocean Boulevard, Rye NH (click here for Google maps, Seacoast Science Center) There will be refreshments starting at 7 pm. Meetings begin at 7:30 pm. Entrance doors will be locked at 7:45 pm. Cancellations will be announced on http://www.seacoastchapter.org/programs and this Google group.
Thank You! Dunkin’ of 802 Lafayette Rd, Portsmouth, NH (603) 436-9717 donates hot coffee and more for our programs. When you visit the location mention a thank you!
Date: 4/4/24 12:11 pm From: <sfogleman...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Many Siskins in Ashland
Over 100 here on Mt Pero in Campton, and 50 +/- Juncoes. Alas, no Bluebirds, but a mixed blackbird flock (40-50) and many Goldfinches plus all the regulars. Busy feeder- filling day! Get Outlook for Android
Date: 4/4/24 11:48 am From: Keith Chamberlin <kchamberlin07...> Subject: [NHBirds] Many Siskins in Ashland
All day at least 50 plus pine siskins have been around our feeders doing combat for a place to sit. Bluebirds are attracted to this commotion. A couple Goldfinch and our "local" birds are now in competition.
Date: 4/4/24 6:40 am From: Cynthia Nichols <cnichols...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] swallows in Concord
6 American Tree Swallows in New London on Tuesday - FOY for me at Esther
Currier Wildlife area.
I've seen hundreds of them there passing through in springs past - fingers
crossed:)
Cynthia Nichols, MS, BSN, RN
Volunteer & Board Member: Healthcare Workers for Climate Action:
nhclimatehealth.org
Certified Climate Change Resilience, Antioch University
(603) 508 - 1594
*Please Text Me *if you're not getting a quick response and need to reach
me - it's a challenge to get to my email these days!!
On Wed, Apr 3, 2024 at 7:53 PM Anne Ryc <annehadshi...> wrote:
Date: 4/4/24 6:24 am From: Dana Fox <dana.fox1939...> Subject: [NHBirds] Reporting returning loons
Please report sightings of returning loons. This year some NH lakes had the earliest ice out dates ever - like Winnepesaukee. The previous year's territorial male loon from a lake soon followed by the territorial female often has been seen on a lake the moment the ice is out. Joe Scott reports one flying over his lake in Chatham even the day before ice was out a year or so ago.
This year the ice went out in so many lakes so much earlier than ever before, that we are wondering what the loons will do this year.
You can really be very helpful if you report when you see loons return to your local lakes. The Loon Protection Committee (LPC) located in Moultonboro is interested in your sightings at <info...>
Recently, there has been an overabundance of aggressive non-mated loons - both male and female - who have been challenging the established territorial pairs on some lakes. This has resulted in a great deal of disturbance to the nesting territorial pairs and even death or driving off of some of the territorial mated loons.
Since loons do not nest until they are 5-6 years old and since those that are 3-5 years old begin to return from spending a few years on the ocean at 3-5 years old, typically to the area near their natal lake, there can be many "rogue" loons around. Please report your sightings either to this listserv, e-Bird or to LPC directly at 603-476-5666 or <info...>
LPC hires summer interns that monitor nesting loons across the state for 10 weeks. They start the third week of May. Do reach out to them if you can. John Cooley and Caroline Hughes at LPC can help you.
Dana Duxbury-Fox Long time loon lover, summer resident of NH and Strong believer in the value of volunteers
Date: 4/3/24 3:22 pm From: sallie barker <salliebarker...> Subject: [NHBirds] Loon on Little Sunapee?
I heard a distant loon calling several times throughout last night (Tuesday PM into Wednesday AM). Drove all around Little Lake Sunapee this morning but could not find it . (Did see 7 Common Mergansers and 2 Mallards) Now it has some weather, to say the least, so...we shall see. Sallie Barker Springfield
Date: 4/3/24 10:28 am From: Pamela Hunt <phunt...> Subject: [NHBirds] New Bird Resource from NH Audubon
Greetings birders,
Back in the fall NH Audubon released a new web version of our "State of New Hampshire's Birds" report. This contained the same information as the printed report from 2021 but in a format that allowed for much easier navigation between sections. We are pleased to announce that the second phase of this project went live last week: a set of "species profiles" that will eventually cover all the species that regularly occur in New Hampshire (there are 210 there now). Each profile includes one or more photos, a sidebar summarizing conservation information, a NH range map and seasonal abundance graph, and a narrative highlighting various aspects of that species' ecology or conservation (sometimes with a NH perspective). Most also have a trend graph. You can find this resource at https://stateofthebirds.nhaudubon.org/birds-a-z/. More birds will be added over the next few months as time allows.
