This morning at 7:15, around 40 Canada Geese flew over, before the rain started. They were heading toward Canaan. During the day a few Warblers moved through, including male and female Black-throated Blue and a Black-throated Green. Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches went to the feeders.
Jane and I (on vacation) spent a few hours at Ragged Neck in Rye this
morning. Not a huge number of birds migrating, but a nice variety.
Rye Harbor State Park, Rye, Rockingham, New Hampshire, US
Sep 25, 2018 7:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Protocol: Stationary
Comments: Sea watch. 7 to noon with 1 hour break to check Goss
Farm. Moderate SE winds of 10 knots to start, increasing to 20 knots at
end. Milky overcast thickening with light rain starting at about noon.
All birds moving south except Fulmar.
American Wigeon 1
American Black Duck 61 Steady slow trickle of birds.
Common Eider 33
Surf Scoter 53
White-winged Scoter 87
Black Scoter 50
scoter sp. 276
Red-breasted Merganser 1
Sanderling 4 Possibly not migrating.
peep sp. 11 Possibly not migrating.
PARASITIC JAEGER 1 Subadult. Chasing HERG. Pale belly and
strikingly pale area around head. Presumed to be part of collar
effect. Central tail feathers not seen. Not sure if they were absent
or just very short. Slim jaeger, smaller than HERG. Lack of
significant central tail feathers and general dark backed appearance
ruled out unlikely LTJA.
large alcid sp. 1 Young Razorbill or Murre in winter type plumage.
Flying south with flock of WWSC!!
Laughing Gull 10 Mostly adults.
Ring-billed Gull 76
Herring Gull 28
CASPIAN TERN 2 Adult leading a juvenile.
RED-THROATED LOON 6 All close adults in breeding plumage. First of
fall.
Common Loon 49
NORTHERN FULMAR 1 Pale morph. Not migrating. Heading north.
Northern Gannet 57 (light flight)
Great Cormorant 1 with Double-crested flock.
Double-crested Cormorant 310
Great Blue Heron 1
Osprey 9
Peregrine Falcon 3
Weather: Light to moderate rain dominated the region today and no count was conducted.
Raptor Observations:
Non-raptor Observations:
Predictions: Seasonably warm temperatures and overcast skies will bring scattered and isolated thunderstorms tomorrow on SSW winds. Will these conditions bring migrating raptors? That remains to be seen, particularly in any great numbers. However, if visibility and electric storms allow, raptors should still be on the move and we could see any of the last remaining Broad-wings to our north passing through. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Chad Witko (<chadjwitko...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:45:00 Total observation time: 8.75 hours
Official Counter: Henry Walters, Julie Brown
Observers: Brian Rohde, Cal Peterka, Howard Mansfield, Jeannie Peterka, Jon Woolf, Levi Burford, Mike Gebo
Visitors: 125 visitors to the hawkwatch. A couple classes of Souhegan fourth-graders walked right into a maelstrom of eagles swirling right overhead and were spoiled for life: "Is it always like this?" said one, wild-eyed. "Can we stay until November?" said another. Oh, innocence.
Weather: Cool with moderate NE winds. A changeable sky of fairly low, shifting stratocumulus clouds made for a great backdrop to the day's flight.
Raptor Observations: Early fog parted like a theater curtain around 9:30 to reveal...dozens of broad-winged hawks lifting up from the spruces directly in front of the platform. A whole kettle must have bedded down last night just a stone's throw from our lookout! And the flight continued, with over 900 birds counted between 10 and 11 am. Kettles of 180 and 140 birds were the highlights of the morning. Another new record for Bald Eagles, with 23 individuals recorded. (Juveniles and sub-adults accounted for more than half.) Terrific viewing conditions all day, with many kettles low and easily visible to the naked eye.
Non-raptor Observations: Common Loon; Common Merganser; Double-crested Cormorant (4); Canada Goose (32); Herring Gull (4); Eastern Towhee (2); Yellow-rumped Warbler (3); Black-and-white Warbler; American Goldfinch (8). 55 Monarch butterflies.
Predictions: Rain predicted Tuesday, perhaps into Wednesday. End of the week might provide an opportunity for the last broad-wings to get out of Dodge. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Henry Walters (<walters.henry...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Henry Walters
Observers: Al Grimstad, Don Stokes, Janet Delaney, Judd Nathan, Levi Burford, Lillian Stokes, Meade Cadot, Michael Burgess, Mike Gebo, Scott Harvell, Sharon Harvell, Susie Spikol Faber, Tom Delaney, Wendy Ward, with many more...
Visitors: A great collection of hawkwatchers on the platform today, weaving a very fine eye-mesh through which no bird passed unseen. 78 visitors.
Weather: Warm, sunny, light winds out of the northwest. Somewhat too summery to give the broad-wings any sense of urgency.
Raptor Observations: Migration somewhat lighter than expected--not a whole lot of air moving in any direction, neither wind nor strong thermal activity. Still, a couple good hours of kettling broad-wings in the mid-afternoon. A large adult peregrine hounding a raven across the sky had the hawkwatchers buzzing.
Non-raptor Observations: A Red-backed Vole put in a brief appearance at the feeding station usually dominated by chipmunks and red squirrels. Other non-raptors included Herring Gull (6); Northern Flicker (2); Golden-crowned Kinglet (3); Ruby-crowned Kinglet; Yellow-rumped Warbler (3); American Goldfinch (8); finch sp. (6). Large early-season group of ravens, 40 strong. 7 Monarch butterflies and one distant paraglider.
Predictions: A front moving through tonight...should be good! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Henry Walters (<walters.henry...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org
Date: 9/24/18 3:47 pm From: Mark Suomala <mrsuomala...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, September 24, 2018
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, September 24th,
2018.
There was an unconfirmed report of a MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD seen flying
over Keene on September 20th, but it has not been relocated.
A NEOTROPIC CORMORANT was photographed on the Androscoggin River in Gorham
on August 2nd, has been seen almost every day since then, and was last
reported on September 19th. The bird has been most commonly seen perched on
orange safety buoys just above the Gorham Hydroelectric Station dam on Power
House Road. This is also the site of the Gorham Transfer Station and there
is signed River Access parking at the entrance, so park here and walk to the
dam.
2 SANDHILL CRANES were seen in a field along Ledge Farm Road in Nottingham,
and 1 was seen flying over Nashua, all on September 21st.
A WESTERN KINGBIRD, a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, and a DICKCISSEL were all seen
at Goss Farm in Rye on September 23rd.
A CONNECTICUT WARBLER was seen at the Lamprey River Preserve in Durham on
September 21st and 1 was seen near the Great Bog in Portsmouth on the 23rd.
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was seen at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, and a
MOURNING WARBLER was seen at Awcomin Marsh in Rye, both on September 23rd.
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen on September 20th, a CANADA WARBLER was
seen on the 22nd, a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER was seen on the 19th, and a
WOOD THRUSH was reported on the 24th, all at NH Audubon’s Dahl Wildlife
Sanctuary in Conway.
A WOOD THRUSH was reported from Rumney on September 18th, and an OLIVE-SIDED
FLYCATCHER was reported from Pack Monadnock in Peterborough on the 17th.
Migrating ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, PHILADELPHIA VIREOS, CAPE MAY WARBLERS,
and BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS were reported from scattered locations during the
past week.
A DICKCISSEL, and a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW were reported from Woodmont Orchard
in Hollis on September 23rd, and a DICKCISSEL was heard flying over the
Portsmouth Transfer Station on the 18th.
A LEAST BITTERN was reported from World End Pond in Salem on September 19th,
and a GREAT EGRET was seen in Plainfield on the 22nd.
A group of birders took a cruise aboard the “Granite State” out of Rye
Harbor on September 17th and reported the following highlights: 135 CORY'S
SHEARWATERS, 5 GREAT SHEARWATERS, 18 NORTHERN GANNETS, 7 GREAT CORMORANTS, 4
AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS, a WHIMBREL, 21 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, a LAUGHING
GULL, a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 15 CASPIAN TERNS, a FORSTER'S TERN, 7
POMARINE JAEGERS, and a BLACK GUILLEMOT. Another 12 CASPIAN TERNS were
tallied from shore on the 17th.
An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was reported from Hampton Marsh on September 18th.
Migrating shorebirds reported from the coast on September 22nd included: 2
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 254 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 6 KILLDEER, 1 SANDERLING, 1
LEAST SANDPIPER, 4 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, 1 PECTORAL SANDPIPER, 75
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, 1 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, 2 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, 127
GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and 4 LESSER YELLOWLEGS
A late-migrating COMMON NIGHTHAWK was seen in Westmoreland on September
20th, and 2 were seen in Brookline on the 18th. 3 CHIMNEY SWIFTS were seen
in Nashua on the 18th.
RAPTOR migration is under way with migrating raptors being counted daily at
the Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory in Peterborough. Pack
Monadnock has reported over 5,000 raptors since September 1st. The majority
of the raptors being seen at this time in the season are BROAD-WINGED HAWKS,
but over 75 BALD EAGLES have also been seen. Be sure to visit this
observatory during this fall season to help out with the count!
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
Saw 5 Broadwings Rt 101A Amherst, NH around 1p today. I plan to check out Pack Monadnock later in the week; hopefully they're still moving through in numbers later in the week.
Date: 9/24/18 9:07 am From: 'Phil Brown' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Today is the big day at pack Monadnock!
Julie Brown reports a huge flight of broad wings with over 1200 during the first couple of hours today. Come out this afternoon to witness the remaining 'wings' migrate south!
Date: 9/24/18 3:46 am From: Dave Tucker <dhtucker...> Subject: [NHBirds] Bellamy River field trip
I co-led a birding field trip with the six other participants at the Bellamy River WMA in Dover on Sunday morning. We tallied 35 species in three hours of walking, pishing, and wishing. Five broadwings rose to the warming day likely from overnight roosts, 3 ravens croaked at us, a house wren tried to evade us but didn't. Blue jays, catbirds, and goldfinches were most abundant, but for veteran birders remained a mere distraction from the possibility of something more uncommon, which unfortunately never materialized! A handful of Red-eyed vireos, two yellowthroats, a chestnut-sided, a show of woodpeckers less sapsuscker, these were nice indeed, as were the two female purple finches, but a true migratory showcase never emerged, alas. So we mostly walked about telling fishing stories at a lovely place on a beautiful day.
Today there were 5 Tom Turkeys in the meadow, feeding on grasshoppers and crickets I guess. An immature Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was working on one of our wild apple trees, and Eastern Phoebe was hawking, perhaps chasing some of a dragonfly flight in the warm afternoon sun. Northern Flickers are staging in the meadow, with groups of 4-5 daily. Yesterday a flock of American Robins numbered 10:; there are many earth worms in the wet leaves where they were foraging.
One warbler today could have been a Pine, but I’m not satisfied.
On a different note: Mice in the house this summer led me to start trapping in July with glue boards and snap traps. I was averaging 10-12 a week until this week. I’ve caught 35 in the last 8 nights… all outside, but better there than in.
The Barred Owls around here are not up to this year’s task.
A Question Mark was in the meadow yesterday, along with a lingering Monarch and many sulfurs.
Zeke Cornell and I birded the community gardens before being lured to the coast by the Wstern Kingbird that Steve and Jane Mirick found. Sparrows are starting to show up (7 species) and will hopefully increase for Saturday's field trip (7:30 am, led by Zeke). Highlights below.
Spent 3+ hours Saturday 9/21 on Kimball Hill in Hillsboro. Windy and a chill in the air for sure, and it was a good morning.
9AM until about 12;15PM
45 Broadwings, 5 Sharp-shinned, 4 Turkey Vultures, 11 unknowns, 4 of which were falcons. 35+ Canada geese.
One of the falcons was circling fairly high when I spotted it, it completed just 3-4 circles and then when in to a dive. As I followed it in binoculars, it kept diving, faster and faster, quickly becoming the best falcon dive I’ve ever watched in my life, down and down until it vanished below and behind the trees to my West. Still accelerating I think! As I watched, I thought to myself “how fast is it going, 150? 175?”, but if there had been someone there to clock it somehow, I would not be surprised to hear it was at 190+ mph. Absolute spectacular view! A Peregrine, I would have to guess, just based on the speed.
Sunday 9/22
I had a 2nd pair of eyes with me (my oldest daughter), a much quieter day than yesterday. We arrived just before 9AM, and almost an hour passed before the first raptor appeared. A lone Sharp-shinned low, which after circling for a few minutes and gaining some altitude, then headed off West. We did not stay quite 2 hours.
We later stopped by at Carter Hill in Concord, in time to see 2 Broadwings, and then a pair of adult Bald Eagles. One of them attacked and chased off one of the Broadwings as the hawk attempted to pass by below them. them.
Date: 9/23/18 4:11 pm From: Stephen Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [NHBirds] Coastal Odds & Ends (Roosting Monarchs, Migrating Great Blues, Western Kingbird, CT Warbler)
Another great fall day on the coast. The winds died down from the NW
winds yesterday, and shifted into the NE early in AM before dawn.
Passerines continue to be sparse on the coast, but fortunately there
were a few golden nuggets!
CONNECTICUT WARBLER - Last bird of the day. A dull immature female type
bird seen off Portsmouth Well head trails where it loops along the
railroad tracks and connects back to the Portsmouth Bog area. We were
working along an overgrown trail back to the car when we were stopped by
thorn shrubs, and while deciding how to get through them, a Connecticut
Warbler started calling right next to us, repeatedly!! Fortunately, I
was tuned in to the call note, and immediately recognized it. I
whispered to Jane....CONNECTICUT WARBLER! She whispered back....I SEE
IT! Fortunately, it cooperated and even came out into the open with a
little bit of pisshing. A rarely seen skulking bird in NH during mid to
late September.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevemirick/29936127227/in/photostream/lightbox/
Oops, almost forgot one other observation: a startling number of Monarch Butterflies migrating over the open ocean. I didn't keep a count, but my impression was that I saw at least a dozen and probably more.
I've seen more migrating Monarchs this year than I have in a long time. Perhaps their population is finally bouncing back a little from the nadir of three or four years ago, when I went an entire year without seeing one.
I went out with Granite State Whale Watch today. Due to a morning charter we left the dock at 2pm and returned about 6:30, after a whale watch that took us well down into Massachusetts waters, almost to Cape Ann. It took us a while to find whales, but once we did we found a LOT of them - at least a dozen different Humpback Whales and a pod of Atlantic White-sided Dolphins.
There were birds too -- not in large numbers, but a pretty steady scattering throughout the trip. In addition to the usual Herring and Great Black-backed gulls, there were:
* At least one Great Shearwater
* 3 or 4 Cory's Shearwaters
* Many Gannets of all ages
* 1 possible jaeger
* 1 definite Northern Fulmar
* And half a dozen or so small gulls which I believe were all immature Bonaparte's Gulls.
Also, around 1pm the outgoing tide was just exposing the Rye Harbor mudflats, and a scattering of peeps and Semipalmated Plovers were feeding thereon. A couple of the peeps were indulging in the mildly unusual behavior of running around and feeding in knee-deep water, instead of on the newly-exposed mud a few feet away.
Observation start time: 07:30:00
Observation end time: 16:45:00
Total observation time: 9.25 hours
Official Counter: Chad Witko
Observers: Al Grimstad, Andre Moraes, Charlene Phillips,
Francie Von Mertens, Glen & Lori Chretien, Janet Delaney,
Julie Brown, Katrina Fenton, Levi Burford, Meade Cadot,
Mike Gebo, Phil Brown, Rachel Yurchisin, Scott Spangenberg,
Tom Delaney, with many more...
Visitors:
As expected, with today’s predicted conditions for migrating raptors along
with the annual raptor release event at the platform, every available nook
and cranny was used by throngs of eager raptor enthusiasts. In total, some
325 visitors were found at the platform today at one point or another,
either helping to spot migrating raptors, interacting with Harris Center
staff and volunteers, engaging with HMANA representatives, or watching the
release of three rehabilitated raptors- one Red-tailed Hawk and two
Broad-winged Hawks.
Weather:
Gusty northwest winds on the back of a passing cold front ushered in cool,
crisp fall conditions to greet us today. Mostly sunny skies to start the
count slowly transitioned to mostly cloudy conditions by the afternoon.
Fortunately, all clouds today remained well above the summit of Pack and
visibility only grew as the day went on (Mount Washington was in view long
before day’s end). Temperatures remained seasonable today (16-22C) which
combined with the blustery winds made it feel like fall.
Raptor Observations:
Today was the day we’ve been waiting for all week! From start to finish,
migrating raptors put on quite a show today from the Pack Monadnock Raptor
Observatory. Right from the start, northwest winds pushed early migrating
raptors right against the face of Pack, causing wonderful lift that pushed
them up and over the platform. During this time frame migration was fast
and furious and within the first few minutes low birds were streaming well
within view of one’s naked eye. It was during this time frame that one
visitor to the platform exclaimed, “I’ve seen more birds today than I have
all summer!”. From the start there was no doubt that today was going to be
a good day. By mid-morning, small kettles tried to form, only to be
scattered like falling leaves from a wind-blown tree due to high wind
gusts. Ospreys, Bald Eagles, Northern Harriers, accipiters, falcons, and
even migrating Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures got in on the action
forming a river of raptors overhead. Like bubbles on a fast-flowing stream,
raptors took different flight lines and flowed around the sky island of
Pack Monadnock. Both diversity and numbers were high today, the perfect
combination for all the viewers who paid us a visit.
Non-raptor Observations:
With so many migrating raptors today on a constant stream, and all eyes
fixed on the sky, it was hard at times to focus on the other spectacles
that were happening around us. Nevertheless, 61 migrating Monarch
Butterflies and 2 migrating Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were to be had along
the ridge. An often overlooked short-distance migrant, Blue Jays also had
an impressive showing today totaling 72. Other non-raptor avian highlights
included Canada Goose (130), Double-crested Cormorant (5), along with
several warblers.
Predictions:
While the peak window of migrating Broad-winged Hawks is ending soon, there
are still ‘wings’ to be had. However, will tomorrow be as good as today? At
the moment, it looks promising for yet another decent day from the
platform. Temperatures will drop overnight tonight, issuing a frost warning
for many across the region. This, combined with mostly sunny skies in the
morning and light and variable winds, should help to encourage more
Broad-wings and other raptors past the observatory. How many birds we see
tomorrow will likely be more of a reflection of how many have already
passed us by during the peak window of migration this week and less
anything else. Please stop by the platform tomorrow to say hello if you
were not able to come up today…eager eyes are always welcome!
========================================================================
Report submitted by Chad Witko (<chadjwitko...>)
Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at:
www.nhaudubon.org
Date: 9/22/18 7:46 pm From: 'Silver Judith' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] red-breasted nuthatches in Portsmouth backyard
Hello,
Today I saw 2 red-breasted nuthatches in my backyard, and on the 19th I had one come to a feeder in the company of titmice!! First red-breasted I've seen in my backyard in a few years. Surprised and delighted to see them.
Jane and I covered the coast today, joined for much of the day with
Jason Lambert. Nice NW winds were a welcome change this fall and
brought some nice migrating hawks and a total of 12 species of
"raptors". While not of the magnitude of Pack Monadnock, it was still
nice to see kettles of Broad-winged Hawks pushed to the coast by the
winds. Also LOTS of Monarchs, estimated at 350+ by Jason. And a few
swarms of dragonflies were pushed to the coast. One group at Odiorne
Point in Rye included a bunch of Common Green Darners, a few Wandering
Gliders and Black Saddlebags, and a very rare INCURVATE EMERALD
dragonfly which I caught. There are only a few records for this species
in NH with all but one from further north in the State...and none this late.
Comments: With Jason Lambert for much of day. Partly cloudy.
Moderate to strong NW winds following cold front, decreasing during
afternoon. Very few NW wind days this fall. About 2 full hours of hawk
watching at EEL POND from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Very few land birds
noted with the exception of one small flock in Seabrook which had the
ONLY 5 warblers for the day. Lots of Monarchs migrating,
counted/estimated at 350 by Jason. Also captured INCURVATE EMERALD at
Odiorne with swarm of green darners, wandering gliders and black saddlebags.
Highlights
---------------
Canada Goose 36 MIGRATING.
Green-winged Teal 5
Surf Scoter X Small numbers of all 3 scoters in water off Little
Boar's Head.
White-winged Scoter X Small numbers of all 3 scoters in water off
Little Boar's Head.
Black Scoter X Small numbers of all 3 scoters in water off Little
Boar's Head.
Red-breasted Merganser 2
Black-bellied Plover 2
Semipalmated Plover 254 Roosting at Plaice Cove. Mostly juveniles.
Killdeer 6
Sanderling 1
Least Sandpiper 1
White-rumped Sandpiper 4 All adults. Still no juveniles yet this fall.
Pectoral Sandpiper 1 Roosting juvenile at Plaice Cove.
Semipalmated Sandpiper 75 About 90% juveniles.
Short-billed Dowitcher 1 Lingering juvenile.
Spotted Sandpiper 2
Greater Yellowlegs 127 Almost all at Meadow Pond.
Lesser Yellowlegs 4 With Greaters at Meadow Pond.
Common Loon 7 MIGRATING.
Northern Gannet 6
Double-crested Cormorant 97 MIGRATING.
Great Blue Heron 11 MIGRATING. Some well offshore. A few more in
marshes.
Great Egret 26
Snowy Egret 31
Turkey Vulture 1
Osprey 23 MIGRATING.
Northern Harrier 1 MIGRATING.
Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 MIGRATING.
Cooper's Hawk 9 MIGRATING. Seemingly high count of migrants.
Bald Eagle 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 Rare coastal sighting. Nice views of
juvenile, low over Eel Pond. Not sure to what extent it was "migrating"
but they aren't known to nest in area.
Broad-winged Hawk 199 Nice coastal flight. Most from near Eel
Pond. Largest kettle of about 40 birds. Some coming in from offshore.
Red-tailed Hawk 7 MIGRATING.
Belted Kingfisher 2
American Kestrel 6 MIGRATING.
Merlin 7 MIGRATING.
Peregrine Falcon 3 MIGRATING.
Tree Swallow 5
American Pipit 1
Yellow Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 3
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Date: 9/22/18 10:43 am From: Jane Hills <jhbird...> Subject: [NHBirds] Elm Brook Park today
Five people joined me this morning for a walk through Elm Brook Park in Contoocook. It was not a particularly birdy day due to high winds, but the hawks were loving the weather!
"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: 9/21/18 7:38 pm From: Jody Williams <fisherwoods...> Subject: [NHBirds] Few birds of note in Rumney
Yesterday a young male Rose-breasted Grosbeak came to the feeders. Later in the afternoon, a Spotted Sandpiper was at the Baker River. Today at a pond along Rte 25, a small flock of Hooded Mergansers were diving.
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Chad Witko
Observers: Andre Moraes
Visitors: 41 intrepid visitors made their way to the platform today despite the cold and windy conditions, including the incomparable Mr. and Mrs. Witko (Hi Mom and Dad!). A special thanks to Fran K. and Andrei C. for keeping us company on the platform for so long and engaging us with wonderful conversation.
Weather: As predicted, overcast conditions and strong southerly winds (SE to SSW) pounded the platform. Temperatures only reached 20C for a high while wind gusts up to 29 km/h+ chilled whatever warmth was available in the air.
Raptor Observations: Unfortunately, very few migrating raptors were detected today at the platform. Ospreys slid through low against the strong winds while several small raptors paddled hard against the tide. Any migrating raptors detected flew low to avoid the higher wind gusts while local Red-tailed Hawks kited above horizon.
Non-raptor Observations: Non-raptor avian highlights included Red-eyed Vireo (2), Pine Warbler (2), Blackpoll Warbler (5), Cape May Warbler (1), and Scarlet Tanager (1). No migrating Monarch Butterflies or Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were detected today.
Predictions: Showers and thunderstorms move across the region overnight which should leave behind clearer conditions along with cool, crisp air. With any luck their passing will remove the bulk of this stubborn cloud deck that has persisted throughout the week. Clearing conditions along with brisk NW winds should encourage any anxious Broad-wings and other raptors past the platform and onto the data sheet, helping us to break the 3000-bird mark for the season. Also, of note, tomorrow is the annual raptor release which will take place at 3PM when several rehabilitated wild raptors will be released back into the open skies above Pack Monadnock! Please note that there will be a shuttle up and down the auto road from 130pm-430pm. It's going to be a great day and we hope to see you there! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Chad Witko (<chadjwitko...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org
My next door neighbor texted me this afternoon to say he saw the most gorgeous large bird fly directly overhead. He sent it along with a picture that was a sandhill (as it matched what he saw.) good description with red crown etc. Very reliable person.
It circled back toward Greeley park and when I got word I checked out Greeley , but no luck. Was seen just before 4 pm . Maybe flew across the merrimack river to Litchfield farm areas? Keep an eye out!
Date: 9/21/18 4:29 am From: Roger Frieden <roger...> Subject: [NHBirds] Sandhill Cranes in Nottingham
We found the 2 Sandhill Cranes at 7 AM in the cut cornfield south of Ledge Farm Road near Route 156. They kept an eye on a Red-tailed Hawk that was screaming from a nearby tree, but were unperturbed by it. Last evening I saw them flying over the same area to the NW.
Observation start time: 10:30:00 Observation end time: 16:30:00 Total observation time: 5.5 hours
Official Counter: Chad Witko
Observers: Gail Coffey, Glen Chretien, Jerry Coffey, Jon Woolf, Judd Nathan, Levi Burford, Lori-Ann Chretien, Miki Foley
Visitors: 71 visitors, including a large group of 4th graders, made their way to the platform and interacted with the hawk counter, casual observers, and volunteers from the Harris Center.
Weather: Persistent low clouds, heavy mist, and moderate gusts of wind kept visibility non-existent on the summit and prevented the count from starting for the first few hours of the day. Wash, rinse, repeat from the past few days. However, slowly and surely, conditions improved and visibility was eventually to be had at the platform when portions of Mount Monadnock came into view. It took a little longer than we had hoped for based on the forecasts, but eventually decent viewing conditions did happen, improving throughout the afternoon, although not before someone stated "The only thing migrating today was our window of visibility". Light winds shifted from NE to ESE by day's end. Temperatures fluctuated on the platform depending on how much solar activity was present, causing many observers to fluctuate equally in and out of wind-breaking layers. More accurately, temps ranged 16-19C across the day.
Raptor Observations: Once a decent window of visibility opened up, raptors were quickly spotted. While there were a few decent kettles of Broad-winged Hawks spotted distant above the horizon, including a whirling vortex from horizon to the cloud layer, most birds were spotted as singles, doubles, or triples streaming and steaming past the platform. Ospreys put in a decent showing today with 6 of the 10 recorded during a single hour of viewing.
Non-raptor Observations: Active non-raptor migrants of note today included 21 Monarch Butterflies, 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, and 21 Blue Jays. Other avian highlights included the following: a swan of an unknown species (1), Great Black-backed Gull (1), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1), Blue-headed Vireo (2), Northern Parula (1), and Blackpoll Warbler (8).
Predictions: Expect overcast conditions along with strengthening winds (SSE to SSW) with some gusts exceeding 20kph by day's end. Visibility may once again be an issue depending upon how high the predicted cloud layer is by the time it reaches the region. How many raptors fly into the face of strong southerly winds will remain to be seen, however, it is reaching towards the end of peak Broad-wing season and birds will be feeling the need to get a move on if they haven't already. Will these birds fly in such winds? Will they be low and out of sight? Will clouds obscure Pack? Tune in tomorrow to find out! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Chad Witko (<chadjwitko...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org
Amazing but not totally so given the Hurricane. You have a good description!Cheers David
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message --------From: Steven Lamonde <slamonde...> Date: 9/20/18 3:27 PM (GMT-05:00) To: NHBirds Group <nhbirds...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Possible Magnificent Frigatebird (Keene)
Good afternoon, all,
Thanks to Chad for
posting on my behalf earlier this morning. I was unfortunately unable to
relocate the possible MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD (hereafter referred to as
"the bird") after ~2 hours of searching the south Keene/north Swanzey
area (7:30 AM - 10:00 AM).
For those of you who would like the full story of my encounter, please read on.
I was out on my
morning bird walk along the bike path at Antioch University New England in Keene
and stopped in the "dirt patch" (42.931022, -72.295765) to see if the Wilson's Warblers from
yesterday were still present. I had just taken my binoculars away from my eyes
after looking at an Northern Parula, when a flying bird overhead caught my
attention. I first thought it was a heron or egret based on the size and flight
speed, but what really stood out was the distinctive wing shape (very pointed
wing tips, and a remarkably curved upper wing) - something I have never seen
before. A large gull or tern crossed my mind as options, but this bird was far
larger than a Caspian Tern or any gull, and the wing tips were far more pointy
than a gull's. My general impression of size was that it was a little smaller
than a Great Blue Heron, but with longer, thinner wings. Additionally, the
bird's neck was not obviously bent like a heron's or egret's. Shape-wise, this
bird's most distinct features were a narrow body, long pointed wings, long
tail, and little to no head projection. I did not have the best angle to judge
this last feature, but the bird's relatively small head did not appear to
project farther than the front-most part of the upper wing's concave curve.
The bird was already
past directly overhead when I first saw it, but I did get decent looks at it
through binoculars for about 5 seconds before it disappeared behind the
treetops flying southeast towards Pearl Street. Although most of my attention
was drawn to the wing shape, flight style, and overall shape of the bird, I did
get a look at its bill as it turned its head. The bill was long and displayed a
hooked end, similar to a cormorant's or shearwater's, but thinner. Since the
bird was southeast of me when I observed it, the early sun and thin-overcast
conditions back-lit the bird, allowing for poor judgment of plumage color. Best
I could guess, the bird was dark, especially its wings and head. The belly may
have been a lighter color, but I am not certain.
Date: 9/20/18 12:27 pm From: Steven Lamonde <slamonde...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Possible Magnificent Frigatebird (Keene)
Good afternoon, all,
Thanks to Chad for posting on my behalf earlier this morning. I was
unfortunately unable to relocate the possible MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD
(hereafter referred to as "the bird") after ~2 hours of searching the south
Keene/north Swanzey area (7:30 AM - 10:00 AM).
For those of you who would like the full story of my encounter, please read
on.
I was out on my morning bird walk along the bike path at Antioch University
New England in Keene and stopped in the "dirt patch" (42.931022, -72.295765)
to see if the Wilson's Warblers from yesterday were still present. I had
just taken my binoculars away from my eyes after looking at an Northern
Parula, when a flying bird overhead caught my attention. I first thought it
was a heron or egret based on the size and flight speed, but what really
stood out was the distinctive wing shape (very pointed wing tips, and a
remarkably curved upper wing) - something I have never seen before. A large
gull or tern crossed my mind as options, but this bird was far larger than
a Caspian Tern or any gull, and the wing tips were far more pointy than a
gull's. My general impression of size was that it was a little smaller than
a Great Blue Heron, but with longer, thinner wings. Additionally, the
bird's neck was not obviously bent like a heron's or egret's. Shape-wise,
this bird's most distinct features were a narrow body, long pointed wings,
long tail, and little to no head projection. I did not have the best angle
to judge this last feature, but the bird's relatively small head did not
appear to project farther than the front-most part of the upper wing's
concave curve.
The bird was already past directly overhead when I first saw it, but I did
get decent looks at it through binoculars for about 5 seconds before it
disappeared behind the treetops flying southeast towards Pearl Street.
Although most of my attention was drawn to the wing shape, flight style,
and overall shape of the bird, I did get a look at its bill as it turned
its head. The bill was long and displayed a hooked end, similar to a
cormorant's or shearwater's, but thinner. Since the bird was southeast of
me when I observed it, the early sun and thin-overcast conditions back-lit
the bird, allowing for poor judgment of plumage color. Best I could guess,
the bird was dark, especially its wings and head. The belly may have been a
lighter color, but I am not certain.
Regarding flight style, the bird struck me as relaxed and buoyant, as if it
could soar great distance with minimal flapping. While observing the bird,
I don't think it flapped more than 3 times, yet it maintained a consistent
altitude, cruising no more than 20-30 feet over the treetops. The bird's
flight was relaxed and direct, yet neither labored like a heron's nor
bouncy like some terns.
Based on these observations, I came to the conclusion of Magnificent
Frigatebird. Although I lack any in-person experience with this species,
everything about this bird matched what I have observed of frigatebirds in
field guides and videos. After the bird flew out of sight, I immediately
began running towards my car to chase the bird in hopes of getting
photographs. Calling Chad simultaneously, I alerted him of the sighting and
gave him the most distinctive details as they were fresh in my mind. I
drove down Pearl Street to Winchester Street, then headed to Krif Road to
scan the skies over Keene. No luck there, so I went to Wilson Pond, the
largest body of water in the vicinity southeast of Keene. A Ring-billed
Gull, and 2 Double-crested Cormorants were highlights, but no frigatebird.
I proceeded over to Dillant-Hopkins Airport to scan the skies there
(Cooper’s Hawk and American Kestrel present), then headed back to Wilson's
Pond, also without any luck. After 2.5 hours of searching, I had to call it
quits and head back to Antioch where I promptly sketched my impression of
the bird and made a series of notes as best I could recall. I'm kicking
myself hard for leaving my camera in the car, since I thought I wouldn't
find anything new after yesterday's 13-hour campus-only birdathon (42
species).
Good birding,
Steven
On Thu, Sep 20, 2018 at 7:56 AM, Chad Witko <chadjwitko...> wrote:
> Greetings,
>
> An out-of-breath Steven Lamonde called me this morning (~735) to tell me
> he believes he had a Magnificent Frigatebird fly over the campus of Antioch
> University New England (West Street).
>
> He caught a brief glimpse of the bird as it flew over some trees, but it
> showed enough of something unexpected, that upon which time he ran to his
> car to give chase. His description of the bird to me over the phone sounds
> very good for this species and it's worth anyone in the greater Keene area
> to keep their eyes open today around any bodies of water or even up high.
> He reports the bird flying SE over campus towards and over the direction of
> Pearl Street. He is currently on his way to the area of the airport and
> Wilson Pond in Swanzey with camera in hand.
>
> I'll leave it to him to fill in any details I may have missed in his call.
>
> Cheers,
> --
> 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
>
> --
> 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.
>
--
Steven Lamonde
Conservation Biology (MS) student
Department of Environmental Studies
Antioch University New England
Keene, New Hampshire
<slamonde...>
(339) 236-1421
Date: 9/20/18 9:07 am From: Kyle Wilmarth <kyle.wilmarth...> Subject: [NHBirds] Seacoast Chapter Field Trip: Bellamy River WMA - Sunday 9/23
*Bird Walk: Bellamy River WMA (Wildlife Management Area)*
Sunday, September 23, 8am
Bellamy River WMA is a 400 acre parcel of former farm land with a mix of
field and forest, a few fresh water creeks, and tidal shore on the Bellamy
River near Little Bay in Dover. We’ll traipse about looking for lingering
breeders and fall migrants mostly in the uplands. Dress for ticks!
Entrance is off Rabbit Rd., off of Back River Road near Route 4. Likely to
be done birding by noon.
Date: 9/20/18 4:57 am From: Chad Witko <chadjwitko...> Subject: [NHBirds] Possible Magnificent Frigatebird (Keene)
Greetings,
An out-of-breath Steven Lamonde called me this morning (~735) to tell me he believes he had a Magnificent Frigatebird fly over the campus of Antioch University New England (West Street).
He caught a brief glimpse of the bird as it flew over some trees, but it showed enough of something unexpected, that upon which time he ran to his car to give chase. His description of the bird to me over the phone sounds very good for this species and it's worth anyone in the greater Keene area to keep their eyes open today around any bodies of water or even up high. He reports the bird flying SE over campus towards and over the direction of Pearl Street. He is currently on his way to the area of the airport and Wilson Pond in Swanzey with camera in hand.
I'll leave it to him to fill in any details I may have missed in his call.
Cheers, -- 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
Observation start time: 07:30:00
Observation end time: 15:00:00
Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Chad Witko
Observers: Andre Moraes, Glen Chretien, Julie Brown, Levi Burford,
Lori-Ann Chretien, Phil Brown
Visitors:
10 visitors made their way to the platform today, some transients on
adjacent trails, others to lend their moral support to the cloud-bound
raptor counters.
Weather:
Clouds and more clouds! The predicted forecast of clearing conditions
post-Florence never materialized and as a result neither did the sun. At
least not truly. A few times late in the afternoon hints of the sun through
the clouds and even a streak or two of blue above suggested clearing
conditions to those on the platform. It was never to be. For the duration
of the count, the summit of Pack Monadnock was smack dab in a thick layer
of clouds which during the early part of the day gifted us with
precipitation in the form of heavy mist or light rain. Despite our best
intentions, wishes, and interpretations of forecasts, satellite, and radar,
Pack simply couldn't get itself out of the clouds.
Raptor Observations:
The two Sharpies that were tallied today zipped out of the clouds and onto
the scoreboard as they made passing strafes at the resident plastic owl.
Non-raptor Observations:
Blue Jays were ever present today around the platform giving all of us
something to look at other than clouds. Warblers and other passerines were
rather scarce with one Blackpoll Warbler of note.
Predictions:
Light and variable winds out of the N to ENE along with clearing skies,
turning partly sunny by the afternoon, has the potential to make tomorrow a
good day atop Pack. If conditions materialize as predicted, this could be
one of the better windows of opportunity for migrating Broad-wings and
other raptors post-Florence. With any luck, the cloud cover that will be
thinning throughout the morning will be high enough to keep the raptor
observatory platform out of the clouds and in view of any raptors that are
making their way south. With numbers below-average for the season, there
will be many eyes trained to the sky anxiously awaiting the big push of
raptors that we still expect/hope to come. Will it be tomorrow? If you’re
in the area, stop by the platform to find out!
========================================================================
Report submitted by Chad Witko (<chadjwitko...>)
Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at:
www.nhaudubon.org
Date: 9/19/18 7:33 am From: David Lipsy <dlipsy...> Subject: [NHBirds] Northern Gannets on rocks at Isle of Shoals (images) ++ 09-16-18
Last night while going over more images, I found three adult Northern Gannets on the rocks, along with a mixture of Great Cormorants and Double-crested Cormorants. See images added to yesterdays referenced album.
Date: 9/19/18 7:16 am From: Jody Williams <fisherwoods...> Subject: [NHBirds] Late Wood Thrush, Rumney 9/18
Last evening at 6:40, I heard the familiar “tut-tut-tut-tut” Wood Thrush call by the back yard edge of the hemlock ravine. EBird called it rare for date and time, so I posted it.
This morning a Gray Catbird was “Meowing” from the ravine on the other side of the yard. It was the second one in a couple days.
Observation start time: 13:30:00 Observation end time: 16:30:00 Total observation time: 3 hours
Official Counter: Chad Witko
Observers:
Visitors: 1 visitor made their way to the platform this afternoon to engage with the counter.
Weather: After the remnants of Hurricane Florence passed through the area, a light north wind helped to clear the air. Nevertheless, temperatures felt warm, reaching the middle to upper 70s on the platform by day's end (high of 26 C). Once the veil of Florence's lingering clouds left the summit, visibility improved dramatically and features about 100 km to the north could be seen.
Raptor Observations: A light migration of raptors was detected today at Pack during the few hours that the official count was conducted. Despite low numbers, diversity among those migrating was worth noting with a total of nine species confirmed. Accipiters were the first to the air as the ceiling of clouds lifted- they were also the most numerous while Ospreys also had a fair showing. To keep things interesting, resident Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks are still being seen at the platform on a daily basis with the local immature of the latter still escorting other raptors on their flights to points south.
Non-raptor Observations: 13 Monarch Butterflies were observed migrating in the late afternoon. Non-raptor avian highlights were rather slim today, however a Blackpoll Warbler (1) and a Northern Flicker (1) were of note. Despite the passage of Florence through region, no storm-assisted vagrants were to be detected. All those Sooty Terns and Magnificent Frigatebirds will just have to be detected at another time!
Predictions: There's no reason to believe that tomorrow (and Thursday) won't be great days to be atop Pack! The passage of Florence through the area (which certainly held a few birds back) combined with cooler overnight temps, light and variable winds (NW to NE), and clearing conditions (save a possible early morning shower), should be exactly the conditions needed to get Broad-wings up and moving! Please join us and see what tomorrow will bring- it looks promising!! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Chad Witko (<chadjwitko...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org
Date: 9/18/18 11:14 am From: steph ttlc <steph...> Subject: [NHBirds] Capital Chpt. FT: SPARROW ROUND-UP! (9/29)
Field Trip: Sparrow Round-Up!
Date: Saturday, September 29, 7:30am
After a year's absence, this popular fall trip returns with Zeke Cornell leading us in sparrow identification at the Community Gardens off Clinton Street in Concord. 14 species of sparrows have been seen here, more than any single location in the state, including Clay-colored and Vesper. Dickcissel, Blue Grosbeak, and Sedge Wren have also made appearances here. Contact: Zeke Cornell at <mailto:<zekecornell...> <zekecornell...>
Date: 9/18/18 11:13 am From: steph ttlc <steph...> Subject: [NHBirds] Capital Chpt. Program: TRINIDAD & TOBAGO - A BIRDER'S TRIP (9/28)
Program: Trinidad & Tobago - A Birder's Trip
Date: Friday, September 28, 7:00 p.m.
Location: McLane Center
Visit these tropical islands, famous as a birding destination with colorful honeycreepers, motmots, tanagers, and Scarlet Ibis among many others. From the unique Oilbird to the hummingbird show on the Asa Wright veranda to the tropicbirds of the blue waters on Tobago, Bob Quinn and Becky Suomala will introduce you to some of the wonders of a trip here. Bob has been on many trips, and Becky went on one in March of 2017 - enjoying the butterflies and plants, as well as the birds.
Date: 9/18/18 7:19 am From: Jeanne-Marie Maher <jeannemariemaher...> Subject: [NHBirds] Birding the coast; Caspians, Brant, American Golden Plover
Was sorry to miss the pelagic trip yesterday morning due to a very early (0630) appointment in Boston (yuck), but made a day of it afterwards heading up the coast.
(I've managed to miss the caspians in NH this season as well as the American Golden plovers, despite multiple trips)
Was nice to run into some newer friends. (Phillip and Tia from Swansea/Keene area, were Ragged Neck where we found Northern Gannet(s) in flight and one lone Brant hanging on the rocks).
To my delight, had 16 Caspian Terns throughout the course of the day. (Seemed like someone finally "turned the faucet on"! This was already noted by Steve Mirick's pelagic note). Numbers for me were 2, 3, 5, then 6.
The Black Bellied Plovers seemed to be in very low numbers in Hampton, as well as the rest of the coast. Finding a "golden" was feeling futile, when a final stop in the Hampton Salt Marsh yielded a beautiful American Golden Plover, solo plover, in the company of sandpipers.
A great day to be out birding, before the rain arrived.
The Seacoast Chapter of NH Audubon sponsored an all day pelagic bird
trip yesterday aboard the "Granite State" out of Rye Harbor, NH. The
weather was challenging as a combination of seas and wind, caused us to
alter our route a bit and prevented us from chasing a few birds. Skies
were overcast with some fog early, but the fog lifted to give partial
sun. Winds were 15 to 20 knots out of the S or SW, but they died down a
bit around noon, only to pick up later in the afternoon. Seas were 3
feet or so, but choppy. Higher as we got out toward ledge.
We traveled southeast from Rye harbor to an area known as the "Outer
Flag" where there has been a lot of whale activity and where most of the
offshore tuna boats were working. We then worked north to Old Scantum
and then meandered out to the southern part of Jeffrey's Ledge. Rather
than following Jeffrey's Ledge, however, we worked inside the ledge to
avoid seas and winds. We worked north to the Maine state line before
circling back to the Outer Flag. We finished by touring the southern
islands of the Isles of Shoals before heading back to Rye harbor.