I hope these profiles prove useful to anyone curious about the status of our state's birds and interested in fun ecological stories about them.
Good birding,
Pam
Pamela Hunt, Ph.D.
Senior Biologist for Avian Conservation
NH Audubon
603-753-9137 (home phone since I'm still rarely in the office)
Date: 4/1/24 11:35 am From: Roger Frieden <roger...> Subject: [NHBirds] Spring Migrants in Nottingham
We enjoyed two FOYs in the yard this afternoon—a Purple Finch and an Eastern Phoebe. The earliest Purple Finch we’ve had in the yard before this was April 10.
After missing a week due to the weather (what snow?!), today dawned with minimal wind (for a change) and I was able to get out on my 10k. And, as has been the trend for months, I set a new record. Prior to today the high species count for the last third of March was 41. Now it's 47, a specular increase that I was not expecting. And the wind held off nicely.
Here's the highlight reel:
Two Black Vultures continue at the 30 Pines cell tower, today along with a record 54 Turkey Vultures. Black Vultures have now been at this site for a little over three weeks, and it'll be interesting to see if they stick around. Yesterday evening (~7:15 pm) they (or a different pair?) were at the chimney of "Briar Pipe Apartments" on Washington Street. This morning there were two Turkey Vultures there, and on Tuesday the Turkeys were copulating up on the chimney. Bottom line, there's lots of interesting stuff going on with vultures here in Penacook.
Along River Road near Murray Farms was a Red-shouldered Hawk, while two Barred Owls called back and forth on the other side of the Contoocook.
First arrivals of 2024 (not counting wintering individuals): Brown Thrasher, Chipping Sparrow, Pine Warbler
My first drumming Ruffed Grouse for the year.
Two Fox Sparrows - one singing.
Good numbers of siskins, juncos, and white-throats continue, and there's been a noticeable uptick in robins.
Ducks, on the other hand continue to be scarce, perhaps because the river is so high. The only ducks on the Contoocook were 4 goldeneye, while the only Mallards (3) were in a couple of flooded puddles.
Date: 3/29/24 7:06 am From: Steve Smith <kwedun...> Subject: [NHBirds] [The Washington Post] Birds, bees and even plants might act weird during the solar eclipse
From the eclipse map, NH will have a total eclipse from just below Lancaster and to the North
Check out this gift article:
A total eclipse isn’t just a spectacle in the sky. Birds, insects and even plants will take notice, and might start acting strange.
https://wapo.st/3TDregT
The birds
One common report is that birds go to roost and go quiet during an eclipse. But when a team of ornithologists from Cornell University made recordings along an old logging road near the town of Corinna, Maine, for the 1963 eclipse, they heard the per-chic-o-ree of a goldfinch in the middle of totality, along with a hermit thrush, a Swainson’s thrush and a veery.“Perhaps no two lists of birds heard before, during, and after the eclipse would be anywhere near similar,” they wrote in their summary of the observations.
In the 50 minutes before and after totality in 2017, researchers monitoring flying insects and birds via the weather radar network found that the skies went eerily quiet, but there was an intriguing uptick of activity right at totality. The researchers speculated that it might be some kind of insect reacting to the sudden darkness, while the birds possibly grew still due to confusion.
“Some previous research shows that insects react much more immediately to light cues, while birds are more like, ‘What’s going on?’” said Cecilia Nilsson, a biologist at Lund University in Sweden. “Totality only lasts a few minutes, so by the time you’re figuring it out, it’s over.”For bird lovers, the many uncontrollable variables of an eclipse can be scientific opportunities, too.
One exciting aspect of the 2024 eclipse is that it is happening during the spring, whereas the North American eclipse of 2017 took place very early in the fall migration season, Nilsson said. Many birds, she noted, migrate at night and are often more motivated during the spring migration, so it’s possible that abrupt darkness will have a different effect this time around.