Birds were scattered, with Cory's Shearwater being the most common
pelagic species with scattered small groups spread out across the area
and one big group on the water. Whale activity was limited to the Outer
Flag vicinity and this was generally the area where we had the most
shearwaters. The jaegers were from scattered locations with the largest
group of 3 together.
Some photo pages from Ben Griffith and Jim Sparrell:
Thanks to Kyle Wilmarth for organizing this trip and to Captain Pete
Reynolds for working the birds for the benefit of all on the boat.
Numbers below are my estimates and totals counted by Zeke Cornell as
well as a few tricky ID's helped out by Ben Griffith photos. eBird
checklists to be submitted for birds seen offshore in NH and
Massachusetts waters.
Birds
--------
Blue-winged Teal - 1 migrating offshore, but inside of Isles of Shoals.
Common Eider - Just groups around Isles of Shoals and inside Rye
Harbor. Huge flock near Lunging Island.
White-winged Scoter - Single group of 8 migrating offshore beyond Isles
of Shoals.
Common Loon - 1 on water beyond Isles of Shoals.
CORY'S SHEARWATER - 147. Including nice flock of 54 working an area of
Tuna activity. (12 in MA waters). 4th highest daily count for NH
waters. Remarkable that this species has been the most common
shearwater over the last few years.
Great Shearwater - Only 5. Surprisingly low.
Northern Gannet - 18. Mostly around Isles of Shoals. Including 3
ADULTS SITTING ON SQUARE ROCK AGAIN!
Double-crested Cormorant - Including one well offshore.
Great Cormorant - At least 7 on Square Rock
Black-bellied Plover - 1 photographed on Lunging Island.
AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER - 4 distant birds together on Lunging Island
(NH). Likely a family group but too distant to age. This continues a
trend of summer/fall sightings on Lunging and nearby islands suggesting
likely breeding; however, this species has not yet been confirmed as
nesting in NH.
Whimbrel - 1 flying to Star Island.
Peep sp. - 1 offshore migrating.
Red-necked Phalarope - 21 total in small flocks.
Bonaparte's Gull - 2 offshore.
Laughing Gull - 1 inside Rye harbor.
Ring-billed Gull - 1 unusual sighting offshore beyond Isles of Shoals.
Herring Gull - I only wrote down 9 offshore where Great Black-backs
dominate. More inshore.
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 1 juvenile photographed inside Isles of Shoals.
Great Black-backed Gull - 234. Mostly around fishing boats.
CASPIAN TERN - 15 (!!). As we pulled up to the dock in Rye harbor, I
was paying tribute to my wonderful wife (13 year anniversary), and I was
interrupted by a flock of 6 Caspian Terns migrated south past the
breakwaters! This was followed by a flock of 7!! And then a group of
2!! Later Jane and I had 2 more flocks of 2 each for 19 for the day!
Jason continued from Ragged Neck and ended the day with 27 migrating
Caspian Terns!!!
Tern sp. - 1 offshore
Forster's Tern - 1 seen by a few and ID'd by photos.
POMARINE JAEGER - 8 (!) A very high total for these waters at this
date. As far as I can tell, 7 in NH waters represents a new single day
high total. Amazingly, there have been 13 jaegers in the last two
organized pelagic trips and ZERO Parasitic Jaegers.
Black Guillemot - 1 juvenile inside Rye harbor. Zero around Isles of
Shoals.
Belted Kingfisher - 1 inside Rye harbor.
Whales
-----------
Most of the whale activity was around the "Outer Flag" and "Old Scantum"
Humpback Whale - Roughly 9 including "Owl" (recently in the news from
being trapped in seine net), Tear, Spar, Spoon (with calf), and Jabiru.
Minke Whale - 2 or 3
Harbor Seal - 2
Fish
------
Bluefin Tuna - A few breaking the surface.
Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) - One small and interestingly colored
individual near White Island.
Insects
----------
Monarch - 1 offshore
Common Green Darner - 1 offshore
Black Saddlebags - 1 offshore
Steve Mirick (with help from Ben Griffith and Zeke Cornell)
Bradford, MA
Predictions: Rain...wait until Wednesday. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Iain MacLeod (<pandiain.im...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org
Date: 9/17/18 6:00 pm From: 'Dan Hubbard' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: Fw: [NHBirds] Strafford County Farm bird walk 9/16 45 species
Mea Culpa. The American Pipit was actually a western Palm Warbler. Dan Hubbard, Rochester
-----Forwarded Message----- >From: 'Dan Hubbard' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> >Sent: Sep 16, 2018 9:43 PM >To: <nhbirds...> >Subject: [NHBirds] Strafford County Farm bird walk 9/16 45 species > >Eight birders joined me for a leisurely walk along the Don Black trail and through a couple of the fields. The trip list follows. Dan Hubbard, Rochester > >Broad-winged Hawk >American Kestrel >Herring Gull >Great Black-backed Gull >Mourning Dove >Rock Pigeon >Ruby-throated Hummingbird >Red-bellied Woodpecker >Downy Woodpecker >Hairy Woodpecker >Northern Flicker >Pileated Woodpecker >Eastern Phoebe >Red-eyed Vireo >Blue-headed Vireo >Blue Jay >American Crow >Tufted Titmouse >Black-capped Chickadee >White-breasted Nuthatch >House Wren >American Robin >Gray Catbird >Northern Mockingbird >Brown Thrasher >European Starling >American Pipit >Cedar Waxwing >Northern Parula >Yellow-rumped Warbler >Blackpoll Warbler >American Redstart >Common Yellowthroat >Scarlet Tanager >Northern Cardinal >Rose-breasted Grosbeak >Indigo Bunting >Eastern Towhee >Chipping Sparrow >Song Sparrow >Common Grackle >Purple Finch >House Finch >American Goldfinch >House Sparrow > >-- >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: 9/17/18 5:19 pm From: Mark Suomala <mrsuomala...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, September 17, 2018
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, September 17,
2018.
A NEOTROPIC CORMORANT was photographed on the Androscoggin River in Gorham
on August 2nd, has been seen almost every day since then, and was last
reported on September 15th. The bird has been most commonly seen perched on
orange safety buoys just above the Gorham Hydroelectric Station dam on Power
House Road. This is also the site of the Gorham Transfer Station and there
is signed River Access parking at the entrance, so park here and walk to the
dam.
A female KING EIDER was found with a large flock of COMMON EIDER off of
North Hampton State Beach on September 8th and 10th.
4 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS were seen on Star Island in the Isles of Shoals on
September 17th.
A CASPIAN TERN was seen flying off of Odiorne Point State Park on September
15th.
An injured CORY’S SHEARWATER was seen in Hampton Harbor on September 16th.
A LAUGHING GULL was seen at Pickering Ponds in Rochester on September 15th.
2 BLACK GUILLEMOTS were seen at Rye Harbor on September 15th.
An immature LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen in coastal Rye during the past week
and was last reported on September 13th.
2 LEAST BITTERNS were reported from the River Road boat launch in Henniker
on September 16th.
A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen in coastal Seabrook, and a
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen in Nashua, both on September 13th.
An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER and a WHIMBREL were seen flying off of Odiorne
Point State Park in Rye on September 15th.
A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE and a BAIRD’S SANDPIPER were seen at the Charlestown
Wastewater Treatment Plant on September 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th. If
visiting the Plant please stay behind the fence, and do not park along the
access road or near the entrance to the road. There is public parking at the
end of Lower Landing Road.
A BAIRD’S SANDPIPER and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER were seen at the Rochester
Wastewater Treatment Plant on September 14th. The treatment plant is gated
and the hours of operation are 7:30-3:00 on weekdays. Access is on-foot
only, so if you visit, please park your car and check in at the office. You
must be out of the plant by 2:45 so that plant personnel do not have to ask
birders to leave. Do not drive on the dikes and do not block the road. The
Trails at Pickering Ponds, located east of the plant, are not gated, and are
always open during daylight hours.
A WESTERN SANDPIPER was seen at Plaice Cover in Hampton on September 12th.
A “WESTERN” WILLET was seen in coastal Rye just south of Odiorne Point State
Park on September 11th, and a NELSON’S SPARROW was seen here on the 15th.
A HORNED GREBE and a RED-NECKED GREBE were seen at the Wilder boat ramp on
the Connecticut River on September 13th.
A DICKCISSEL was photographed at Pickering Ponds in Rochester on September
16th, and a BLUE-WINGED WARBLER was seen here several times during the past
week.
A DICKCISSEL was heard in Sandwich on September 16th.
A CONNECTICUT WARBLER was seen at NH Audubon’s Dahl Wildlife Sanctuary in
Conway on September 17th, 1 was seen near the summit of Pack Monadnock in
Peterborough on the 13th, and 1 was reported from the Woodridge recreational
fields on Fogg Drive in Durham on the 16th.
Migrating PHILADELPHIA VIREOS, CAPE MAY WARBLERS, BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS, and
TENNESEE WARBLERS were reported from scattered locations during the past
week.
A RED CROSSBILL was seen in Jaffrey on September 15th.
Single migrating COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were reported from Concord and Alton, and
3 were seen in Wilton, all during the past week.
30 AMERICAN KESTRELS were seen around the Dillant-Hopkins Airport in Swanzey
on September 12th.
RAPTOR migration is under way with migrating raptors being counted daily at
the Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory in Peterborough. Pack
Monadnock has reported over 2,000 raptors since September 1st. The majority
of the raptors being seen at this time in the season are BROAD-WINGED HAWKS,
but over 50 BALD EAGLES have also been seen. Be sure to visit this
observatory during this fall season to help out with the count!
There was an unconfirmed report of 2 SANDHILL CRANES seen in a field along
Ledge Farm Road in Nottingham on September 16th.
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: 9/17/18 11:43 am From: ROBERT SWEET <rgsweet...> Subject: [NHBirds] Hooksett raptors....this am was a banner morning for osprey
To all, in approx an hour of watching from back deck counted 31 raptors, 18 osprey with the a few Sharp Shined and balance being broad wings. Mostly single birds except for a kettle of 8 osprey moving together and all birds visible to the naked eye and headed in direction of Pack, wonder what numbers will be like today from Pack.
Date: 9/17/18 10:55 am From: Jody Williams <fisherwoods...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rumney Grosbeak 9/15
A bit late, but had a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak drinking at our fountain on Saturday. Also seen, another Bay-breasted Warbler, Eastern Phoebe and a Philadelphia Vireo. Today a first fall male Black-throated Blue Warbler just visited the fountain.
Date: 9/17/18 9:14 am From: 'Geoff Niswander' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Broadwings moving in numbers today
Just spent about 90 minutes on a hilltop here in Hillsboro. By myself, so tabbing and counting wasn’t easy.At first all was quiet, but then a lone, close-in Broadwing made a tree top level appearance. Then thins began. Groups of 2, 3, or 4 Broadwing began to fly by, and then soon enough a kettle appeared. 18-20 birds, respectable size. I watched them for several minutes as they gained altitude in the thermals and then streamed off due West. Then just a few minutes later, another kettle appeared, this time with 20+ Broadwings, with a Sharp shinned spending some time dive-bombing some of the Broadwings. These birds too, rode the thermals high up and then streamed off on the same, due West course. After several minutes of 2 or 3 individual birds appearing at a time, a third kettle formed. This one had more hawks, 25+, and as I watched I saw birds streaming Westward, while simultaneously more birds were flying in to the kettle. How many? I am actually not sure, being alone, too many for me to keep up with. The main mass had 25-35 Broadwings at any given time, while the birds were streaming in and out, 3-5 at a time, in a line almost. I think conservatively I can say 125-150 total. Then a short time later, after a few more pairs of Broadwings, another kettle, this time about 15 birds.
Interesting to me, most of these Broadwings seemed to be on the same line of flight, in other words over the same points of the land below, as they came in to view and then glided off West. A few Sharp shinned hawks, and an adult Bald eagle distantly were also noted. I’ll be cautious here, but I think it’s a safe bet to say that I saw 275-300 raptors going by, headed West, in 90 minutes. I wonder how many I missed altogether, being alone?
-Geoff Niswander, Hillsboro
Date: 9/17/18 2:07 am From: JM Maher <jeannemariemaher...> Subject: [NHBirds] possible Lark Sparrow Juvenile Woodmont
Birding woodmont this afternoon/evening, and on top of the woodpile (1st one up the main path) into the Orchard (right side of lower tree line), had what I believe was a juvenile Lark Sparrow. It appeared as we were heading in for the night; first two palm warblers and an interloper between them appeared on top of the woodpile.
I was unable to get a photo, as soon as I picked up the camera it flew, tried to re-find it but it was getting late and we were losing light.
Facial markings made me immediately think Lark sparrow but had streaked chest more of a spotted pattern similar to the streaks almost like a thrush. (National Geo drawing of juvenile is closest but I have only been able to find one or two similar photos on line in All about birds. Few of the field guides show this type of streaking)
Crown stripes and ear coverts dark with some pale wash around them in late afternoon sun. No distinctive chestnut.
Flew off to the east side of the Orchard when last seen
Date: 9/17/18 12:50 am From: Ken Klapper <kklapper...> Subject: [NHBirds] Sandwich: Dickcissel, raptors, & songbirds
I wasn't expecting much Sunday - it was pretty slow in the morning for both raptors and songbirds (considering that it's mid-September). A few dozen Broad-wings, several Sharpies, and a few Kestrel were my relatively scant rewards for 2.5 hours of late morning scanning. A fair number of distant songbirds were in the air early on - mostly goldfinch based on what I could ID over my yard, with a few warblers and purple finch mixed in. Blue Jays are moving as well (I saw two flocks of 40+ today). By late morning, things seemed to be slowing to to a crawl as the heat and humidity settled in.
Apparently that was a misjudgement. Just after noon, I heard the distinctive flight call of a Dickcissel overhead. OK, excellent, I thought, an interesting bird on this slow day (although not unique - cool that Steve and Jane saw one at Pickering!)
The calls of songbirds led me outside again just after 2pm, with a modest, but diverse group including three vireo species (2 very yellow Philadelphias, Red-eyed, Blue-headed) and six warbler species (Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Magnolia, Chestnut-sided, 2 BT Greens, 2 lovely adult male Pines).
Finally, at 3:30 pm I stepped out again and noticed a few raptors moving, which soon turned into a nice late day push. Over 400 Broad-wings flew over by 5pm, although most (>300) were in the first half hour. Many of these glided in low over my yard, and then found thermals and formed kettles overhead - the biggest were of 80 and 96. Close, low kettles of Broad-wings are always breathtaking! I also counted a Harrier, 7 Sharpies, 2 Bald Eagles (an adult and a juvenile), 2 Kestrels, and a Merlin during this stretch.
Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 10 hours
Official Counter: Julie Brown, Katrina Fenton
Observers: Al Grimstad, David Fenton, Glen & Lori Chretien, Iain MacLeod, Jon Woolf, Julie, Laurel, & Alden Brown, Levi Burford, Mark Timmerman, Meade Cadot, Mike Gebo, Nancy Moreau, Phil Brown, Sandy Fenton, Tom Baillio, Tom Delaney, with many more...
Visitors: Some 250 visitors made their way to the observatory today, taking in the view and enjoying kettles and small accipiters and falcons streaming overhead. A film crew from the BBC came up to film some of the migrant raptor action for an upcoming program.
Weather: A faint breath of wind danced around from all sides of the mountain today, trembling the leaves of the birches while the spruces stood as though in stagnant calm. Bees and dragonflies buzzed through a sky that gradually filled with a fleet of cumulus sailing by like a parade of windjammers. Temperatures rose with the hawks, soaring well into the 80s by the afternoon.
Raptor Observations: Dense fog advisories issued last night seemed to promise a morning of leisure before moseying up to the platform for an on-time start and an hour or two of sitting in a cloud. Daybreak came and no fog- sending us scrambling up the mountain to catch any early migrants. The hawks seemed to have also been tricked by the forecast, and not even the local Turkey Vultures were flying before 10am. By late morning, numbers were starting to swell with baker's dozen kettles drifting lazily westward. The flight stayed consistent through most of the afternoon- mostly small kettles with a couple in the 50-75 bird range, and a good diversity of other migrant species making their way through. A Northern Harrier closed out the day shortly after 5pm (EDT), sinking in a beam of late-afternoon sunshine in front of the shadowed hulk of North Pack.
Non-raptor Observations: Aerial insectivores, shorebirds, and warblers, who could ask for more? Phil found a (Phil)adelphia Vireo up at the parking lot in a mixed warbler flock, and the local gang of Blue Jays provides some late-day entertainment as they foraged around the platform.
Non-raptor Migrants: AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER- 1 sandpiper sp- 1 Chimney Swift- 2 Tree Swallow- 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler- 12 Blackpoll Warbler- 17 Black-throated Green Warbler-1 warbler sp.- 1 American Goldfinch- 5 Purple Finch- 2 passerine sp.- 13
Monarch Butterfly- 84
Predictions: It looks like we have one more day of fair weather ahead of us before the remnants of Florence make their way into the region. Tomorrow is forecasted to have mostly sunny skies to start, with increasing cloud cover through the afternoon. Temperatures will make a run at 80, and the wind will be blowing out of the southwest at 5-10mph. The Broad-winged Hawk floodgates have opened, with Pennsylvania sites seeing thousands of the crow-sized buteos pouring though. Not even southwest wind will do much to hold them back at this point in the season if there are thermals to be found. Should be a good week to be hawkwatching! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Katrina Fenton (<gosknits...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org
Date: 9/16/18 6:43 pm From: 'Dan Hubbard' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Strafford County Farm bird walk 9/16 45 species
Eight birders joined me for a leisurely walk along the Don Black trail and through a couple of the fields. The trip list follows. Dan Hubbard, Rochester
Broad-winged Hawk American Kestrel Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Mourning Dove Rock Pigeon Ruby-throated Hummingbird Red-bellied Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Eastern Phoebe Red-eyed Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Tufted Titmouse Black-capped Chickadee White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren American Robin Gray Catbird Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher European Starling American Pipit Cedar Waxwing Northern Parula Yellow-rumped Warbler Blackpoll Warbler American Redstart Common Yellowthroat Scarlet Tanager Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Eastern Towhee Chipping Sparrow Song Sparrow Common Grackle Purple Finch House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow
Date: 9/16/18 2:31 pm From: Daniel M. Keefe <daniel.keefe...> Subject: [NHBirds] Durham observations
Slow birding here today, but had two bald eagles this morning, and just now a Northern Harrier, male. Yesterday was looking at the sky for kettles and instead saw a bear race across the field.
Date: 9/16/18 1:40 pm From: Aaronian, Richard S. <raaronian...> Subject: [NHBirds] Nottingham Cranes
Sandhill Crane 2
Sydnee Goddard, a colleague of mine at PEA, just called to say she saw the birds in Nottingham this afternoon. They were in a field on Ledge Farm Road not far from the Rt. 156 intersection. Would be great if someone nearby could check as well.
Date: 9/16/18 4:52 am From: Dorsey, Kurk <Kurk.Dorsey...> Subject: [NHBirds] CT warbler in Durham
Birders,
I just had a Connecticut Warbler calling at the Woodridge playing fields on Fogg Dr in Durham. I did not see it, but it called several times and I was able to compare the distinctive call with the one on the Cornell page for that species and Mourning Warbler (having gotten up to the year 2010 in terms of technology by getting my first smart phone). Location was between the batting cage and tennis courts. Lot of common birds in that spot too.
Date: 9/15/18 11:04 pm From: Len Medlock <lenmedlock...> Subject: [NHBirds] Cory's Shearwater at Yankee Coop
Late posting after sipping some brew downtown, but a Cory's Shearwater spent some time this afternoon at Yankee Coop, Seabrook, just beyond the muscle beds. Walked out to see it--sadly it looks like flight for this fellow is out of the question. Hoping it will float its way to some food. Good showing of egrets, too!
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:30:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours
Official Counter: Chad Witko
Observers: Dave Tucker, Glen & Lori Chretien, Janet Delaney, Jay Garrett-Larson, Judd Nathan, Julie, Laurel, & Alden Brown, Kat Lauer, Katrina Fenton, Levi Burford, Mark Timmerman, Meade Cadot, Mike Gebo, Nancy Moreau, Tom Delaney, Wendy Ward, with many more...
Visitors: 92 visitors made their way to the platform area including a group of young birders from Mass Audubon's Drumlin Farm.
Weather: Some like it hot! While temperatures at the platform only peaked to just about 80 degrees (27 C as a high), little to no winds and constant sun baked those who were in the open conditions for the day. Low early morning fog lifted after the first few hours and eventually the sky was dominated by a featureless blue backdrop with only a few clouds to speak of. Winds, when present, were variable and ranged from N to NW at different times of the day.
Raptor Observations: Unfortunately, today did not produce as heavy of a flight as was hoped for, if not expected. Early morning fog limited any detections of raptors for the first few hours and the rest of the day saw only a tiny trickle of birds each hour. The first kettles of the day didn't form until late afternoon and at that they didn't have enough numbers to bolster the end-of-day total. Several migratory Red-shouldered Hawks and a falcon trifecta were raptor highlights on the day.
Non-raptor Observations: Once again, non-raptor highlights were low. Migrating Monarch Butterflies peaked with 52 individuals while only 2 migratory Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were detected. Passerine activity was rather non-exisitant aside from the ever-present Dark-eyed Juncos, Blue Jays, and Red-breasted Nuthatches. Several warblers appeared around the platform but only Yellow-rumped were confirmed. 4 Cedar Waxwing and a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker were of note.