Osprey, tree swallows, ring necked ducks at Lubberland Creek, Newmarket, today in the pouring rain. Plus we have at least 3 woodcocks hanging around our house.
Date: 3/28/24 11:27 am From: DEBRA M POWERS <dmp2ec...> Subject: [NHBirds] Male Northern Harrier dover
Treated to the "gray ghost" under gray skies yesterday, hunting in a farmer's field in Dover. Exciting to see, a little late in the year perhaps? Additionally a pair of Kestrels. ~Deb Powers-South Berwick Maine
I saw it Saturday 3/23 in the snow (poor thing) but didn't report it during the power outage (and no WiFi). It was at the community center, where they usually nest and raise at least 1 brood.
Date: 3/27/24 6:39 am From: Jane Rice <moultnews...> Subject: [NHBirds] Fish crows in Meredith
Yesterday, I parked on Main Street in Meredith and there were seven crows perched on the overhead wires at the corner of Water Street. They were calling to one another and at least some were fish crows. Do they hang out with regular crows, or were all seven fish crows? Would be a high count if so, but that's what I thought they were.
Date: 3/26/24 5:07 pm From: Aaronian, Richard S. <raaronian...> Subject: [NHBirds] Exeter
Tagged along with the other PEA Ornithology class on a cool, showery morning. Although the Pine Warbler and Pine Siskin did not cooperate today, the class added the following at Sally Oxnard’s:
Pileated Woodpecker 1 first vocalized and then flew over and landed in a tree offering an “ooh - ah” look for the group
Cooper’s Hawk 1 fly-by
Date: 3/25/24 3:29 pm From: Aaronian, Richard S. <raaronian...> Subject: [NHBirds] Exeter
Thanks to Sally and Tom Oxnard for inviting the PEA Ornithology class to visit their feeders this morning. This was the first field trip this spring and thanks to Chris Matlack for letting me tag along. We had a great trip and students had good looks at the following species with a few surprises.
Pine Warbler 1
Pine Siskin 1
American Goldfinch x
Black-capped Chickadee 2
Downy WP 1
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
E. Bluebird 5
Common Grackle x
Red-winged Blackbird x
White-throated Sparrow 5
Song Sparrow 1
House Finch 4
Dark-eyed Junco x
N. Cardinal 3
Blue Jay 2
Common Raven 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Date: 3/25/24 2:24 pm From: Mark Suomala <suomalamark...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, March 25, 2024
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, March 25, 2024.
A NORTHERN HAWK-OWL was seen again in Pittsburg on several days during the
past week.
2 LARK SPARROWS were seen at a bird-feeding area at a private residence on
North River Road in Milford on March 23rd. The birds were relocated in
shrubbery and on a lawn on the north side of North River Road on the 25th.
To look for the birds, it is recommended that you park on Riverlea Road
(less traffic) and walk east along North River Road. The birds were singing
and were located about half-way between #185 and #197 and were visible from
the road, so please stay off private property.
3 SANDHILL CRANES were seen flying over Barbary Coast Road in Newmarket on
March 24th, and 1 was seen flying over Woodsville on the 20th.
4 ROSS’S GEESE were seen with 41 SNOW GEESE from Hardardt’s Way in Hampton
on March 24th.
2 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were seen from Rye Harbor State Park on March 23rd.
A female BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was seen again at Sewall’s Falls on the
Merrimack River in Concord on March 22nd, and another female was seen at
the mouth of the Merrimack River in Franklin on the 25th. 2 males were seen
at the south end of Lake Winnisquam in Sanbornton on March 18th.
A pair of NORTHERN SHOVELERS was seen again at the Center Harbor Sewage
Lagoons in Moultonborough on March 19th.
A PIED-BILLED GREBE was seen at Deer Hill Wildlife Management Area in
Brentwood on March 19th, and 1 was seen at Adams Point in Durham on the 20th
.
A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen at Lake Wantastiquet in Hinsdale on March 24th.
A GREATER YELLOWLEGS was seen in Portsmouth and 1 was seen in Hampton, both
on March 20th.
A PIPING PLOVER was seen at Hampton Harbor inlet on March 19th, and a
WILSON’S SNIPE was seen at Krif Road in Keene on March 21st.
An AMERICAN COOT and a RED-THROATED LOON were seen at Adams Point in Durham
on March 20th, and a RED-THROATED LOON was seen from Hilton Park at Dover
Point on the 22nd.
A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL and a GLAUCOUS GULL were seen at Pickering
Ponds in Rochester on March 20th.
A BLACK VULTURE was seen in the 30 Pines area in Penacook on March 22nd, 2
were seen along the Connecticut River in Walpole on the 24th, and 3 were
seen in East Kingston on the 25th.
An AMERICAN GOSHAWK was reported from Woodstock on March 22nd.
An OSPREY was seen in Milford on March 19th, and 1 was seen in Hopkinton on
the 24th.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen at Reed’s Marsh in Orford on March 22nd.
About 24 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen in Laconia on March 24th.
There was a small influx of TREE SWALLOWS during the past week with a high
count of 50 from Londonderry on March 19th.
A LINCOLN’S SPARROW was seen at Pickering Ponds in Rochester on March 19th.
An AMERICAN PIPIT was seen in Hampton and 1 was seen in Penacook, both on
March 24th.
4 RED CROSSBILLS were seen at Winnipocket Pond in Webster on March 20th, 1
was seen at Clark Pond in Auburn on the 20th and 1 was seen at Sip Pond in
Fitzwilliam on the 22nd.
An overwintering PALM WARBLER was seen at the Hampton Wastewater Treatment
Plant on March 24th.
Additional lingering migrant (or early-returning) species reported during
the past week included: NORTHERN HARRIER, AMERICAN KESTREL, MERLIN, TURKEY
VULTURE, NORTHERN FLICKER, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, EASTERN PHOEBE, HERMIT
THRUSH, MARSH WREN, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, GRAY CATBIRD, YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLER, PINE WARBLER, EASTERN TOWHEE, FOX SPARROW, FIELD SPARROW, CHIPPING
SPARROW, SAVANNAH SPARROW, SWAMP SPARROW, PINE SISKIN, and FISH CROW.
This message is also available by phone recording: call (603) 224-9909 and
press 4 as directed or ask to be transferred.
If you have seen any interesting birds recently, you can leave a message at
the end of the recording or send your sightings to the RBA via e-mail to:
<birdsetc...> Please put either "bird sighting" or "Rare Bird
Alert" in the subject line and be sure to include your mailing address and
phone number. The RBA is also available on-line at the New Hampshire
Audubon web site, www.nhaudubon.org
Thanks very much and good birding.
NEW! Hot off the presses:
Birding Northern New Hampshire
By Robert A. Quinn
Boreal birds and dramatic vistas await you most any time of the year in New
Hampshire’s North Country. Follow birder and naturalist Robert A. Quinn’s
detailed new guide, *Birding in Northern New Hampshire* to the best birding
in northern Coos County. All proceeds go to NH Audubon. For more info and
to order a copy, check out this link:
Learn more about birds and birding in New Hampshire with New Hampshire Bird
Records: www.nhbirdrecords.org (read a free article in each issue). This
quarterly publication is produced by NH Audubon thanks to the work of many
volunteers. It is available for free in digital format to all NH Audubon
members, and also by print for an additional fee:
https://nhbirdrecords.org/join-or-donate/
Date: 3/25/24 2:17 pm From: Pam Hunt <biodiva...> Subject: [NHBirds] Morning at Morono Park, Concord
Greetings all,
Unity and I took a walk this morning at Concord's Morono Park, which abuts an old oxbow of the Merrimack just below Sewall's Falls. Given the snow on Saturday and recent cooler temps, we weren't sure how much open water would be there, but figured there'd be at least a bit at the south end where the pond drains.
Turns out the pond was almost entirely open and we had a lot of good birds. In fact our total of 43 species is my highest eBird checklist for the year - and we did it in just over 2 hours. Yay spring!
Highlights were many, as follows:
A good mix of ducks including 76 Ring-necks, 4 GW Teal, 2 Bufflehead, and a smattering of the "usual suspects" (e.g., Woodie, Mallard, Black, etc.).
Three phoebes made it through the weekend. Unity's first for the year.