Predictions: A 'Dense Fog Advisory' from the National Weather Service until 10 AM may impact early morning viewing. There's a small chance that this fog will remain low in the valley and viewing from the platform early on will be unimpeded. However, that remains to be seen, and there's a strong chance the platform could remain socked in fog for the first few hours of the day and birds that roosted overnight might not take to the air until the fog starts to lift. In short, there's a strong chance that the early morning of tomorrow looks to be impacted a bit for detecting migrating raptors. Once the fog is cleared, winds from the SW won't be ideal, but may be light enough for migrating raptors to make their move. To summarize- with early morning fog, warm temps, and winds from a less than ideal direction, expect a light to moderate flight. But, be aware! It's getting to be the height of the big Broad-wing push and antsy birds may surprise us on the platform with their numbers. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Chad Witko (<chadjwitko...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org
Date: 9/15/18 3:39 pm From: Stephen Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [NHBirds] Odiorne Point State Park this morning
Jane and I helped out with the annual "Bioblitz" at Odiorne Point State
Park. The goal is to educate the public about biodiversity and to
inventory all of the living organisms at Odiorne. We focused just on
birds. We often spend some time with butterflies and dragonflies, but
not today due to fog/overcast and we had to leave after lunch.
The list below includes just birds seen by Jane and I.
Steve & Jane Mirick
Bradford, MA
Odiorne Point State Park, Rye, Rockingham, New Hampshire, US
Sep 15, 2018 6:04 AM - 12:50 PM
Comments: Bioblitz at Odiorne. Only able to give it about 6 hours
of effort due to NH Audubon Annual Meeting in Sunapee. Thick fog early
with some light mist. Improving as morning progressed. Overcast with
good visibility by noon. No wind.
63 species (+1 other taxa)
--------------------------------------
American Black Duck 2
Common Eider 30
Mourning Dove 11
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER 1 Juvenile flying/calling and in pools south
of Odiorne.
Semipalmated Plover 19
Killdeer 2
WHIMBREL 1 Great views and vocalizations from bird near wooden
bridge and later toward Frost Point.
Sanderling 16 Single flock flying over center.
Least Sandpiper 2
Semipalmated Sandpiper 31
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Black Guillemot 1
Bonaparte's Gull 12
Ring-billed Gull 17
Herring Gull 20
Lesser Black-backed Gull 0 No luck with Woody. Not back yet?
Great Black-backed Gull 3
CASPIAN TERN 1 First bird of the day. Flyby close to shore, but
seen by Jane only! Reportedly great views!
Common Loon 3 Vocalizing!
Northern Gannet 5
Double-crested Cormorant 40
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 2
Snowy Egret 6
Osprey 1 Migrating.
Red-tailed Hawk 1 Returning tame bird (adult) near parking lot.
Eastern Screech-Owl 1 Vocalizing out near Frost Point.
Belted Kingfisher 1
Downy Woodpecker 5
Hairy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Wood-Pewee 1
Empidonax sp. 1
Eastern Phoebe 2
Blue-headed Vireo 1
PHILADELPHIA VIREO 1. Possibly 2.
Red-eyed Vireo 9 At least 9.
Blue Jay 8
American Crow 3
Tree Swallow 0 Remarkably zero swallows. Likely a result of fog.
Black-capped Chickadee 3
Tufted Titmouse 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
House Wren 2
American Robin 10
Gray Catbird 11
Northern Mockingbird 2
European Starling 4
Cedar Waxwing 10
House Finch 3
American Goldfinch 18
Chipping Sparrow 8
NELSON'S SPARROW 1 In saltmarsh south side of Odiorne.
Song Sparrow 5
Black-and-white Warbler 1
Nashville Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
American Redstart 6
Northern Parula 2
BAY-BREASTED WARBLER 1 Rare fall record. Perhaps my first fall
record for Odiorne!
Yellow Warbler 10 At least 10. Good count of Yellows for date.
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Wilson's Warbler 2
Northern Cardinal 5
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 2
Observation start time: 07:15:00 Observation end time: 16:30:00 Total observation time: 9.25 hours
Official Counter: Chad Witko
Observers: Al Grimstad, Cal Peterka, Dot Currier, Glen Chretien, Janet Delaney, Jeannie Peterka, Jerry Coffey, Jon Woolf, Judd Nathan, Julie Brown, Kat Lauer, Keith Gordon, Levi Burford, Lori-Ann Chretien, Mike Gebo, Miki Foley, Phil Brown, Tom Baillio, Tom Delaney
Visitors: 79 visitors found their way to the platform today including many who are new to hawkwatching and coming back whenever free time allows.
Weather: While sunshine was ever-present today atop Pack, it took a few hours before it reached the valley floor where early morning fog persisted as long as it could hold on. Eventually the fog burned off, thermals formed by mid-morning, and it was a gorgeous, albeit hot day (24 C), atop Pack. Clouds of varying puffiness with tones of gray or white gave us counters something to reference when pointing out migrating raptors. Winds remained calm to light and variable throughout the count.
Raptor Observations: If there was one word to describe the raptor flight today, it would be "consistent". Once the fog in the valley cleared and thermals formed from the ever-present sun, raptors found themselves on the move in steady streams throughout the majority of the day. Broad-winged Hawks and Sharp-shinned Hawks stole the show and streamed past us in counts of twos and threes for a long time before the first kettles of the day lifted up in the afternoon. A sprinkling of Osprey, accipiters, and falcons kept most hourly counts interesting while the first migrating Northern Goshawk and Red-tailed Hawk of the season gave us something to think about. Resident Red-shouldered Hawks rounded out the buteo diversity.
Non-raptor Observations: Four migrating Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and 69 Monarch Butterflies were detected on their way past the platform. Overall, passerine activity was low today with little to write home about. Common Ravens totaled 16 at one point giving many on the platform hope that they were indeed the first kettle of Broad-wings for the day. They were not. Nor were they the second and third times they boiled up on thermals adjacent to North Pack. An Eastern Garter Snake made a brief appearance at day's end at the platform.
Predictions: Tomorrow is looking to be a fantastic day with early morning fog burning off in the presence of mostly sunny to sunny skies which will be paired with light N to NW winds. Thermals should form just as they did today and with any luck just a bit earlier. After the recent bout of stubborn clouds and drizzle this is about as as good as we could ask for, all things considered. Conditions look favorable for a moderate to heavy flight. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Chad Witko (<chadjwitko...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org
Date: 9/14/18 4:13 pm From: gcoffeywriter <gcoffeywriter...> Subject: [NHBirds] Warblers Common Nighthawks, Humminbirds in Wilton
While enjoying the warm day in my yard, there was a flurry of activity in my apple tree. I saw:
3 Black-throated Green Warblers1 Northern Parula1 Bay-breasted Warbler2 Blue-headed Vireos
Not bad for one tree.
Still have 2 female hummers and saw 3 Common Nighthawks over house around 6:45pm.
Gail CoffeyWilton
Date: 9/14/18 12:13 pm From: raqbirds via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Webster warblers and thoughts
Having just returned from a long journey I was happy to read that there were still warblers about. And then I was even happier to see a goodly number in my yard. Here are the tallies, highlights, and comments from the last three mornings at my house in Webster.
The numbers are cumulative for the three mornings and the comments will explain how I count them.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker- a young male actively fly-catching.
Red-eyed Vireo- 12
Blue-headed Vireo- 10. The interesting aspect of the vireos is that they were almost all seen on one day.
White-breasted Nuthatch- besides being numerous several of them were actively fly-catching, a behavior I have never seen in this species before.
Blue Jay- eight flew over in an apparent migratory flock.
Swainson's Thrush- one stooped by to see what all the action was about. "On time" too.
B&W Warbler- eight
Tennessee Wa- one
Am. Redstart- four
Northern Parula- two
Magnolia Wa- eight
Bay-breasted Wa- 22 (a conservative number). This is unprecedented in my 11 years here in Webster. I saw at least 13 just today. And this is a very conservative tally. Hooray for the Spruce Budworm!
Chestnut-sided Wa- one (latish)
Blackpoll Wa- five
Pine Wa- 13 (an unusually high number for here, even though they are local breeders)
Black-throated Green Wa- ten
Yellow-rumped Wa- five (an apparent family group)
Black-throated Blue Wa- three (two males)
Scarlet Tanager- three (two males)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak- one
Purple Finch- at least four immature birds, one of which was also fly-catching
Thoughts- As I have mentioned in the past, I do not think that my yard is located in a special migration spot. But I have "wildscaped" it with a couple hundred bushes, shrubs, and crab-apple trees that attract lots of insects and fruits, ergo, a lot of birds. The yard is surrounded by a typical mid-NH forest of White Pine-Red Oak-Beech. It is also east of the southern edge of Lake Winnepocket which possibly directs fall migrants in my direction. Lastly, and very importantly, I feed the birds and the constant chatter of chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice attract whatever is passing by. The bottom line is that, as Tony Vazzano recently posted, you do not necessarily have to go very far from home to find fall migrant warblers. Another point is that when I have the time I work the migrant flocks for as long as they last.
John Williams recently wondered how migrants find feeders. I suspect it is the same with them- the chickadees etc. get their attention and in they come. If the food is there they will linger. Hummingbirds might be different in that they are ever inquisitive and have good memories- a couple have been looking for my traditional feeder that was wrecked by a bear earlier this fall.
Fly-catching- The warm weather and possibly the rain have resulted in some kind of insect hatch here that some of the opportunistc birds have been feasting on, while I go largely unmolested by the bugs. A good deal!
Numbers- There are several important points here. First- I am as conservative as possible in counting and I base the final numbers on not only watching where birds are and where they go but also, especially in the fall, I make note of their plumages. This takes extra effort but it allows me to better estimate how many birds are actually passing through. I also note the composition of each little wave of birds and that composition is usually obviously different from flock to flock. I also keep separate tallies for each day and this is very instructive (as well as fun). For example, of the last three days it was on day two that I saw, by far, the most vireos, and on the first day there were zero Blue-headed Vireos. Again, this makes determining birds that are just passing through a lot easier.
Final note- most of these birds were in canopy flocks so the above numbers are also conservative based on the fact that I could not identify all of them.
Enough for now. Time to go back outside to see if any new sprites are decorating the trees!
Bob Quinn
Webster, NH
"Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of the earth." Chief Seattle
Date: 9/14/18 7:28 am From: Christian Martin <cmartin...> Subject: [NHBirds] RE: Late Common Nighthawk
Oops, left out important info ... the Alton-Wolfeboro CONI was seen on Thurs 9/13 at 3:30pm. - Chris
From: Christian Martin Sent: Friday, September 14, 2018 10:26 AM To: <nhbirds...> Subject: Late Common Nighthawk
While driving on Rte 28 at the Alton-Wolfeboro townline, I had a quick but good look at one Common Nighthawk flying south overhead. Seems like a fairly late date to still see one in NH.
Date: 9/14/18 7:26 am From: Christian Martin <cmartin...> Subject: [NHBirds] Late Common Nighthawk
While driving on Rte 28 at the Alton-Wolfeboro townline, I had a quick but good look at one Common Nighthawk flying south overhead. Seems like a fairly late date to still see one in NH.
Date: 9/14/18 7:20 am From: Christian Martin <cmartin...> Subject: [NHBirds] 100th anniversary of Int'n Migratory Bird Treaty Act on Something Wild
Did you catch Chris Martin and Dave Anderson interviewing UNH professor and NH birder Kirk Dorsey this Friday on NHPR's Something Wild? You can listen anytime at ...
Date: 9/14/18 4:46 am From: steph ttlc <steph...> Subject: [NHBirds] Capital Chpt. FT: Late Fall Warblers of Webster (9/27)
Field Trip: Late Fall Warblers of Webster
Date: Thursday, September 27 8:00-11:30 a.m.
Many warblers and other fall migrants are still on the move at the end of September and we will spend the morning in a variety of habitats to maximize our sightings. We will go where the birds are, starting with Webster's now well-known Knight's Meadow Marsh Road. We will walk a mile or two on roads and easy trails. Meet just beyond the Webster elementary school at 8:00 AM.
Today I had the great fortune of stumbling upon a Connecticut Warbler atop Pack Monadnock adjacent to the raptor observatory platform.
Because the mountain was socked in clouds and mist, I took a moment to step away from the raptor observatory (hawkwatch) platform, to stretch my legs. Walking along the trail back towards the parking lot I found a mixed feeding flock of warblers and chickadees when a large Oporornis warbler came into view. The bird stayed into view for all of 15 seconds, but I was able to get wonderful unobstructed views of the bird where it showed all the classic features of a Connecticut Warbler, including that wonderful unbroken eyering.
Other warblers on the mountain today included Yellow-rumped, Cape May, Black-throated Green, Tennessee, and Blackburnian.
Good birding, -- 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
Observation start time: 10:15:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 5.75 hours
Official Counter: Chad Witko
Observers: Jerry Coffey, Levi Burford, Mickey Foley, Mike Gebo
Visitors: 38 visitors, including a nice group from Road Scholar led by Phil Brown, made their way to the platform despite the mist and cloud cover that persisted most of the day.
Weather: Once again, visibility was the limiting factor in today's efforts as the platform was socked in fog/clouds for the majority of the day. Aside from a 20-minute window of clearing within the first hour, the only other good viewing came at the end of the count as the platform dipped in and out of the cloud bank once again. Throughout the day, rumors of sunshine, improving conditions, and "vultures rising" made their way to the platform, giving hope to those who were resigned to the fate of a palette tinted in gray. Fortunately, for all involved, the gray was limited to less than 50 shades. Calm to very light winds out of the NE provided little help in clearing the fog or giving many of the raptors we eventually observed any lift. Temperatures remained seasonable (19-23C), although in the clouds and mist it got reasonably chilly at times.
Raptor Observations: Every raptor observed today was a hard won victory with fast and furious IDs being made with birds slipping in and out of view among the clouds. Not surprisingly, Ospreys and Sharp-shinned Hawks took the day's top billings as they slid and streaked into view and onto the data sheet.
Non-raptor Observations: Migrating Monarch Butterflies and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were tied at 3 apiece today when they floated and zipped by the platform in their respective fashions. Despite the pervasive cloud cover and misty conditions, passerine activity was wonderful around the platform. Blue-headed Vireos first alerted us to their presence with their chattering calls, or as Levi described them, their "evil laugh", before coming into view. Warblers were ever-present around the platform and included Yellow-rumped (4), Black-throated Green (4), Cape May (3), Tennessee (2), and Blackburnian (1). A true highlight, a confiding Connecticut Warbler (1) was discovered along the trail to the parking lot where it was viewed for all of 15 seconds. A flyover Pine Siskin and White-throated Sparrow at the platform rounded out the day's avian highlights. Non-human mammal diversity today included Red Squirrel, Eastern Chipmunk, and what was eventually settled on as a vole species of some sort.
Predictions: After the recent rain, fog, and low cloud ceiling for the past few days, raptors are going to be on the move. This was evident from the last hour of today's count when nearly half of today's birds (arguably a low amount), made their way through the clearing conditions before nightfall. Additionally, reports from further north indicate that many raptors were on the move today heading in the direction of Pack. While it's likely some of these migrants were missed in the veil of clouds and fog, there's a good chance many of these birds are stacking and staging to the north of Pack waiting for just the right conditions. Early morning fog may once again hinder the detection of migrating raptors, but with increasing levels of sunshine and light winds starting off tomorrow morning out of the N/NE, tomorrow has the potential to be a solid day. Expect a moderate flight if conditions clear enough. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Chad Witko (<chadjwitko...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org
Date: 9/13/18 3:43 pm From: 'Stephen Whitney' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Bald Eagle on Pemi and Lakes Region Birding
9/13/2018
Pemi-- 6:30 AM
Pemigewasset Lake, New Hampton/Meredith
43.616744, -71.593250
Adult Bald Eagle perched in usual Kelley Island tree at Eastern tip.
Great Blue Heron on swimming platform near Observation Deck.
mallards, 2
Hatch Corner Road Bog, Meredith-- 7 AM
43.642922, -71.546935
Great Blue Heron
Wood ducks, 3
Waukewan Bridge-- 7:15 AM
43.6640532,-71.5463161
Loon calling swims just off shore
Wood ducks, 6
Mallards, 3
Catbird calls nearby
Today, Between 10:15am and 2pm there was some nice movement:
Turkey Vulture - a little early for their migration, supposedly, but three moved south with the raptor kettles. Several more locals cruised back and forth. Bald Eagle - Two juveniles and one adult Osprey - 10 N. Harrier - 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk - 27 - a nice steady flow Cooper's Hawk - 1 Accipiter Sp - 1 "in-between" looking bird. Large SSHA or small COHA. Broad-winged Hawk - 411. Biggest kettles were 100 (best quick count, the birds were circling up into a cloud), 84, 45, and 35 Red-tailed Hawk - a few, not migrating Am. Kestrel - 9 Merlin - 1
In addition a RT Hummingbird buzzed my red shirt, and I counted over 40 Monarch butterflies.
Date: 9/13/18 9:49 am From: David Larson <dlarson...> Subject: [NHBirds] Whales and Seabirds on September 17
Fans of the maritime world,
Join Captain Jay Frontierro and me aboard the Privateer IV for the next in a series of whale and seabird trips out of Gloucester. Yes, these are whale watching trips, but Jay and I will also point out seabirds including storm-petrels, gannets, jaegers, terns, gulls, phalaropes, and whatever else shows up. We will target the best of Stellwagen Bank or Jeffries Ledge.
David M. Larson, Ph.D., Science and Education Coordinator
Joppa Flats Education Center, Mass Audubon, 1 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport, MA 01950
Telephone: (978) 462-9998 E-mail: <dlarson...>
Date: 9/13/18 9:10 am From: 'Phil Brown' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] 30 Kestrels at Keene airport
Stops at the Dillant-Hopkins Airport in Swanzey this Monday and Wednesday yielded counts of 30 kestrels each time along the fences and atop signage and lights along the runways. These counts, while high, are not unexpected here during the peak of kestrel migration, especially during weather events such as the continued drizzle and fog. Pease and other larger airports would be worth a look to get high counts.
I expect that clearing skies later today and through the weekend will move many of these birds along - and provide for some raptor migration excitement at Pack Monadnock.
Date: 9/13/18 7:58 am From: Jody Williams <fisherwoods...> Subject: [NHBirds] 9/13, Yesterday's Warblers, today's Hummingbird
The very gray yesterday was punctuated by migrants moving through the yard trees. Many of the highest up were mere silhouettes in the gloom, but many came lower into focus.
Identified several male Bay-breasted Warblers, A Blackpoll Warbler, several Black-throated Green Warblers, a cooperative Canada Warbler, a Black and White Warbler, a couple Blue-headed Vireos, a Red-eyed Vireo, an Empidoma or Wood Pewee. I spent around 40 minutes tracking them as they ducked around branches and leaves. Many were hawking flying insects in addition to gleaning lots of loopers.
This morning a hummingbird visited the feeder a couple times. It has been 4 days since the last visits from the locals on 8th.
Anybody have any insight into how transient birds find a feeder that they’ve never been to before???
Date: 9/13/18 7:50 am From: Sandy Turner <tmsprgrn...> Subject: [NHBirds] cormorant and hummer
Yesterday, the 12th, we drove friends from Arizona over to Gorham and saw the Neotropic Cormorant with 3 Double-crested Cormorants on the red ball line, per usual. Good comparison. Just had a hummer on my cardinal flowers.
Date: 9/13/18 4:33 am From: steph ttlc <steph...> Subject: [NHBirds] RE: Capital Chpt. FT: ELM BROOK PARK (09/22)
Anyone planning to attend the Elm Brook Park field trip on 9/22 please note the road closure information below; don’t know how long those dam repairs will take.
Stephanie Parkinson
From: Donna Ellis [mailto:<donnaellis1014...>]
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2018 10:24 PM
To: <steph...>
Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Capital Chpt. FT: ELM BROOK PARK (09/22)
FYI 127 from 202 and 9 is closed for dam repairs and you can't get to Elmbrook from that side. You need to go up 89 and get off exit 6.
Donna
Henniker
On Mon, Sep 10, 2018 at 8:31 AM steph ttlc <steph...> wrote:
Field Trip: Elm Brook Park
Date: Saturday September 22, 8:00 am-noon.
A great place to study fall migrants in a variety of habitats, including legendary Dendroica Alley. Meet at the park entrance off Rt 127 in Hopkinton. An entrance fee to the park may be charged, so bring a few dollars. For more information contact Jane Hills at <mailto:<JHbird...> <JHbird...>
Weather: Along with periodic showers, low hanging clouds (ceiling of 500-1000 feet) covered the summit of Pack Monadnock for the duration of the day. Despite willing the mountain to come into view from a nearby vantage point it never did and no count was conducted.
Raptor Observations:
Non-raptor Observations:
Predictions: With a decreasing chance of showers and cloud cover predicted for tomorrow the count should hopefully resume as long as the cloud ceiling lifts high enough. However, early morning fog on calm winds may pose a problem for visibility. If/once clear, mid-morning to afternoon winds will be light and generally from the ENE. Raptors should be on the move after a few days of sitting still but conditions don't appear favorable for a large flight at this time. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Chad Witko (<chadjwitko...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org
Date: 9/11/18 6:43 pm From: bikenbird via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] ***NH Audubon Seacoast Chapter Wednesday September 12 , 2018 Program -!***
New Hampshire Audubon Seacoast Chapter
Wednesday September 12, 2018 7:30 pm Program: Of Mallards and Men: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918
The Migratory Bird Treaty Act was signed in 1918 and has served as the basis for much of the protection of our wild birds for 100 years. To celebrate the centennial of this important law, Kurk Dorsey will present an illustrated talk about the surprising story of how the federal government found itself in the business of protecting migratory wildlife. Such colorful characters as Woodrow Wilson, William Hornaday, and Mabel Osgood Wright played important roles in the drama. This is the Seacoast Chapter annual business meeting for the election of executive board officers.
All are welcome to attend our Wednesday September 12, 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!
Observation start time: 12:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 3.5 hours
Official Counter: Chad Witko
Observers:
Visitors: 5 visitors (including some regulars) climbed their way to the platform through the cloud layer to take a breather, see the sights, and ask how the raptor migration is going this year.
Weather: Early-morning drizzle combined with a persistent low cloud ceiling (300 feet) prevented the count from starting until the afternoon. Once the clouds reached a height of 1100 feet and above, visibility ranged from less than a kilometer to over 20 kilometers depending on which direction you were looking. Nevertheless, it provided enough of a window for a few raptors to migrate. Temperatures felt seasonably warm (21-23C) on very light W to SW breezes. At times it even felt hot when the sun broke through to illuminate the platform time to time along with random points on the valley below.
Raptor Observations: With viewing conditions as they were it comes as no great surprise that only a few raptors were observed migrating during the small window of time the platform was operational. Sliding beneath a rising veil of clouds, two Ospreys separated by 15 mins wasted no time to make use of the improving conditions. A lone Northern Harriers powered close to the ridgeline past the platform until she felt the signs of a thermal beneath her wings which elevated her up and out of sight on diagnostic dihedral wings. A few accipiters and a lone Broad-winged Hawk rounded out the cast of characters.
Non-raptor Observations: 4 Monarch Butterflies floated past the platform while a single Ruby-throated Hummingbird was observed on its zipping migratory flight. Other non-raptor avian highlights from today included a Northern Flicker (1) and a nice assortment of warblers: Yellow-rumped (4), Chestnut-sided (1), Northern Parula (1), and Tennessee (1).
Predictions: Light and variable winds and predicted showers should limit any real big flights tomorrow. However, if there's enough breaks in the rain, some raptors will take advantage to gain ground on their migrations. Expect a light flight tomorrow if the forecast holds and there is actually enough visibility to conduct the count. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Chad Witko (<chadjwitko...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org
Date: 9/11/18 12:22 pm From: 'Phil Brown' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] HMANA Conference in Detroit - October 12-14
Posted for Julie Brown, with permission of the Moderator:
Calling All Hawk Watchers!
Hawk Migration Association of North America's Conference:Soaring Toward the Future: New Challenges in Raptor Migration
October 12-14, 2018, at the Detroit Airport Marriott Hotel.
Online Registration Now Open
The Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA) invites you toattend its 2018 conference, “Soaring Toward the Future: New Challenges inRaptor Migration”. This is a rare local opportunity to meet and hear a stellarlineup of raptor specialists explore emerging topics, including:
· Raptorpopulation trends
· Possibleshifts in migration patterns (routes and timing)
· Raptortelemetry and technological advances
· Conservationissues and threats facing raptors
· Educationinitiatives, including for young hawkwatchers
· Challengesto sustaining and maintaining hawkwatch sites
· Weatherpatterns and migration in a changing climate
· Advancesin raptor identification
· Raptorphotography
Kate Davis opens the conference with her keynotepresentation. A long-time raptor educator, Kate recently celebrated 30 yearsand nearly 2,000 live bird programs with Raptors of theRockies. She has authored five books about raptors, and one of avianhumor, all illustrated with her own and guests’ photographs.
Todd Katzner is the supervisory research wildlifebiologist with the Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center in Boise, ID.Todd is our Saturday night banquet keynoter, focusing on his Golden Eagleresearch. He is the author of numerous publications and a co-authorof The Eagle Watchers: Observing Raptors Around the World.
Rob Bierregaard is director of National Audubon’s HogIsland Nature Camp’s “Raptor Rapture” session. His work focuses onOspreys in New England and includes radio-tracking and long-term monitory oftheir populations. He is the author of Belle’s Journey, An OspreyTakes Flight.
Bill Clark has published more than 140 journalarticles and is the author or co-author of many raptor field guides,including for North America, Europe, The Middle East, andNorth Africa, and Latin America.
Local birder and raptor enthusiast, Will Weber, will talkabout the future of raptor migration in a period of rapid climate change froman evolutionary perspective.
Check out our full conference program features an impressive lineup of speakers, citizen scientists, and hawkwatchers.
We hope to see you there!
--
Julie Brown
Monitoring Site Coordinator
Hawk Migration Association of North America
Date: 9/10/18 6:25 pm From: Mark Suomala <mrsuomala...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, September 10, 2018
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, September 10,
2018.
NH Audubon sponsored an all day pelagic bird trip aboard the "Granite State"
out of Rye Harbor on September 4th. Highlights included: a SOUTH POLAR SKUA,
5 POMARINE JAEGERS, 221 CORY'S SHEARWATERS, 13 GREAT SHEARWATERS, a MANX
SHEARWATER, over 50 WILSON'S STORM-PETRELS, 5 NORTHERN GANNETS and 3 GREAT
CORMORANTS on the Isles of Shoals, and 23 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES.
A NEOTROPIC CORMORANT was photographed on the Androscoggin River in Gorham
on August 2nd, has been seen almost every day since then, and was last
reported on September 10th. The bird has been most commonly seen perched on
orange safety buoys just above the Gorham Hydroelectric Station dam on Power
House Road. This is also the site of the Gorham Transfer Station and there
is signed River Access parking at the entrance, so park here and walk to the
dam.
A female KING EIDER was found with a large flock of COMMON EIDER off of
North Hampton State Beach on September 8th.
An immature LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen in coastal Rye during the past week
and was last reported on September 8th. A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was
seen in coastal Seabrook on the 9th, and a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was
seen in Nashua on the 9th.
2 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were seen in Newfound Lake on September 5th.
A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE and a BAIRD’S SANDPIPER were seen at the Charlestown
Wastewater Treatment Plant on September 8th and 9th. If visiting the Plant
please stay behind the fence, and do not park along the access road or near
the entrance to the road. There is public parking at the end of Lower
Landing Road.
A BAIRD’S SANDPIPER was seen at the Rochester Wastewater Treatment Plant on
September 10th, and a SORA and 2 VIRGINIA RAILS were seen here on the 9th.
The treatment plant is gated and the hours of operation are 7:30-3:00 on
weekdays. Access is on-foot only, so if you visit, please park your car and
check in at the office. You must be out of the plant by 2:45 so that plant
personnel do not have to ask birders to leave. Do not drive on the dikes and
do not block the road. The Trails at Pickering Ponds, located east of the
plant, are not gated, and are always open during daylight hours.
2 BAIRD’S SANDPIPERS were seen at Bicentennial Park in Hampton on September
6th and 7th, and 1 was seen at Pickering Ponds in Rochester on the 7th.
2 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS, and a PECTORAL SANDPIPER were seen at
Bicentennial Park in Hampton on September 6th.
2 WESTERN SANDPIPERS were reported from coastal Rye on September 7th.
An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER and a WHIMBREL were seen at Plaice Cover in
Hampton on September 9th.
A SANDERLING was reported from Lake Sunapee on September 9th.
3 RED CROSSBILLS were reported from Pack Monadnock in Peterborough, and 2
EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen in Rumney, all on September 9th.
Flyover DICKCISSELS were reported from Bow, Rye, Hollis, and Salem during
the past week, and a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was reported from East Kingston on
September 7th.
Several migrating PHILADELPHIA VIREOS, CAPE MAY WARBLERS, BAY-BREASTED
WARBLERS, and TENNESEE WARBLERS were reported from scattered locations
during the past week.
Migrating COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were reported from several locations during the
past week, with a high-count of over 150 in Concord on September 4th. A
WHIP-POOR-WILL was reported from Ossipee on the 7th.
RAPTOR migration is under way with migrating raptors being counted daily at
the Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory in Peterborough. Pack
Monadnock has reported over 1,350 raptors since September 1st. The majority
of the raptors being seen at this time in the season are BROAD-WINGED HAWKS.
Be sure to visit this observatory during this fall season to help out with
the count!
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
Observation start time: 08:15:00
Observation end time: 13:30:00
Total observation time: 5.25 hours
Official Counter: Katrina Fenton
Observers: Levi Burford
Visitors:
Levi Burford was the official counter for the day. 12 people meandered down
the path from the parking lot today. All seemed interested in the raptors
that were migrating in this weather. A couple got to witness a Peregrine
Falcon at close range. They seemed to enjoy it immensely.
Weather:
The summit was socked in when I arrived this morning at 9:15 am (8:15 EST)
and the clouds didn’t lift until 10:35 (9:35 EST). The cloud ceiling
remained about 100’ to 300’ above the summits of Pack Monadnock and North
Pack Monadnock until the rain became more steady at 14:30 shutting down the
count.
Raptor Observations:
Today’s “Riders on the Storm” hugged the ridge line closely for the most
part. Broad-wingeds popped over the treeline to the east in several groups
this mid-morning. A Merlin and Peregrine chose a similar tactic to close
out the day. The Merlin dove at Gina and gave me the hairy eyeball as it
motored in a tight circle around the platform. Osprey and a juvenile Bald
Eagle were the only birds to dare flying with any height over the valley
but remained eye-level or below.
Non-raptor Observations:
A Northern Flicker made an appearance early, thinking that there was no one
around to see it.
Nine (9) Monarchs were seen migrating today. Flying leaves were doing good
Monarch impressions.
Predictions:
On Tuesday rain is forecast for the first half of the day with showers
through the afternoon. Whether or not the weather will allow any countable
time tomorrow is the question. With the this past weekend’s cold snap the
broad-wingeds are probably stacking up, however, and any good weather at
all brings the possibility of movement.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Katrina Fenton (<gosknits...>)
Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at:
www.nhaudubon.org
Date: 9/10/18 2:38 pm From: anneryc <annehadshi...> Subject: [NHBirds] Re: ID help (if possible)
osprey
Le lundi 10 septembre 2018 15:41:44 UTC-4, Cliff Otto a écrit :
>
> Poor picture of raptor taken through window with cellphone on private
> property in Gilford. Clicking on the thumbnail makes it larger but blurrier.
>
> The nearly white breast and light-colored top of head cold be a clue, as
> well as the coloring of the wing. But my guess may be extreme.
>
> https://ottoc.zenfolio.com/idhelp >
> Thanks,
> Cliff Otto
> Manchester
>
Date: 9/10/18 12:11 pm From: 'Dan Hubbard' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Pickering Ponds bird walk, 9/9, 76 species
Seventeen birders joined me for an exciting bird walk at Pickering Ponds in Rochester. Cool weather and much bird activity contrasted with Wednesday's walk at the same site. Twelve species of warblers, nine raptor species, four vireo species, and five woodpecker species were nice, but two Virginia Rails and a Sora were the highlight. One of the Virginia rails and the Sora were at the Wastewater Treatment Plant and viewed through the fence (probably first time at this location). Once again, scribe Zeke Cornell provided the tallies below. Dan Hubbard, Rochester Pickering Ponds, Rochester, Strafford, New Hampshire, USSep 9, 2018 7:30 AM - 12:40 PMProtocol: Traveling 2.5 mile(s) Comments: NH Audubon Seacoast Chapter outing at Pickering Pond and led by Dan Hubbard. This was a very good species count for the fall migration walk. 76 species (+2 other taxa) Canada Goose 36Wood Duck 18Blue-winged Teal 3Mallard 15American Black Duck 1Green-winged Teal 6Hooded Merganser 3Pied-billed Grebe 1 Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 2Mourning Dove 3Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2 Virginia Rail 2 For the first time, we had a Virginia Rail in the natural pond at the south end of the WTPSora 1 Also in the natural pond at the south end of the WTP--a first at this location.. Killdeer 1Semipalmated Sandpiper 1peep sp. 12Greater Yellowlegs 3Lesser Yellowlegs 1 Ring-billed Gull 3Herring Gull 55Great Black-backed Gull 8Double-crested Cormorant 6Great Blue Heron 3Green Heron 2 Turkey Vulture 12Osprey 2Cooper's Hawk 2Bald Eagle 1Red-shouldered Hawk 1Broad-winged Hawk 1Red-tailed Hawk 3 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 2Downy Woodpecker 5Hairy Woodpecker 2Pileated Woodpecker 1Northern Flicker 6American Kestrel 1Peregrine Falcon 1 After chasing off the peeps, the Peregrine made a couple of passes at a Wood Duck--the duck dove under the water to frustrate the falcon... Eastern Wood-Pewee 2Empidonax sp. 2Eastern Phoebe 4Eastern Kingbird 1Blue-headed Vireo 1Philadelphia Vireo 2Warbling Vireo 5Red-eyed Vireo 8 Blue Jay 9American Crow 7Fish Crow 1 Black-capped Chickadee 12Tufted Titmouse 2Red-breasted Nuthatch 1White-breasted Nuthatch 2Brown Creeper 1House Wren 1 Eastern Bluebird 1American Robin 1Gray Catbird 15Cedar Waxwing 7Purple Finch 5American Goldfinch 12 Song Sparrow 3Swamp Sparrow 1Red-winged Blackbird 1 Blue-winged Warbler 1Black-and-white Warbler 2Tennessee Warbler 2Common Yellowthroat 7American Redstart 4Northern Parula 3Magnolia Warbler 2Cape May Warbler 1Chestnut-sided Warbler 2Yellow-rumped Warbler 6Prairie Warbler 1Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Northern Cardinal 3
Date: 9/10/18 5:35 am From: steph ttlc <steph...> Subject: [NHBirds] Capital Chpt. FT: ELM BROOK PARK (09/22)
Field Trip: Elm Brook Park
Date: Saturday September 22, 8:00 am-noon.
A great place to study fall migrants in a variety of habitats, including legendary Dendroica Alley. Meet at the park entrance off Rt 127 in Hopkinton. An entrance fee to the park may be charged, so bring a few dollars. For more information contact Jane Hills at <mailto:<JHbird...> <JHbird...>
Date: 9/9/18 7:26 pm From: Jody Williams <fisherwoods...> Subject: [NHBirds] more migrants, 9/9
The afternoon meadow walk highlights were 3 Magnolia Warblers, 1 Nashville Warbler, 1 Black and White Warbler, a Pine Warbler singing once, first of the fall Yellow-rumped Warbler, 5 Northern Flickers, 4 Song Sparrows, and Eastern Phoebe... and 2 Evening Grosbeaks.
A large raptor took off right into the late day sun… Probably a Red-tailed, but I can’t say for sure.
Observation start time: 07:15:00 Observation end time: 17:15:00 Total observation time: 9.25 hours
Official Counter: Henry Walters, Katrina Fenton
Observers: Glen & Lori Chretien, Jon Woolf, Levi Burford, Mark Timmerman, Michael Burgess, Mike Gebo, Nancy Moreau, Tom Delaney
Visitors: A great crew of volunteers, as always, picking out speck-sized hawks off the western horizon. 85 visitors on the day, including Sue from Dallas, who was introducing herself at just the moment that Nancy Moreau, contemplating a solo broad-winged hawk, asked, "So where are all your friends?" Sue was taken aback by the brusque reception (oh that famous Yankee hospitality...) until we explained to her that Nancy is often speaking to the bird in her binoculars.
Weather: Crisp, cool air this morning definitely jump-started the broad-wing migration. Largely overcast, winds variable out of the NE, 4-7 mph, excellent visibility all the way to Mt. Washington.
Raptor Observations: For most of us, it had been at least a year since we'd seen these dense pockets of Broad-winged Hawks dancing around a cloud like fruit-flies around last week's apple core. There was nothing rancid about it, though: 900+ birds in kettles of up to 82 birds, most in loose groups of 12-20, no longer making lazy summer circles, now busting down the skyline southward in earnest. A record-setting day for Bald Eagles as well: today's 22 migrants shatters the record of 15 recorded in 2006. At one point, seven different eagles could be seen at once in all different parts of the sky, most of them migrating right alongside groups of broad-wings. Much more of this to come in the days ahead!
Non-raptor Observations: Two Killdeer, an uncommon sight from the platform, were spotted early in the morning, headed north. We hope to see them again, once they get their compasses straightened out. A little flock of Red Crossbills were heard once again today, but not seen. Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Cedar Waxwing (21), Yellow-rumped Warbler (5), a balloon, and a stunt plane were also counted. 138 Monarch butterflies were the main non-raptor distraction in the local airspace, carried low on the wind or occasionally rising in the same thermal with broad-wings overhead.
Predictions: Rain! Probably looking at a washout on Monday and perhaps Tuesday. Good migration awaits on the other side! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Henry Walters (<walters.henry...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org
While I am not all that confused by immature warbler fall plumages, I am
somewhat confused about when and where is the best time and place to try to
see them. Some places are obviously better than others and light
northwest winds are usually more productive than south or southwest winds,
especially a day or two after a cold front, but there is still a high degree
of randomness involved as to whether you'll see a lot of birds.
The air strip in Freedom is one of the best places around for fall warblers
but there hasn't been a great day reported from there yet this season.
Yesterday's field trip there had 8 sets of eyes but a total of only 12
species of warblers and 27 individual warblers in 3.5 miles and 5 hours. A
Tin Mountain Bird Society fall warbler walk in the Conway area yesterday had
10 participants finding 10 species of warblers (16 individuals) in 3 hours
covering about a mile of road. Meanwhile at the end of my road in Sandwich,
Ken Klapper and I saw 12 species of warblers (25 individuals) plus 3
Philadelphia Vireos in less than an hour between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. in
about 100 yards of walking. This spot is known locally as a great fall
migrant place but there was still a lot of randomness to our success
yesterday. We were just about to leave because the birds had thinned out and
dispersed but then a second, even bigger group started moving through just
after 10:00.
The previous day a birder at the airstrip reported via eBird only 4 species
of warblers. That same morning I met a friend at his land on Bodge Hill Rd.
in Moultonborough. At about 8 a.m. a flock started coming in and we had 10
species of warblers in the next 20 minutes. We missed several birds that
were high up in the trees and moving through quickly. I had never birded
this particular location before but it was obviously a fun half hour of
birding and once again, our success was pretty much random. Late this
morning my wife saw a Chestnut-sided Warbler out her office window and I
went outside to find 7 species of warblers in less than 5 minutes including
a Tennessee and a Bay-breasted plus a Philly V. Ken said he had 11 species
of warblers in his yard this morning and also saw the 3 species I just
mentioned.
The point is that you don’t need to go far to find fall warblers because areas close to your own neighborhood may be as productive as the “hotspot” 20 miles away. Look for a large clearing near the edge of a forest that has transitional shrubby type plants near the edge of the trees. The west side of the clearing will get the morning sun and hopefully the warblers will soon follow. A cloudy day may be productive but it is nicer to have good light on these little birds.
Sorry for the second post, but inland shorebirds seem to be hot today. A friend of mine and I were fishing on Lake Sunapee we had a SANDERLING fly by us while we were trolling for salmon in the middle of the lake. I watched the bird fly it’s way to a beach near Blodgett’s Landing where we went over so I could photograph it. This is my second consecutive year seeing this species on the lake. Surprising considering how seldom they’re seen away from the coast in NH.
https://flic.kr/p/NMJrFq https://flic.kr/p/29x1sb8
I also have a few documentation shots of the Baird’s Sandpiper and Red-necked Phalarope that I saw earlier in Charlestown:
Date: 9/9/18 11:52 am From: JM Maher <jeannemariemaher...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] CORRECTION IMMATURE TURKEY VULTURES???
Turkey vultures not turkeys Deb
Jeanne-Marie
> On Sep 9, 2018, at 14:42, DEBRA M POWERS <dmp2ec...> wrote: > > Sorry I was told these were immature turkey??? Not what I came up with in my guide, guess I need new one. > > Deb > >> ---------- Original Message ---------- >> From: DEBRA M POWERS <dmp2ec...> >> To: <maine-birds...> >> Date: September 9, 2018 at 2:05 PM >> Subject: Updated Black Vultures >> >> I apologizes, I attempted to post Black Vultures however my spell check had other ideas and posted black turkey vultures. >> >> There was a pair on the summit of Mount Agamenticus-York Maine, this morning, which is a first for me! Additionally a pair of Osprey and one american kestrel. >> >> Thanks >> >> Deb Powers-South Berwick Maine >> >> >> >> https://www.flickr.com/photos/143862779@N08/29638315547/in/dateposted-public/ >> >> https://www.flickr.com/photos/143862779@N08/42766720620/in/dateposted-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 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: 9/9/18 11:43 am From: DEBRA M POWERS <dmp2ec...> Subject: [NHBirds] CORRECTION IMMATURE TURKEY VULTURES???
Sorry I was told these were immature turkey??? Not what I came up with in my guide, guess I need new one.
Deb
-------- Original Message ---------- From: DEBRA M POWERS <dmp2ec...> To: <maine-birds...> Date: September 9, 2018 at 2:05 PM Subject: Updated Black Vultures
I apologizes, I attempted to post Black Vultures however my spell check had other ideas and posted black turkey vultures.
There was a pair on the summit of Mount Agamenticus-York Maine, this morning, which is a first for me! Additionally a pair of Osprey and one american kestrel.
Date: 9/9/18 7:37 am From: <jacksonwrxt89...> Subject: [NHBirds] Charlestown Shorebirds
Both the RED-NECKED PHALAROPE and BAIRD’S SANDPIPER are still being seen at the WTP off Lower Landing Road.
The Phalarope is again on the edge of the green “slime” in the northern pool, the Baird’s was last seen working the western edge of the southern pool.
Again: As I said before, we birders have tenuous permission to be here. Please don’t drive down the access road or park at the entrance of the road. Plenty of parking at the boat launch at the end of Lower Landing Road. Also please stay outside the perimeter fence of the WTP. This is one of our few good rarity locations for us western NH/Eastern VT birders and we’d like to keep it accessible for years to come. Thank you.
Date: 9/9/18 5:45 am From: Dorsey, Kurk <Kurk.Dorsey...> Subject: [NHBirds] Surrey Lane Durham, 9/9
Birders,
I stopped in at Surrey Lane in Durham this morning and was rewarded with a Blue-winged Teal, 3 Green-winged Teal, and two Pied-billed Grebes, as well as a smattering of Wood Ducks and two Green Herons. Good thing I had the scope, because the teal were on the far side of the pond.