Two Fox Sparrows, one of which sang a few times. Given recent reports, I think we're in the start of their northward movement rather than a lot of overwintering birds suddenly turning up.
Very few blackbirds, but a cowbird was only my third one locally this year.
One Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. I had one on the other side of the pond a couple of weeks ago, so chances are this was a different bird. Didn't get a good enough look to tell what sex it was (my other one was a female).
A Great Blue Heron that flew in just after Unity speculated on why there wasn't one there...
And last but not least, two Turkey Vultures perched low in a tree together at the end of the trail, a very odd location for this species. The trail here is right against a steep slope up from the river valley to State Street, so it's possible there's a jumble of rocks or logs there that could provide the right sort of mini-cave to attract nesting vultures.
Date: 3/25/24 1:27 pm From: Steve Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [NHBirds] The passing of Ann Kimball
It is with great sadness that I report the passing of Ann Kimball. She
died last week at the age of 95.
Ann lived her entire life in her house (where she was born!) in Berwick,
ME. She shared this with her late husband Bill until his passing in
1992. Ann was an active member of the Seacoast Chapter of NH Audubon
for many years (decades?) where she served on the board, led field trips
and actively supported the chapter in many ways. For many years, Ann
participated in Christmas Bird Counts (Lee-Durham & Coastal) and she
also loved hiking up to the top of Blue Job Mountain and watching hawk
migration from the summit. One of her favorite spots! She continued
this as long as she could until her body finally gave up.
Ann was a great supporter and a friend of mine for nearly my entire
birding life since the 1980's and came to our wedding when Jane and I
got married in 2005. She always bragged about the many times she fed me
when I was younger as I led field trips but always forgot to bring a
lunch! I always brag that I saved her life when I had to carry her
through the water of an incoming tide at Hampton harbor on one of my
field trips when she carelessly got trapped out on the mud! :-)
One of Ann's rarest bird finds was when she and Linda Maley were leading
a Field Trip for the Seacoast Audubon in the November of 2001 along the
southern Maine coastline. She and Linda found a strange looking bird at
Nubble Light parking area that was near a Lapland Longspur. Ann knew it
wasn't another longspur and described it as looking like a tiny
Roadrunner! Turns out it was a Sage Thrasher! Up to that time, only
the 2nd record for all of New England!
Date: 3/25/24 6:30 am From: Steve Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [NHBirds] A wandering flock of geese! (Snows and ROSS'S) - HEAD'S UP!
Jane and I hit the coast yesterday and were shocked to see a flock of
Snow Geese approach us in Hampton near the Hampton WTP. A flock of 41
birds would be (personally) my largest flock of Snow Geese since 2015!
Fortunately, they veered toward us and flew closer and closer. We
pulled off to the side of the road to watch them. As they approached,
it appeared there were dark (Blue morph) Snows mixed in, and then Jane
yelled there's a small one mixed in! I frantically waved my camera
around and tried to get photos of the small one. Incredibly, the flock
seemed almost to circle around over us as if not sure where to go!
At the time, I thought that there was a single Ross's Goose mixed in,
but when I got home last night, I looked at my photos and concluded
there were 37 Snow Geese (4 dark morph) and 4 Ross's Geese! The 4
Ross's Geese would be a new high count for NH and surprisingly, would be
a first record for Rockingham County!
When the flock flew over, they appeared to depart toward the west, and
we hoped that maybe birders might find them further north. Surprisingly,
however, these Goose had other locations in their mind and apparently
headed back south! This morning (thanks to eBird) we saw that there was
a history to this flock:
Sunday
----------
After 9:00 AM sometime - Flock of 152 Snow type geese flying over Blue
Hills near Boston. Not sure if this might have included "our" flock.
No Ross's ID'd:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S165853300 Between 9:50 AM and 10:40 AM - "Our" flock seen flying over Salisbury
Beach State Reservation in MA. Presumably heading north. 2 Ross's Goose
ID'd by observer.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S165811483 About 11:15 AM - "Our" flock seen by Jane and I flying over our heads
off Hardardt's Way in Hampton, NH.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S165816317 About 6:30 PM - "Our" flock seen BACK DOWN IN NEWBURY, MA! Found at
Common Pastures off Scotland Road. Sadly, they didn't stay in NH! :-(
https://ebird.org/checklist/S165895446
Monday
-----------
7:11 AM - "Our" flock STILL off Scotland Road in Newbury. Report from
Dan Prima:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S165923466 8:30 AM - "Our" flock has taken off and is heading WNW!!!! This is a
3rd hand report from Andy Sanford. SO BIRDERS IN NH, KEEP AN EYE OUT!!!