Date: 9/9/18 5:36 am From: Jon Woolf <jsw...> Subject: [NHBirds] Star Island 9/8
I went out to Star Island yesterday, on the lunchtime "Star Island Walkabout" trip aboard Uncle Oscar, and instead of joining the walking tour, I spent the time birding. I even brought my new scope along to see how it performed at long-range viewing. I was hoping for some shorebirds on the tiderocks and/or a lot of migrants, but unfortunately the bird activity was rather sparse. I did get a few nice sightings, though:
at least 3 Gray Catbirds calling back and forth in the brush near the gazebo a flock of Cedar Waxwings in the same area two WHIMBRELS that circled above the gazebo twice before landing in the rocks below, somewhere out of direct view. a single Gannet in flight, well inshore (credit the new scope)
I even managed to scan part of Square Rock beyond Lunging Island, and saw the characteristic yellow head of an adult Gannet. Again, credit the new scope: my old scope was simply not that sharp at full magnification. So at least one of the adult Gannets we saw on Square Rock during the NHA pelagic trip last week is still there.
Also noteworthy was the number of Monarch Butterflies. I have no idea what a typical number of Monarchs is for Star Island in September, but I saw at least half a dozen in the hour I was onshore.
Two other sightings of note: I had a Kingfisher just outside Rye Harbor, and Pete Reynolds, who was handling the boat, saw an American Oystercatcher fly past near the Isles.
A bit after 2PM a wave moved through the birches, maples, oaks and pines that line the yard. In 25 minutes I picked out: 3 Blackburnian Warblers 3 Black-throated Green Warblers 2 Black and White Warblers 2 Blackpoll Warblers 2 Bay-breasted Warblers 2 Northern Parula Warblers 1 Chestnut Sided Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 5 Warbler spp. 2 Philadelphia Vireos 1 Red-eyed Vireo 1 Scarlet Tanager. 1 Recurring case of warbler neck.
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Chad Witko
Observers: Glen Chretien, Julie Brown, Katrina Fenton, Levi Burford, Mike Gebo, Phil Brown, Tom Delaney, Tom Warren, Wendy Ward
Visitors: 65 visitors made their way to the platform today to join in on the day's spectacle. Many of these visitors were far from shy and quickly engaged with volunteer observers in finding and observing migrating raptors and Monarch Butterflies.
Weather: A breath of fresh air, northerly winds shifting from NE to WNW throughout the day brought chilly conditions (15-21C) to the platform. Observers on the platform went from shorts to wool hats by day's end. Reminiscent of a crisp day in October, visibility was exceptionally high this early in the season and Mount Washington was visible by the naked eye under clear skies. Unfortunately, the clear skies never reached Pack and for the entire day a sliver of blue held its ground to the northwest over the Whites as a bank of cloud cover held its position above us for the day. Despite the lack of solar heating in the immediate area around Pack, pockets of warm air formed in the valley just long enough for a few thermals to form giving rise to the first kettles of the season.
Raptor Observations: Today marked the first triple digit day for migrating raptors at the platform with Broad-winged Hawks carrying the bulk of that weight (99 individuals by the end of the day). By late in the afternoon the first kettles of Broad-winged Hawks of the season appeared much to the delight to the observers on the platform. Slowly building from 7 to 10 to 14 Broad-wings, the kettles were interspersed by a wonderful showing of Bald Eagles, Sharp-shinned Hawks, and American Kestrels. Resident Red-tailed Hawks were once again ever-present while the local juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk provided wonderful photographic opportunities from the platform.
Non-raptor Observations: Migrating Monarch Butterflies continued to make an impressive showing at the platform with a total of 85 individuals passing by. Migrating Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were also well represented today when a total of nine were observed zipping past and over the heads of the observers. Non-raptor avian highlights included several migrating Blackpoll Warblers and a female Scarlet Tanager perched atop a nearby spruce. Red Crossbills were also detected at the platform when a kip-kip-kipping flyover was observed by several observers. The crossbills were heard off and on at different points of the day and the largest flock of crossbills that were reported came just downslope of the platform with a total of 6 reported birds.
Predictions: At this point in time, tomorrow's flight looks likely to be on par with today's. Whether or not it climbs above today's numbers or sticks closer to yesterday's depends mostly on how much sun and heat enter the migration formula. Cool temperatures and northerly winds to start the day should encourage a fair number of birds held up just to our north to push further south. However, for larger kettles to form ahead of Monday's rain, some real good sun and heat will be needed to push more birds along than was seen today. In fact, it was the lack of this part of the migration equation today that likely prevented today's totals from reaching 200+ birds. All things considered, if it lines up as expected, we should see a moderate flight for this time of year. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Chad Witko (<chadjwitko...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org
Date: 9/8/18 5:28 pm From: Amanda Kallenbach <amanda.kallenbach...> Subject: [NHBirds] Capital Chapter trip--Freedom Town Forest
Mark Suomala and I co-led the Chapter's first outing to Freedom Town Forest today, with all eight of us enjoying the crisp fall morning. As it turned out, we could've slept in a bit with similar results (very quiet for the first 90 minutes), but what a joy walking around in a hoodie all day without breaking a sweat!
We worked hard for our 12 warbler species, and patience paid off with bonus barred owls and a ruffed grouse (third time's a charm, apparently...). The kettle of broadwings was a treat, too. Blue jays were definitely on the move and very vocal; towhees must've shoved off, leaving a single laggard behind.
A really fun morning with a great group of birders! Forty-four species tallied. Our full eBird report below:
Date: 9/8/18 4:34 pm From: Christopher McPherson <cmcpherson687...> Subject: [NHBirds] King Eider, North Hampton Sate Beach
A bit out of the ordinary for me, I don't typically scan Eider flocks this time of year so when I set up my scope and started scanning the first bird I focused in on was a female King Eider I was happily surprised!
There was a solid push of migrants overnight - birds weren't falling out of every tree, but those flocks that were around were quite diverse, with a good proportion of boreal (spruce-bud worm specialist) warblers. Between several locations (Thompson Wildlife Sanctuary, the Bearcamp River crossing on Diamond Ledge Road, Chick's Corner marsh, and my yard) there were 19 species of warblers, Philadelphia Vireo(s) at each location, and even some migrant raptors.
Warblers and Vireos: Cape May Warbler - 2 (my yard) Bay-breasted Warbler - 2 (Thompson and my yard) Tennessee Warbler - At least 5 at the Bearcamp, and 1 at each other location Blackpoll Warbler - 1 (my yard) Wilson's Warbler - 3 (pair at Thompson, and a male in my yard) Canada Warbler - 1 (my yard) Nashville Warbler - 1-2 at each location Chestnut-sided Warbler - 1-2 at each location Yellow Warbler - 1 (my yard; locals have left so this one is a migrant) Blackburnian Warbler - 1 at the Bearcamp Pine Warbler - 1 at Thompson Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1-2 at each location Black-and-White Warbler - 1-2 at each location Black-throated Blue Warbler - adult male at the Bearcamp Black-throated Green Warbler - 2-3 at each location American Redstart - 2-3 each at the Bearcamp and my yard N. Parula - 1-2 each at the Bearcamp and my yard Magnolia Warbler - one to several at the Bearcamp and my yard Common Yellowthroat - Several at each location Philadelphia Vireo - 1-3 at each location Blue-headed Vireo - 1 at the Bearcamp (singing) Red-eyed Vireo - a few at each location
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 2 (Thompson and the Bearcamp) Scarlet Tanager - a pair (adult and begging juvenile) at my yard
Raptors: Osprey - 1 at Thompson Broad-winged Hawk - 14 from my yard, including a small kettle of 9 Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2 (Thompson, my yard) Cooper's Hawk - 2+ (one at Thompson, maybe 2 at my yard) American Kestrel - 1 at Thompson Merlin - 1 at Chick's Corner Marsh (maybe why it wasn't good for songbirds)
Wood Duck - a few pair around (Thompson, Chick's Corner)
Also - Red-breasted Nuthatches and Purple Finches seem to be on the move - there's been an uptick in their #'s. Cedar Waxwing were plentiful by the Bearcamp.
Date: 9/8/18 3:13 pm From: Joshua Jarvis <menasor77...> Subject: [NHBirds] That which still lingers
The dearth of birds is lifting and birds are showing up again. However many are the same birds I see in summer so I cannot tell if they are migrants or lingering summer birds.
On Tuesday I saw a Prairie Warbler by HCP in Hinsdale.
On Friday I saw a Broad Winged Hawk in Richmond perched on the wires by the corner of Mill Rd and Fish Hatchery Rd.
Today in Richmond on Fish Hatchery Rd I saw two flickers, lots of phoebes, a house wren (scolding at me from the rubble of a collapsed barn), and a Towhee in the bushes by the power lines. Also a Warbler or Vireo I could not ID as it was in the tree tops. White belly with slight yellowish tints by the neck.
Date: 9/8/18 1:47 pm From: Stephen Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [NHBirds] NH Coast (KING EIDER, Golden Plover, Western Willet, Baird's Sandpiper, Phil. Vireo)
Finally feeling like fall on the seacoast. Cool today with overcast
skies and temps in the 60's and N winds. Highlights:
KING EIDER - Female found by Chris McPherson at North Hampton State
Beach. Near offshore rocks. Not great views for us as it stayed hidden
in and behind rocks.
American Golden Plover - 1 juvenile along beach on south shoreline at
Odiorne. Also a Whimbrel and Western Willet.
Western Willet - 1 continues in area of 2nd pulloff south of Odiorne,
but also seen further north, perched on rocks at Odiorne near the
Science Center. Perhaps the same bird for the last 3 to 4 weeks.
Looking paler now as dark feather edges are wearing off. No signs (or
recent reports) of lingering Eastern Willets present last weekend.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevemirick/30687318868/in/photostream/lightbox/
Baird's Sandpiper - 1 juvenile continues from Bicentennial Park in
Hampton. Being harassed by a Peregrine Falcon.
Philadelphia Vireo - We took a long walk around Odiorne, but not a lot
of land birds. One nice migrant was a bright Philadelphia Vireo.
Date: 9/8/18 8:05 am From: <jacksonwrxt89...> Subject: [NHBirds] Good Shorebirds in Charlestown
I’m here at the WTP off Lower Landing Road now and there’s a good variety of shorebirds and a few nice species.
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE: One sitting on the water in the northern pool.
BAIRD’S SANDPIPER: An unbelievable second of the season here! It’s foraging alongside other Sandpipers on the dike that separates the two ponds.
Also present are Killdeer and Least, Semipalmated and Spotted Sandpipers.
Again: As I said before, we birders have tenuous permission to be here. Please don’t drive down the access road or park at the entrance of the road. Plenty of parking at the boat launch at the end of Lower Landing Road. Also please stay outside the perimeter fence of the WTP. This is one of our few good rarity locations for us western NH/Eastern VT birders and we’d like to keep it accessible for years to come. Thank you.
Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours
Official Counter: Chad Witko
Observers: Cal Peterka, Janet Delaney, Jeannie Peterka, Judd Nathan, Katrina Fenton, Levi Burford, Tom Delaney, Tom Warren
Visitors: 32 visitors officially made their way to the platform, including some inquisitive students from Souhegan.
Weather: After the passage of yesterday's storms, light and variable winds held enough of a northerly component to bring along cooler temperatures and the best raptor flight of the season to date. Cloud cover remained strong through most of the morning providing a nice backdrop for finding and viewing raptors. However, the anticipated clearing of cloud cover needed to produce good thermals across the landscape came late in the afternoon preventing any noticeable flights at the end of the day which were a distinct possibility.
Raptor Observations: Migrating raptors were definitely on the move today with nine confirmed species recorded during official count hours. Resident birds of various species showed up throughout the count, however, it was a steady stream of migrants that kept the skies active over Pack. Migrating Broad-winged Hawks and Ospreys were the most numerous species on the day while crowd-pleasing falcons (3 species) made a nice showing. Accipiters were also on the move providing nice studies to those on the platform.
Non-raptor Observations: Migrating Monarch Butterflies made an excellent showing today with a total of 52 counted! From the platform, volunteer observers scanning across the skies called out "Monarch!" on a regular basis, many times while having an orange blur float past their field of vision while watching a distant raptor. Not surprisingly, observers on the ground weren't the only ones watching this flight of orange is the new black. At least one American Kestrel was observed predating a migrating Monarch high above the platform in mid-air putting on quite a show for those on the ground! We suspect it regretted its decision some time later. Non-raptor avian highlights today included a flyover Pine Siskin and a pair of Blackpoll Warblers while packing up equipment.
Predictions: Continuing cool temperatures, clearing conditions, and light winds out of the north and northwest should continue to provide some of the best conditions for migrating raptors of the (young) season to date. With these predicted conditions we should expect a flight on par with today's, if not stronger. With any luck we could start seeing the first small kettles of Broad-wings for the season. Expect an early-season moderate flight of raptors over and around Pack. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Chad Witko (<chadjwitko...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org
As far as swimming, my spouse and I were amazed when kayaking this week on
the Contoocook River to see squirrels swimming across the river. We saw
four different instances of this in an hour or two, once seeing the
squirrel leaping from a tree into the river to begin the crossing. They
were all red squirrels, and subsequent googling only talked about red
squirrels swimming - I didn't read about this behavior in grey squirrels
(who apparently prefer leaping in front of cars to getting wet). Whether by
chance or no, all the crossings we observed were in the same direction...
(This being NHbird, I'll also report that we didn't see much avian activity
in our midday trip, a great blue and a green heron, but otherwise just some
jays, crows, chickadees, crows, goldfinches, a turkey vulture, and an
unidentified hawk. The squirrels were definitely the wildlife highlight!)
Greg Carter
Amherst, NH
On Thursday, September 6, 2018 at 6:00:32 PM UTC-4, <epp......> wrote:
>
> On August 20th a great article on squirrels behaving oddly was the subject
> of Mary Holland’s blog ( Naturally Curious With Mary Holland). There is a
> picture of a squirrel swimming and historical (e.g.,1842 a half billion
> squirrel migration that lasted for 4 weeks in Wisconsin!) and other
> information similar to that offered this week about the number of gray
> squirrels seen on highways. Given that squirrels have always thwarted most
> attempts at bird feeder defense I shouldn’t be surprised that they are able
> to swim with ease - however, they still seem to have a problem with road
> crossings. Take a look at Mary’s blog - always very interesting.
>
> Edie Posselt
> Portsmouth, NH
At 5:45 today a Whip was heard calling from 54 Sawyer Rd., Ossipee from out near Garland Pond by Carole and Dana Simpson. It had not been heard by them since late spring. Reported to Dana Duxbury-Fox
Date: 9/7/18 9:34 am From: Linda M. Charron <clinda912...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Really quiet feeders
Bird action is very light in New Boston too. I haven't seen my hummingbirds for 2 days. It's so quiet, no birds singing or cawing or chipping. No birds flying in the yard, it's strange....
Linda Charron New Boston, NH Cell: (603) 470-7037
On Fri, 7 Sep 2018 08:57:38 -0400, "Daniel M. Keefe" wrote:
Just looking out at my feeders here in Durham and noting how little activity there is, one lonely jay, and a stray turkey. Has been fairly quiet for a week or so, highly unusual. Usually have a feeding frenzy. Anyone else note lower numbers?
Date: 9/7/18 6:02 am From: Daniel M. Keefe <daniel.keefe...> Subject: [NHBirds] Really quiet feeders
Just looking out at my feeders here in Durham and noting how little activity there is, one lonely jay, and a stray turkey. Has been fairly quiet for a week or so, highly unusual. Usually have a feeding frenzy. Anyone else note lower numbers?
Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 13:30:00
Total observation time: 5.5 hours
Official Counter: Chad Witko
Observers: Jon Woolf
Visitors:
60 visitors, including a school group from Amherst, NH (Souhegan) made
their way to the platform today despite the heat and impending storms.
Thanks to Susie Spikol Faber from the Harris Center for educating these
young adults on raptors, their migrations, and the importance of sites such
as Pack Monadnock.
Weather:
Early morning fog on a warm southwest wind lifted to reveal a sun-baked
landscape coated in haze for the majority of the morning. However, a
smattering of puffy cumulus clouds came into view around the middle of the
day to give shaded relief to those fortunate enough to fall under their
path. Once again, temperatures reached 80蚌 or more for the afternoon
(27-30蚓) before thunderstorms pushed the counter off the platform. Despite
the less than ideal SW winds, a decent push of raptors came ahead of the
storms.
Raptor Observations:
The local population of non-migrating Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures
took a little longer than usual to rise to the occasion this morning due to
the early morning fog and haze. This was not true for a presumed resident
Merlin and migrating Sharp-shinned Hawk, both of which were seen during the
first hour. For the remainder of the count, migrating Broad-winged Hawks
dominated the airspace over Pack with a few attempting to dominate the
counter's personal space. Buffeted by winds, a migrating Broad-winged came
within just a few feet of the counter at one point before gaining lift and
zipping out of sight. A juvenile non-migrating Red-shouldered Hawk showed
nicely in the afternoon close to the platform while a lone Osprey marked
the final migrating raptor on the day as it snuck through the last
remaining patch of dry air before the storms.
Non-raptor Observations:
Migrating Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (7) were a nice addition to the day
with many zipping through the fog and haze while Monarch Butterflies (3)
were somewhat sparse. A Chimney Swift and Eastern Phoebe were the
noteworthy non-raptor avian highlights on a rather slow morning.
Predictions:
After this afternoon's thunderstorms, tomorrow's cooler temperatures and
light winds with a northerly component might allow for a decent push of
migrating raptors. However, with winds predicted ENE there's a chance the
number of migrating raptors might be moderated a bit. Once again, expect a
light to moderate flight but with more comfortable viewing temperatures for
any observers who come up.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Chad Witko (<chadjwitko...>)
Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at:
www.nhaudubon.org
On August 20th a great article on squirrels behaving oddly was the subject of Mary Holland’s blog ( Naturally Curious With Mary Holland). There is a picture of a squirrel swimming and historical (e.g.,1842 a half billion squirrel migration that lasted for 4 weeks in Wisconsin!) and other information similar to that offered this week about the number of gray squirrels seen on highways. Given that squirrels have always thwarted most attempts at bird feeder defense I shouldn’t be surprised that they are able to swim with ease - however, they still seem to have a problem with road crossings. Take a look at Mary’s blog - always very interesting.
Date: 9/6/18 9:48 am From: Stephen Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [NHBirds] Baird's & Buff-breasted Sandpipers on coast
I made a quick drive down the coast this afternoon just after high
tide. VERY HOT with temps in the upper 80's. Biggest concentrations of
roosting (high tide) shorebirds continue in the 2nd and 3rd pull-offs
south of Odiorne and the Plaice Cove rocks area off Ancient Highway in
Hampton. Highlights today included:
Date: 9/6/18 9:20 am From: 'Geoff Niswander' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Dead Gray Squirrels - NH Fish & Game Biologist
Also, in the past 10 days I’ve seen squirrels emerging from the Merrimack River, which appear to have swam entirely across the river. Twice now. I’ve never seen a squirrel swimming at all before this year. And the re-emergence of the black morph gray squirrel here in NH in the last few years, with quite a few black squirrels in the Bow and Dunbarton areas.
Date: 9/5/18 6:55 pm From: Stephen Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [NHBirds] 2 Red-necked Phalaropes on Newfound Lake
Ryan Schain reports 2 Red-necked Phalaropes today on Newfound Lake. They were together near the center of lake (Just NW of Whittemore Point, and may be visible with a scope from shore); They were feeding comfortably on flies that were all over the surface and sticking close together.
Date: 9/5/18 6:52 pm From: 'Dan Hubbard' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Seacoast Chapter NHA Pickering Pond walk 9-05-2018 41 species
Thirteen birders joined me for a relaxing trek around the Pickering Ponds trails this am. The birds were rather silent and not very active (heat?) but we still managed 41 species. The highlight was probably the Pied-billed Grebe which has been truant this summer (still missed by trip leader unfortunately). Scribe Zeke Cornell once again provided the tally below in spite of birding fatigue (full day yesterday of pelagic birding and counting nighthawks). Dan Hubbard, Rochester
Pickering Ponds, Rochester, Strafford, New Hampshire, US Sep 5, 2018 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM Protocol: Traveling 2.0 mile(s) Comments: NH Audubon Seacoast Chapter outing led by Dan Hubbard. Overcast for most of the walk, but the sun came out with the heat of the day just as we finished. 41 species (+1 other taxa)
Wood Duck 19 Mallard 17 American Black Duck 1 Hooded Merganser 4 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Mourning Dove 1 Semipalmated Plover 1 Killdeer 1 Least Sandpiper 15 Semipalmated Sandpiper 8 Lesser Yellowlegs 1 shorebird sp. 5 flyover... Herring Gull 23 Great Black-backed Gull 3 Double-crested Cormorant 9 Great Blue Heron 2 Green Heron 2 Turkey Vulture 11 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker 2 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Eastern Phoebe 3 Warbling Vireo 2 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Blue Jay 7 American Crow 11 Black-capped Chickadee 9 Tufted Titmouse 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 4 House Wren 1 Eastern Bluebird 1 American Robin 6 Gray Catbird 10 Cedar Waxwing 18 American Goldfinch 5 Song Sparrow 5 Common Yellowthroat 1 Yellow Warbler 1 Northern Cardinal 1
Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Chad Witko
Observers: Kat Lauer, Levi Burford, Phil Brown
Visitors:
37 visitors found their way to the hawkwatch platform to ask questions
about migrating raptors and enjoy the view.
Weather:
Yet another warm day atop Pack Monadnock with temps reaching into the 80s
at the platform by the afternoon (29-31°C). There's no doubt that summer is
holding on strong in the Wapack Range! Light winds varied between west and
southwest for the duration of the count and provided just enough incentive
for a handful of migrating raptors to cover some ground and to be within
view of the platform. Clear skies (mostly sunny conditions) were the order
of the day and what started off as morning fog in the valley soon burned
off only to be replaced by hazy conditions overall which limited visibility
just a bit.
Raptor Observations:
As has been the status quo for the start of the season, local, non-migrant
Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures dominated the airspace for the
duration of the day. Presumed non-migrant Merlins were also quite visible
today around the platform as they made quick appearances just long enough
to not count them as an apparition. Nevertheless, it was a decent day for
migrating raptors and all hours of the count, save for the final hour,
observed migrating raptors of one kind or another with six confirmed
species being tallied. On the migratory raptor front, Ospreys were the bird
of the day being tallied first and most (8), while American Kestrels made
their migratory presence known with a decent early-season showing (3).
Broad-winged Hawks, often considered the star of the show at Pack, are
still leading that summer life with only one individual today deciding it
was time to head further south. A lone adult Bald Eagle was the last
migrant raptor of the day passing through during the 3 o'clock hour.
Non-raptor Observations:
Overall, non-raptor bird activity at the platform was fairly quiet.
Red-breasted Nuthatches (4) kept those on the platform company early on
while a smattering of Yellow-rumped Warblers (6), migrating Ruby-throated
Hummingbirds (4), a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (1), and a Black-and-white
Warbler (1) were the noteworthy birds on the day. Monarch Butterflies (4)
continue their migratory presence atop Pack while a plethora of dragonflies
of unknown ID to this counter continue to be seen during every hour of the
count.
Predictions:
Another hot day ahead with mostly sunny skies during the morning hours and
scattered showers and thunderstorms developing in the afternoon. West winds
should produce a few migrating raptors ahead of any storms that develop,
hopefully on par with the last few days. However, early season timing
should moderate numbers a bit and only a lite to moderate flight is
expected.
========================================================================
Report submitted by Chad Witko (<chadjwitko...>)
Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at:
www.nhaudubon.org
Date: 9/5/18 3:26 pm From: Stephen Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [NHBirds] Eastern Mass Hawk Watch Annual Meeting FRIDAY, Sept 7, 7-9 p.m. Dave Brinker Speaking on Northern Goshawks. Public Invited.
Posting this for Paul Roberts. Hawk migration has started!
Steve Mirick
Bradford, MA
> The 2018 Eastern Mass Hawk Watch annual meeting is THIS Friday Sept.
7 at 7 p.m. David Brinker, from Maryland’s Natural Heritage Program,
will be speaking on “The Rise and Fall of Northern Goshawks in the
Central Appalachian Mountains.” Dave has studied Northern Goshawks for
more than forty years. In 1994 he began monitoring over 100 goshawk
nesting attempts in the study area, banding 63 nesting adults and
monitoring their winter movements. Dave will share with us his insights
as to what is happening and why. He'll also spend some time helping us
learn how to identify Northern Goshawks in the field, including
distinguishing them from the much more abundant Cooper's Hawk.
>
> If you have any interest in goshawks, you do not want to miss this.
Dave is also a long-time bander of Saw-what Owls, co-founder of Owlnet,
and more recently a co-founder of Project SNOWstorm, established to
better understand the wintering ecology of Snowy Owls.
>
> Prior to Dave’s presentation, Paul Roberts will provide a brief
update on hawk migration and population trends in North America.
>
> The meeting is free and open to the public (donations accepted). It
will be September 7 at the air-conditioned Woburn Elks Lodge, 295
Washington Street, Woburn, MA. A social hour with beverages, appetizers
and snacks and the annual raffle begins at 6 p.m. A brief business
meeting starts at 7 p.m., followed by Paul’s and Dave’s presentations.
Join us for a great evening!
>
> For complete information, including driving directions to the
location in Woburn (plenty of free parking), visit the new Eastern Mass
Hawk Watch web site at massbird.org/EMHW The Woburn location is easy to
reach, just blocks from Rte. 128 and a short distance off Rte 93. For
those attending from west of Boston, Rte 128/95 north to Washington St
(South) in Woburn might be the most convenient route.
>
> Best,
>
> Paul
>
>
> Paul M. Roberts
> Medford, MA
> <phawk254...>
Date: 9/5/18 11:07 am From: Bob Crowley <crbob...> Subject: [NHBirds] New Hampshire Pelagic, out of Rye, yesterday.
Beautiful day, calm seas, great looks at all the different species, a happy group of observers. Could not be any better. Two new state birds for me. My Maine list and New Hampshire list are tied.
Thank you, Jon Wolf for setting it and for the cookies
Also to Massachusetts for lending us Steve Myrick to narrate for the day.
Date: 9/5/18 10:05 am From: Batwrangler <batwrangler...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Dead Gray Squirrels - NH Fish & Game Biologist
I see multiple squirrels dash across the road daily on my commute to and from work. In fact, this morning, near 101A, I watched FOUR squirrels cross the road in what looked like a staggered-start race along about a 15-foot section of road. I've also noticed lots of squirrels foraging roadside all summer.
On Wed, Sep 5, 2018 at 1:03 PM, Sue McGrath <newburyportbirders...> wrote:
> Birders, > > Answers to the dead squirrels on Maine & New Hampshire Highways... > > http://www.unionleader.com/animals/never-seen-this-many- > dead-gray-squirrels-says-nh-fish-and-game-biologist-20180830 > Good birding, > Sue > > Sue McGrath > Newburyport, MA > > > > ------------------------------ > > > -- > 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: 9/5/18 6:17 am From: <danafox...> Subject: [NHBirds] Roseate Spoonbill in ME
Bob and I drove up (from NH) to Dover-Foxcroft yesterday at noon and had the Roseate Spoonbill right in the snags at the back of the pond. Bob got permission to walk in the farm gate to get a closer picture-a still distant shot. The bird is in the near pond early and late the farmer said. The e-bird directions are good. Dana Duxbury-Fox
Date: 9/5/18 6:04 am From: Steve Bennett <sbennett999...> Subject: [NHBirds] More South Polar Skua Pix
The 10th NH Audubon Fall Pelagic Trip (run by Jon Wolfe on behalf of the Massabesic Chapter) was off to a good start but in a blink of an eye it jumped into the big leagues when Steve Mirick started yelling "Skua Skua Skua" as he spotted a dark-morph South Polar Skua flying towards the boat.
The bird could not have been more cooperative as he flew less than 100-feet away, right down the side of the boat, and in perfect light. We watched him circle the boat several times, chase & push Shearwaters down to the water, and then sit patiently on the water so we all get some good pictures.
In less than 2-weeks, there will be another New Hampshire off-shore pelagic trip on Monday Sept. 17th, this time to benefit the NH Audubon Seacoast Chapter and being organized by Kyle Wilmarth. I bet it fills up fast !
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Julie Brown, Phil Brown
Observers: Levi Burford, Michael Burgess, Tom Baillio
Visitors: 20. Julie covered the watch 9-1 (with 3 yr old Alden who dug up lots of dinosaur bones) and Phil covered 1-5pm.
Weather: Another warm day with temps into the low 80s on the summit. Light winds from the north/northwest most of the day with a fair amount of cloud cover was a nice combo for pushing birds south and making them easy to find.
Raptor Observations: Raptor diversity was high with nine species noted migrating. Lots of action in the air! Non-migrant TVs, Red-tails, and Ravens dominated the airspace, and local breeding Cooper's, Red-shouldered Hawk, and Merlin put in appearances with them. Ample amounts of energy to be wasted, or perhaps just juvenile play before migration. Ospreys and eagles traveled in pairs, and a late day Northern Harrier/American Kestrel duo was a treat.
Non-raptor Observations: The day began with a Merlin eating a dragonfly on the wing right overhead. It sat digesting on a spruce top but not for long. Dragonflies - and insectivores - were on the move on this warm day. Levi picked out 2 distant Common Nighthawks, the first of the season, just before the 5 pm bell. Fifteen total Chimney Swifts, including a silent group of five late for an important date, and a more jubilant group of nine, chattering away as they passed directly overhead. Male and female Cape May Warblers fed in spruces, quick flashes yellow on the green background. 4 Hummingbirds, 2 Barn Swallows, and an encouraging 37 Monarch Butterflies - a sign of the strong year this species is having in the region.
Predictions: A similar day but winds more southerly. Local bird action should continue to be strong, if nothing else, so come out and enjoy the show! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Phil Brown (<pbrown...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org
Although the light breeze was from the north, we had warm enough temps for a nice flight of birds. I was on the NH Audubon pelagic, so Dave Lipsy covered the monitoring from 5-6 PM. We, also, had the four planets previously reported. We could see them before 7:45...
Date: 9/4/18 5:16 pm From: Stephen Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [NHBirds] NH Audubon Pelagic Trip - 9/4/18 (SOUTH POLAR SKUA, Pomarine Jaegers, 3 species of shearwaters, etc.)
NH Audubon sponsored an all day pelagic bird trip today aboard the
"Granite State" out of Rye Harbor, NH. The weather was excellent with
clear skies, north winds 5 to 10 knots at most and seas 1 to 2 feet. We
traveled east to the Isles of Shoals where we wandered around the
islands looking for odds & ends and enjoying the beauty of the islands.
We then continued off-shore straddling the NH/ME state line and heading
out to Jeffrey's Ledge. From here we crisscrossed a bit over the ledge
before eventually heading back home. Birds were scattered, with Cory's
Shearwater being the most common pelagic species with scattered small
groups spread out across the area from past the Isles of Shoals to
Jeffrey's Ledge. Random sightings of small numbers of other pelagic
species gave us excellent trip list. The highlighted (by far) was a
spectacular performance by a SOUTH POLAR SKUA, which should provide the
first well documented record for the State of NH.
Some photo pages to keep an eye out for images from Leo Mckillop and
Chris Mcpherson and a couple by me of the skua only:
Thanks to Jon Woolf for organizing this trip and to Captain Pete
Reynolds for working the birds for the benefit of all on the boat.
Numbers below are my conservative estimates and include a few sightings
by others and may not be a complete list. eBird checklists to be
submitted for birds seen offshore in NH and Maine.
Steve Mirick
Bradford, MA
Common Eider
Common Loon - 1 sitting (oddly) on Little Seavey Island and another
offshore.
Cory's Shearwater - 221 in many scattered small flocks of 5 to 10 birds
and one big flock of 34 recorded in both Maine and NH! In view for much
of the trip.
Great Shearwater - 13 is all I have recorded. Not many out there.
Manx Shearwater - 1 nice views of bird mixed in with group of Cory's on
the water.
Wilson's Storm-Petrel - One nice flock of 50 on the water, but mostly
scarce with scattered individuals otherwise.
Northern Gannet - Very few offshore, but a fair number around the Isles
of Shoals including 5 adults SITTING ON SQUARE ROCK!
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Cormorant - 3 immatures on Little Seavey Island. One adult on
Square Rock.
Merlin - 1 over Smuttynose Island.
Black-bellied Plover - 1 on Smuttynose.
Semipalmated Plover - 1 on Seavey Island.
Whimbrel - 1 on Lunging Island
Ruddy Turnstone - 1 on Little Seavey Island.
Sanderling - 1 flyby
Red-necked Phalarope - 23 including a nice flock of 20 giving great views.
Bonaparte's Gull - 2 inside Isles of Shoals.
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Common Tern - 2 near White Island only
SOUTH POLAR SKUA - 1. Spectacular display of an adult (?) or subadult
(?) bird. Great views as it posed for us and allowed nice close profile
photos. Then seen chasing after gulls and Cory's Shearwaters!!
Although there are historic records of Skuas in New Hampshire, there are
remarkably few (if any ?) in the last 35 years. And past reports of
South Polar Skua have not been accepted by the NHRBC to the species
level. So this bird, if accepted, would represent a (overdue) first
documented State record.
POMARINE JAEGER - 5. Not positive on number. At least a group of 2 and
a group of 3. Most subadults. One apparent adult with nice spoons, but
not well seen. One spectacular display of a Pomarine Jaeger diving on
top of a Great Shearwater over and over again!
PURPLE FINCH - 1. Normally not considered a highlight on a species
list, but this individual deserves full bold and was certainly a
highlight of the trip. A single juvenile Purple Finch landed on the
boat well offshore, and stayed on the boat for the whole day! It hopped
from person to person, landing on heads, shoulders, optics, etc. A
couple of times, it left the boat, but fortunately it returned because
eventually people started feeding it, and it ate!!! As the day went on
the bird gorged itself on fruit. By my estimations, it sampled 7
different types of fruit!!! (strawberry, grape, apple, banana, peach,
watermelon, cranberry) By the end of the trip, it became very
comfortable on the boat, but eventually it left the boat as we came up
to the dock in Rye harbor! :-)
American Goldfinch - 1 offshore
Whales
-----------
Remarkably poor showing of whales. Not totally unexpected as the
majority of whales have been visiting inshore locations and we purposely
did not go for them. Whales were very scarce on Jeffrey's Ledge.
Fin Whale - 3 including "Comet" a unique individual identified by its
unusual tail movements.
Minke Whale - 2 or 3
Harbor Porpose - 3
Harbor Seal - 2
Fish
------
Bluefin Tuna - A few small individuals chasing bait fish including one
seen fully breaching at least 2 times!
Blue Shark - Perhaps 3 or 4
Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) - Excellent views of one, plus at least 2 or 3
others.
Insects
----------
Common Green Darner - 1 offshore
Date: 9/4/18 9:06 am From: DEBRA M POWERS <dmp2ec...> Subject: [NHBirds] Western Willet
The bird has changed locations from yesterday ( and I believe it is a Western, I have had several people agree that it looks like it) , I found it at the second turn off past Odiorne where all the rocks are piled up. Very inquisitive, I sat on a rock and it walked pretty close while feeding.
"Boy Howdy"! One Nighthawk might seem like nothing much to celebrate, but the one which was hawking over Dodge Pond last night was the first in about 20 years.
Date: 9/3/18 5:56 pm From: Mark Suomala <mrsuomala...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, September 3, 2018
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, September 3,
2018.
A NEOTROPIC CORMORANT was photographed on the Androscoggin River in Gorham
on August 2nd, has been seen almost every day since then, and was last
reported on September 2nd. The bird has been most commonly seen perched on
orange safety buoys just above the Gorham Hydroelectric Station dam on Power
House Road. This is also the site of the Gorham Transfer Station and there
is signed River Access parking at the entrance, so park here and walk to the
dam.
A pair of MISSISSIPPI KITES with a chick was seen in a nest near Madbury
Road in Durham on July 26th, and was most recently reported on September
1st. To try to see the Durham birds, park at the Durham Town Library, walk
out to the road and watch overhead for soaring KITES. Two additional nests,
were discovered in Newmarket and Stratham and several individuals were last
reported from these sites on the 1st.
An immature LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen in coastal North Hampton and Rye
during the past week and was last reported on September 3rd. A
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen in coastal Hampton on August 28th.
2 LEAST BITTERNS were seen in the Cranberry Ponds wetland behind the Price
Chopper store in West Lebanon on September 1st, and 1 was reported from
World End Pond in Salem on the 3rd.
2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen in Hampton Harbor on September 2nd.
2 CASPIAN TERNS were seen along the coast in Rye on August 29th.
A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE and a BAIRD’S SANDPIPER were seen in coastal Rye on
September 2nd, and a WESTERN SANDPIPER was seen along the coast in Rye on
September 1st. 3 WHIMBRELS were seen along the coast in Hampton on September
2nd.
A STILT SANDPIPER was seen at the Rochester Wastewater Treatment Plant on
August 31st. The treatment plant is gated and the hours of operation are
7:30-3:00 on weekdays. If you visit, please check in at the office and be
out of the plant by 2:45 so that plant personnel do not have to ask birders
to leave. Do not drive on the dikes and do not block the road. The Trails at
Pickering Ponds, located east of the plant, are not gated, and are always
open during daylight hours.
A DICKCISSEL and 2 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were reported from Woodmont Orchard
in Hollis on September 3rd, and a DICKCISSEL and a RED CROSSBILL were
reported from Freedom Town Forest on August 31st.
Several migrating OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS, PHILADELPHIA VIREOS, CAPE MAY
WARBLERS, BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS, and TENNESEE WARBLERS were reported from
scattered locations during the past week.
Migrating COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were reported from several locations during the
past week, with a high-count of over 900 in Concord on September 3rd. Also
of note were 261 reported from Keene on August 29th, and 272 in Sandwich on
September 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
Triple digits of nighthawks in September is a bit of an usual treat. The birds to the east were headed directly north, while a third of the birds were arriving from a west by southwest heading--the same as the dominant breeze.
The season total is 5,106. This is only the third time in the eleven years of watching that 5,000 has been exceeded in Concord.
Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Iain MacLeod
Observers: Katrina Fenton, Levi Burford, Mark Suomala, Mike Bourgault, Mike Gebo, Paul Bourgault
Visitors: Not as busy at usual on the holiday. About 150 people and lots of dogs.
Weather: Hot and humid with light WSW breeze
Raptor Observations: Slow but steady. Lots of local Red-tails messing about with the Ravens. Four Bald Eagles.
Non-raptor Observations: Eight Chimney Swifts, two Tree Swallows, Juncos, one Hummingbird.
Predictions: More hot and sticky weather. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Iain MacLeod (<pandiain.im...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org
Date: 9/3/18 3:15 pm From: Jody Williams <fisherwoods...> Subject: [NHBirds] More migrating warblers in Rumney
Mid day I came across a small flock along the Baker River: 5 Bay-breasted Warblers 1 Blackpoll Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 5 minutes and Poof!
For the first time in several years I am getting double digit counts of Monarch Butterflies in the meadow. They are concentrating on goldenrods. Yesterday I counted 17 in one area and 12 more 200 yards away.
Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8.5 hours
Official Counter: Chad Witko
Observers: Andre Moraes, Kat Lauer, Mike Gebo, Tom Baillio
Visitors: 79 visitors found their way to the platform to inquire about migrating raptors. While there were no culinary gifts bestowed to the counters today, there were great feasts of inquiry from many locals and regional residents, including many who had never visited the hawkwatch platform before.
Weather: Another warm day atop Pack Monadnock to continue the feeling of summer. Light winds calmed throughout the day varying primarily between southerly and westerly flows. Cloud cover also varied throughout the day with peak coverage at the start and end of the count. However, hazy conditions were persistent throughout the count limiting visibility across the valley.
Raptor Observations: Migrating raptors were few and far between today with only a handful of Broad-winged Hawks and a Peregrine Falcon to speak of. Nevertheless, resident Red-tailed Hawks kept those on the hawkwatch platform at the ready with their constant reappearances over North Pack or behind the platform above the parking lot. Perhaps the most exciting sighting of the day occured in the final minutes of the count when an apparent local Merlin strafed the resident owl decoy, which to its dismay, didn't seem to mind all the ruckus from the diminutive falcon.
Non-raptor Observations: At the platform, migration was observed for several non-raptor species when four Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and three Monarch Butterflies zipped and floated past the platform respectively over the course of the day. A lone Blackpoll Warbler also made an appearance, another clear sign of fall migration. Other observations of note in order of appearance included Cedar Waxwing (3); Chimney Swift (2); and a Northern Flicker (1).
Predictions: Hot and mostly sunny with winds out of the WSW. With the combination of predicted weather and early season trends, no big movements of birds are expected. However, it should be a good time to escape the heat of the valley as much as possible, and to practice your identification skills on the resident Red-tails and Turkey Vultures that should be keeping the hawk counter (Iain MacLeod) company. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Chad Witko (<chadjwitko...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org
Date: 9/2/18 5:31 pm From: Rebecca Suomala <rsuomala2...> Subject: [NHBirds] Least Bitterns, West Lebanon
Yesterday (9/1/18) Zeke Cornell and I stopped at the Cranberry Ponds wetlands behind Price Chopper in West Lebanon and finally found two (possible 3) Least Bitterns. At least two birds called from different locations and we got a very brief glimpse of one. The bird across the pond seemed to call from two different locations, but widely spaced in time and never simultaneous so we couldn't confirm a third bird. There are still large numbers of starlings and blackbirds roosting in the marsh at night and taking off in large flocks in the morning.
We also checked the Charleston WTP for the Baird's without success.
Five of us counted birds streaming north (the vast majority, at least), and they were riding on a slight south wind and moving very quickly. This brings the season total to 4,993.
Date: 9/2/18 4:16 pm From: Ken Klapper <kklapper...> Subject: [NHBirds] Sandwich nighthawks and more
From my back porch, between 5:35 and 6:05pm tonight, I witnessed a stream of at least 272 nighthawks, all flying northeast. Most were fairly distant, but I saw a couple nearly overhead (I'd estimate the total width of the stream to be at least a mile - though most were concentrated in a narrower "channel"). A large group of about 60 was going by at the start, so there were likely more birds in this initial group that I missed.
Soon after that, a pair of Barred Owls began calling, and then a Merlin appeared out of nowhere, catching dragonflies around the backyard, perching on a snag to eat them (I had my scope out for the nighthawks, so got excellent looks at the falcon's dining habits - crunch down the body, removing wings, or not, as needed). Quickly following the final exit of the Merlin, as if on cue, a porcupine emerged from the woods to graze in the back field. Finally, between 6:35 and 6:50, 32 more nighthawks streamed to the northeast, bringing the grand total to 304.
This is by far the largest nighthawk movement I've seen in Sandwich (this area is NOT known for the big flights seen in Concord, Keene, etc) - single digit counts are pretty much the rule here, with occasional exceptions.
Hopefully Concord, Keene and the other nighthawk count sites fared well tonight!
Date: 9/2/18 12:30 pm From: JM Maher <jeannemariemaher...> Subject: [NHBirds] correction on Nashua Library bird guest
Pam Hunt was kind enough to send a note saying that the bird caught in the Nashua Library (in the photo) was unlikely to be a goshawk . Sorry for any confusion, just was passing on what seemed like (and still does) a fun local story.
Date: 9/2/18 11:22 am From: Charlie Nims <charlie.nims...> Subject: [NHBirds] Dahl WS warblers
This morning, I birded NHA’s Dahl Wildlife Sanctuary (N. Conway) while the overall birding was slow, there was a nice wave of warbler (11 species) highlighted by Tennessee, Canada and Blackpoll. Additionally, of note, the place was crawling with Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds, not only in the abundant Jewelweed but also in wooded areas.