Date: 3/25/24 4:56 am From: Randy Langer <randylanger52...> Subject: [NHBirds] Blue jay breakfast
After all the snow, seems like birds were scrambling for food. We had a dozen or so robins in our maple tree during the height of the storm, no open ground to forage. This morning we had 37 blue jays in the driveway feasting on grit, sunflower seeds and cracked corn, joining them were five crows, a handful of junco's and the other usual characters. The two standouts, one fox sparrow and one very feisty cooper's hawk. Randy Meredith
Date: 3/24/24 10:39 am From: 'Rob Woodward' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Bohemian Waxwings return to Laconia
Presently (1:30 pm) feeding in the same crab apple tree as reported a few weeks ago in Rotary Park across from the entrance to the parking garage. Rotary Park is along the Winnipasaukee River adjacent to the Belknap Mill next to City Hall. About 2 dozen with Cedar Waxwing and American Robin.
Date: 3/21/24 10:42 am From: Randy Langer <randylanger52...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Question on white-fronted goose
Interesting you ask I was just looking for it myself. It's no longer at the
Meredith Yacht Club nor did I see it at moultonborough farms. Not sure if
it's still around. Regards Randy
On Thu, Mar 21, 2024, 1:18 PM Ducky Darrick <dadams...> wrote:
Date: 3/21/24 5:31 am From: Evelyn Nathan <evynathan...> Subject: [NHBirds] Siskins in Kingston
I had not seen a siskin in my yard in Kingston since 2012 when we had a big irruption, but Merlin picked them up mixed with a large flock of goldfinches this morning, what a dawn chorus racket! I did not spot any, since they were not at the feeders but in the trees, but the app lit up consistently.
Evy Nathan
Date: 3/20/24 10:01 am From: Leo McKillop <weomck...> Subject: [NHBirds] Pickering & Rochester WTP
Susan Wrisley and I spent the morning at Pickering Ponds and Rochester WTP.
Highlights for Pickering Ponds:
2 Fox Sparrows 4 Eastern Phoebes (they have arrived) 4 Winter Wrens (2 singing) 1 Gray Cat bird Zero Great Black-backed Gulls despite 300ish Herring Gulls in the first pond 1 Glaucous Gull (continuing immature)
Highlights for WTP: 1 female Northern Shoveler ( thanks to S Mirick for the tip) 2 Green-winged Teal Zero Great Black-backed Gulls
Date: 3/20/24 9:04 am From: '<raqbirds...>' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Red Crossbills in Webster, again
Or maybe I should say still (re. the crossbills).
My first local (Webster) birding in weeks was productive on March 16.
Highlights-Four Red Crossbills picking at an old stump at the Lake Winnepocket boatlaunch were the highlights and a seemingly odd behavior. They seemed to befeeding but I could not determine what. Three adult males and one adult female.I also saw a pair of adult Red Crossbills nearby back in January, so they seemto be lingering. Pine Siskins and Goldfinches were around the crossbillstoo.
Lake Winnepocket birds included the expected CommonMergansers and Hooded Mergansers, but three Buffleheads and one CommonGoldeneye were unusual both for the site and the date. A nearby Carolina Wrenwas a pleasant songster and still uncommon in Webster.
Knight’s Meadow Road and Marsh are close to the Lakeand were active too.
Black Duck- 26 is a high number for here.
Ruffed Grouse- drumming.
Bald Eagle- an adult flushed the ducks but ignoredthem.
More siskins, one probable Fox Sparrow, and a possibleGreat Horned Owl added spice to the walk.
Bob Quinn, Webster, NH
"Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of the earth." Chief Seattle
My cat, an avid bird watcher, alerted me to the arrival of a Northern Mocking Bird on the window, meal worm feeder at noon today. The bird has spent a lot of time here gobbling up meal worms much to the dismay of the Blue Birds, who don’t like to share.
Susan Hunter, Bedford
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