Date: 9/2/18 11:13 am From: Susan Wrisley <swrisley13...> Subject: [NHBirds] Red-necked Phalarope - Across from Odiorne
Not my sighting, this is from Facebook - a Red-necked Phalarope was seen and photographed this morning. The poster says it was "opposite the 1st pull-off south of Odiorne, this morning, all alone, looked like a tiny thing"
Date: 9/2/18 9:28 am From: Jody Williams <fisherwoods...> Subject: [NHBirds] Coffee and warblers
At 9:15-9:45, Jody and I sat on the deck drinking coffee, as a small number of warblers foraged in the Red Oak and the shrubs.
1 Male Black-throated Blue
1 Tennessee (One of yesterday’s mystery birds)
3 Bay-breasted
1 Black-throated Green
1 American Redstart.
Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 16:30:00 Total observation time: 9 hours
Official Counter: Henry Walters
Observers: Chad Witko, Glen & Lori Chretien, Katrina Fenton, Levi Burford, Mike Gebo, Nancy Moreau, Tom Delaney
Visitors: 72 visitors to the site, including a great cast of volunteers. Tom Delaney came up bearing chanterelles and black trumpet mushrooms; Katrina brought brownies; Glen's book of assorted bird trivia told us that the Emperor Penguin has been known to dive for krill and not resurface for as much as 20 minutes. [Shocked pause.] "How do we know it's the same penguin?" Mike asks skeptically. The School of Athens has nothing on this place.
Weather: Calm air, warm temperatures, mildest of picnic weather to kick off the 2018 hawk-watching season at Pack. Overcast until the late afternoon. Haze in the valley restricting visibility somewhat.
Raptor Observations: Migrating raptors were in short supply, but between 10:00 and 2:00 the airspace was busy with summer visitors making last-minute preparations: local broad-wings practiced in some meager thermals; red-tails and red-shoulders chased a raven around; a juvenile goshawk did some lazy calisthenics; and the hawk-watchers fantasized about all the possibilities the season holds: "Is this the year for a gyrfalcon?" "How about a caracara?" "How about a nap?" Eagles, ospreys, and a female harrier pushed through, but most birds were low, unable to find or keep any lift.
Non-raptor Observations: A tight flock of 24 Cedar Waxwings strafed us at such close range, we ducked. Other passers-by included Double-crested Cormorant (6); Northern Flicker; Tree Swallow (7); swallow sp. (3); Ruby-throated Hummingbird (5); Red-breasted Nuthatch (3); Yellow-rumped Warbler (8); American Goldfinch (4). Eight Monarch butterflies also tallied, along with a White Admiral and a Black Swallowtail looking much the worse for wear--lost his tailcoat in a high-stakes poker game somewhere amid the meadowsweet. A good dragonfly day, except for one particular Subarctic Darner which was cannibalized alive by another (mosaic darner sp.) in front of a rapt audience of happy-because-horrified children.
Predictions: Warm and partly sunny, with a southerly flow of air to continue. No big movement of birds expected so early in the season, but come on out to exercise those dormant eye-muscles and meet our full-time seasonal biologist and hawk-counter, Chad Witko. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Henry Walters (<walters.henry...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org
I tallied 204 nighthawks tonight on the Capitol Commons Garage in Concord. I was a little late in getting there and didn't arrive until 6:00 - sorry if anyone came up at 5:30 and found the roof empty. It turned out to be a very fun watch with some close birds right overhead, including several that circled right over me! I watched one kettle of 22 nighthawks acting like raptors, circling up and then heading north. I've personally never seen nighthawks kettle before.
Zeke is planning at least one more watch tomorrow night and maybe more. As always, you're welcome to join.
Date: 9/1/18 3:40 pm From: <jacksonwrxt89...> Subject: [NHBirds] Fall Migrants
I got out today to do some searching for fall migrants and it wasn’t a disappointment. Upon leaving my apartment there were two male CAPE MAY WARBLERS in a Rhododendron right outside the front door of my building. And things just kept rolling from there.
At the Charlestown WTP there was a decent array of shorebirds but nothing crazy.
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowlegs
There was also a rare Sullivan County sighting of Becky Suomala and Zeke Cornell.
Later in the day I also birded at the Ashuelot River Headwaters Forest in Lempster and at the Esther Currier WMA at Low Plain in New London. Today’s final Warbler tally came to:
Black-and-white Warbler
Tennessee Warber - one in Charlestown
Common Yellowthroat
American Redstart - tons
CAPE MAY WARBLER
BAY-BREASTED WARBLER - Lempster
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler - Some seen still feeding fledged young
Canada Warbler
Date: 9/1/18 3:31 pm From: Jody Williams <fisherwoods...> Subject: [NHBirds] Late day migrants, Rumney
Along the Baker River in birch, hornbeam, White Pine, White Ash and maple: Two up close (15 feet) PHILADELPHIA VIREOS chasing each other about. 1 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Bay-breasted Warblers 1 Blackburnian Warbler 1 Black and White Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 2 UFO Warblers that will take more work with the field guides. 4 Song Sparrows. Light went good to bad with angles toward the sun.
Along rte 10 in Lyme: a male Eastern Bluebird wire sitting.
Date: 9/1/18 2:51 pm From: 'Jeff MacQueen' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Isles of Shoals fishing, squirrels
Sorry for the post with no text. I went fishing with my son with Eastman’s.
We anchored off of Appledore. The only birds of note were 5 Northern
Gannets that flew by while we fished. What I did find notable were the
road-killed squirrels from Orford to the coast. On the way back we decided
to count them and we counted 213 road-killed Gray Squirrels from Durham to
Plymouth. Over 130 on the highway from Concord to Plymouth alone. We didnt
count Red Squirrels, although there were also many. Jeff MacQueen. Orford
--
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Date: 9/1/18 2:44 pm From: 'Jeff MacQueen' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Fishing at Isles of Shoals, road killed squirrels on route and back
--
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District, are government records available to the public upon request.
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Date: 9/1/18 8:39 am From: Nancy W <nwilkie2010...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Owl rescue Durham
Terri texted me, thanks so much again. And thanks to Terri and her Husband
Gary for bringing to Jane 😁 It will be in good hands and hopefully all
goes well. 👍🏻
On Sat, Sep 1, 2018 at 11:34 AM Daniel M. Keefe <daniel.keefe...>
wrote:
> Thanks to everyone, owl enroute to Jane.
>
>
> https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6XPJzkmHUomTFpGLVVUM1FCNVlFWUVHbzRVR1ZzRExCN25v/view?usp=drivesdk >
> Alert and looking at me, so hope its ok.
>
>
> On Sat, Sep 1, 2018, 10:31 AM Nancy W <nwilkie2010...> wrote:
>
>> I know we spoke on the phone but just a heads up to all.. help is on the
>> way. Thanks again for the alert.
>>
>> On Sat, Sep 1, 2018 at 9:32 AM Nancy W <nwilkie2010...> wrote:
>>
>>> I will send info as a screen shot to Jane Kelly of On the Wing. She is
>>> located in Epping..
>>>
>>> On Sat, Sep 1, 2018 at 9:21 AM Daniel M. Keefe <daniel.keefe...>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Eastern screech owl in need of assistance. I left voicemail with center
>>>> for wildlife, but anyone near Durham with contacts?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Dan
>>>>
>>>> 603 397 7177
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> 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.
>>>>
>>> --
>>> Nancy Wilkinson
>>> SCC Competition Coordinator
>>> Mobile: 603-312-8751
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Sent from Gmail Mobile
>>>
>> --
>> Nancy Wilkinson
>> SCC Competition Coordinator
>> Mobile: 603-312-8751
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Sent from Gmail Mobile
>>
> --
Nancy Wilkinson
SCC Competition Coordinator
Mobile: 603-312-8751
On Sat, Sep 1, 2018, 10:31 AM Nancy W <nwilkie2010...> wrote:
> I know we spoke on the phone but just a heads up to all.. help is on the > way. Thanks again for the alert. > > On Sat, Sep 1, 2018 at 9:32 AM Nancy W <nwilkie2010...> wrote: > >> I will send info as a screen shot to Jane Kelly of On the Wing. She is >> located in Epping.. >> >> On Sat, Sep 1, 2018 at 9:21 AM Daniel M. Keefe <daniel.keefe...> >> wrote: >> >>> Eastern screech owl in need of assistance. I left voicemail with center >>> for wildlife, but anyone near Durham with contacts? >>> >>> >>> Dan >>> >>> 603 397 7177 >>> >>> -- >>> 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. >>> >> -- >> Nancy Wilkinson >> SCC Competition Coordinator >> Mobile: 603-312-8751 >> >> >> >> >> Sent from Gmail Mobile >> > -- > Nancy Wilkinson > SCC Competition Coordinator > Mobile: 603-312-8751 > > > > > Sent from Gmail Mobile >
Migrant warbler bonanza in Lyman this morning. Think there were probably more individuals.
Sandy and Mark Turner Lyman
---------- Forwarded message --------- From: <ebird-checklist...> Date: Sat, Sep 1, 2018 at 11:19 AM Subject: eBird Report - Lyman Under Mt Rd, Sep 1, 2018 To: <tmsprgrn...>
Lyman Under Mt Rd, Grafton, New Hampshire, US Sep 1, 2018 8:00 AM - 10:05 AM Protocol: Stationary Comments: mainly stationary, watching high-bush cranberry, crab apple trees and mountain ash tree 34 species
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 immature Downy Woodpecker 1 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Pileated Woodpecker 1 Northern Flicker 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee 1 Eastern Phoebe 1 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Red-eyed Vireo 2 Blue Jay 7 Black-capped Chickadee 2 Tufted Titmouse 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 American Robin 25 10 juvenile plumage Cedar Waxwing 5 Purple Finch 2 American Goldfinch 4 Song Sparrow 1 Black-and-white Warbler 1 Nashville Warbler 1 Common Yellowthroat 1 American Redstart 2 Northern Parula 2 Magnolia Warbler 3 Bay-breasted Warbler 1 Blackpoll Warbler 3 Black-throated Blue Warbler 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 Black-throated Green Warbler 2 Wilson's Warbler 2 Scarlet Tanager 1
Date: 9/1/18 7:31 am From: Nancy W <nwilkie2010...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Owl rescue Durham
I know we spoke on the phone but just a heads up to all.. help is on the way. Thanks again for the alert.
On Sat, Sep 1, 2018 at 9:32 AM Nancy W <nwilkie2010...> wrote:
> I will send info as a screen shot to Jane Kelly of On the Wing. She is > located in Epping.. > > On Sat, Sep 1, 2018 at 9:21 AM Daniel M. Keefe <daniel.keefe...> > wrote: > >> Eastern screech owl in need of assistance. I left voicemail with center >> for wildlife, but anyone near Durham with contacts? >> >> >> Dan >> >> 603 397 7177 >> >> -- >> 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. >> > -- > Nancy Wilkinson > SCC Competition Coordinator > Mobile: 603-312-8751 > > > > > Sent from Gmail Mobile > -- Nancy Wilkinson SCC Competition Coordinator Mobile: 603-312-8751
Date: 9/1/18 7:29 am From: Catherine Fisher <catherineckx...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rose-breasted grosbeaks/jewelweed, Lee NH
Abundant rain this summer has meant that jewelweed has been and lush and floriferous. We left quite a few in the yard for foraging hummingbirds and long-tongued bees, for poison ivy remedy, and mostly, because they're beautiful. Now we've discovered another reason to value this native species. This morning, two rose-breasted grosbeaks spent quite a while foraging among them, gobbling down the seed pods as fast as they could nip them off the pedicles. Jewelweed doesn't have strong enough stalks and branches to hold the weight of these birds, but they first culled the low-hanging fruit and then used the sturdier branches of an adjacent fothergilla to lean out and nip off the higher ones. When they'd moved on, an examination of the jewelweed drift showed seedpods remaining only on the upper, hard-to-reach branches.
Date: 9/1/18 6:32 am From: Nancy W <nwilkie2010...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Owl rescue Durham
I will send info as a screen shot to Jane Kelly of On the Wing. She is located in Epping..
On Sat, Sep 1, 2018 at 9:21 AM Daniel M. Keefe <daniel.keefe...> wrote:
> Eastern screech owl in need of assistance. I left voicemail with center > for wildlife, but anyone near Durham with contacts? > > > Dan > > 603 397 7177 > > -- > 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. > -- Nancy Wilkinson SCC Competition Coordinator Mobile: 603-312-8751
Date: 9/1/18 4:07 am From: Jody Williams <fisherwoods...> Subject: [NHBirds] Morning wave
6:30-6:45 AM
Just had a small migrant wave going through the yard trees. While several moved too fast in the gray light, a few sat eating long enough to get on them:
1 Northern Parula
1 Black and White
2 Bay-breasted
1 Chestnut-sided
2 Black-throated Green
4 warbler sp.
1 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER: Briefly teeing up and showing the white patches by the rump… big surprise.
Male hummingbirds are gone, last noted on the 27th.
Date: 8/31/18 4:24 pm From: DEBRA M POWERS <dmp2ec...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] ID help please, Lincoln's Sparrow? Or Song Sparrow?
Thanks so much, First for me then.
Deb
> On August 31, 2018 at 7:16 PM <deanneart...> wrote: > > Lincolns > > Deanne Fortnam > Nashua > > > -----Original Message----- > From: DEBRA M POWERS <dmp2ec...> > To: nhbirds <nhbirds...> > Sent: Fri, Aug 31, 2018 7:14 pm > Subject: [NHBirds] ID help please, Lincoln's Sparrow? Or Song Sparrow? > > Seen at Pickering Ponds today, I think it is a Lincoln's Sparrow due to the markings and colors on the face? But not totally sure. > Thanks so much > Deb Powers-South Berwick Maine > > https://www.flickr.com/photos/143862779@N08/30525935628/in/dateposted-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 the Google Groups "NHBirds" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to nhbirds+<unsubscribe...> mailto:nhbirds+<unsubscribe...> . > To post to this group, send email to <nhbirds...> mailto:<nhbirds...> . > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/nhbirds. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >
Date: 8/31/18 3:06 pm From: Jody Williams <fisherwoods...> Subject: [NHBirds] Last of August
While walking the meadow and yard this afternoon:
2 Bay-breasted Warblers
1 Canada Warbler
1 Black-throated Green Warbler
2 Warbler sp.
1 American Catbird.
1 Northern Flicker
Pretty quiet… but a new crop of mosquitoes was annoying.
Date: 8/31/18 7:58 am From: 'Andrea' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Dickcissel and Red Crossbill - Freedom
We had hopes this morning, with the change of wind direction and lots of activity on the radar last night, that the Freedom Town Forest would finally have an influx of migrant warblers.....but, NOPE! still pretty quiet.....
We had to work for the 15 warbler species we had. And most were in the woods rather than along the airstrip.
But, our best birds were a flyover Dickcissel, traveling southward down the airstrip, and later a single Red Crossbill.
9 Broad-wings were lazily riding the thermals south over our back yard just now. Many of them calling, wonderful to see that many together. Heidi Rogers Alton, NH
Date: 8/31/18 6:08 am From: <placourse55...> Subject: [NHBirds] Exeter Nighthawks and more
Hi everyone,
After only seeing 1 Nighthawk all fall, things changed yesterday(Thursday) evening. While lounging on my deck here in Exeter with a cold brew(a necessary item) I counted 154 Common Nighthawks. The largest flock counted was a high flying group of 42. Also seen heading south were 10 Osprey(unfortunately, a sign of summer soon coming to an end) and 3 Great Blue Herons. Lots of fun!!!!
Date: 8/30/18 4:06 pm From: Mascoma Chapter NH Audubon <mascomabirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Mascoma Chapter Fall Calendar Now Available
We're pleased to announce the online posting of our fall bird watching events.
The first outing is to take place on Saturday, September 15 when Chapter Steering Committee Jeff MacQueen will lead a visit to Orford's Richmond Conservation Land. Get full details on this and other Mascoma Chapter, fall birding opportunities by visiting www.mascomabirds.org
All Mascoma Chapter events are free and open to the public,and we welcome all experience levels.
Date: 8/30/18 3:48 pm From: Barbara Horton <byrder101...> Subject: [NHBirds] Merlin in Whitefield
Took a trip up to Whitefield NH yesterday - my husband's band played at the Mountain View Grand Resort. Alas a bit too hot - 92 and windy - very quiet as far as hearing or seeing any birds or hawks. Noticed a crow in a dead tree and a much smaller bird below. Turned out to be a Merlin. What a nice surprise that was!
Date: 8/30/18 8:19 am From: Stephen Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [NHBirds] Mississippi Kite Nest Summary in NH - 2018
There are still kites in NH, but I suspect they will departing for South
America within a few weeks. This year saw the first confirmed nesting
attempts outside of Newmarket since the Kites were first confirmed
nesting in New Hampshire in 2008.
As far as I know, there were a total of 3 active pairs of kites reported
in New Hampshire this year. Not many "extra" birds were noted, but a
wandering adult in Langdon (!) on 6/8 was extraordinary and a 1st summer
bird was also reported early in the spring in Newmarket. This means
that there were at least 8 individual adult or sub-adult birds reported
this spring/summer in NH. Aside from Langdon, all of the sightings were
near the 3 nesting territories of Newmarket, Durham, and Stratham in
southeastern NH.
DURHAM - This territory was first noted in 2017, but there was little
follow-up and no nest was confirmed; however, it is likely that there
was at least a nest attempt in 2017. This year, the nest was first
discovered on July 24 high in white pine tree in back yard at 71 Madbury
Road in Durham. Thanks to the VERY NICE property owners, the nest was
visited by hordes of birders over the last month and was even shown on
television!! The baby was first reported "branching" at least as early
as August 10th. As of at least August 26 (16 days after leaving nest),
the baby was doing well and still being fed by the parents. I visited
yesterday, 8/29 (19 days after leaving nest), but only conclusively saw
the adult male, and didn't stay too long to search for juvenile or
female. I may have seen the juvenile high in flight, but not certain.
NEWMARKET - This is likely a new nest territory. Following last year's
DISASTER on Huckin's Drive, this may be the surviving female with a new
mate. This year, the nest was first discovered on August 1st, high in
an oak tree in a front yard within a residential neighborhood. Location
kept secret. This baby is the youngest of the three and was first noted
"branching" with weak flight on August 19. I visited yesterday, 8/29
(10 days after leaving nest) and located the baby two houses down (at
least 100 yards) from nest site. Still being fed, and both parents were
seen.
STRATHAM - This territory was first note in 2017, but I couldn't find
the nest. I believe they attempted last year (copulation observed), but
no confirmed nests were found. This year, the nest was first discovered
on August 1st, high in an oak tree in the front yard within a
residential neighborhood. Location kept secret. The young bird was
first noted "branching" with short flights on August 12, and the "baby"
was even seen flying back to the nest and begging to be fed on August 26
(14 days after leaving nest). I visited again yesterday August 29 (17
days after leaving nest) and saw the juvenile making long sustained
flights and chasing flying insects, but also still being fed and
remaining generally within a few hundred yards of the nest site. Both
adults still were seen.
So, it appears we have had a great year for the kites in NH with 3 nests
and 3 fledged young. One from each nest. The only other kites nesting
in New England (that I know of) are in Connecticut where there are
reportedly one or two nest territories.
Date: 8/30/18 7:40 am From: Jane Rice <moultnews...> Subject: [NHBirds] Bald eagles on Stonedam Island
An adult and a juvenile on Tuesday, juvenile repeatedly begging for food and the adult studiously ignoring, but both remained perched on the east side of the island for over 3 hours, until the juvenile finally flew when we swam too close to its tree, or maybe just figured out that begging was not going to work anymore.
Date: 8/30/18 5:44 am From: Tom McShane <tetamcfam...> Subject: [NHBirds] Raptors Thornton
Within a span of 30 minutes,starting at 8am, an Osprey over Mirror Lake(reported in earlier post) then a Cooper's Hawk harassing an immature Red-tailed Hawk just east of the Pemi. Finally an immature Bald Eagle (2nd or 3rd yr) circling over the river drifting south. Love that nice cool wind coming out of the north!
Tom McShane Thornton
Date: 8/30/18 5:04 am From: Tom McShane <tetamcfam...> Subject: [NHBirds] Osprey
Observed an Osprey from my deck in Thornton. It was circling west of the Pemi in the area of Mirror Lake. Lost sight of it when it dropped down behind the ridge toward the lake. Today at 8 am. Tom McShane Thornton
Date: 8/30/18 4:44 am From: Jane Wing <janewing29...> Subject: [NHBirds] Crow w/broken Wing
Hello NHBirders -
There is a crow with a broken wing on the side of the road at the West Hollis Road/Worcester Road intersection in Hollis. Across from Beaver Brook Potanipo Trail entrance.
Would someone maybe have time to get it to a rehab facility?
Neotropic Cormorant seen by Mike Resch and I on its usual perch on the string of orange buoys above the Gorham hydroelectric plant at ~12:45 today. After about ten minutes it slowly slid into the water and reappeared in the still waters just upstream from the buoys. When feeding, it was more often submerged than swimming, and could have easily been overlooked with just a brief scan.
Date: 8/29/18 5:17 pm From: Brian R <reillybj49...> Subject: [NHBirds] 261 Nighthawks this evening in Keene
Better night tonight than last night. Again in Keene along the Ashuelot River at the Green Wagon Farm Stand.
Observed from 6:30 to 7:45.
All of these birds were moving south at a good clip. I didn’t see any just circling to feed or circling back towards the north.
Date: 8/29/18 5:09 pm From: Zeke Cornell <zekecornell...> Subject: [NHBirds] 100 nighthawks In Concord and some birds of prey
This evening was a bit slower with only 100 nighthawks being spotted; the conditions seemed very good, so not sure why the lesser numbers.
In the last ten minutes of the watch, we had a Bald Eagle fly down the river, a Merlin fly directly over our rooftop, and two Peregrines were spotted roosting in a tree right along the Merrimack River. It was a nice way to finish the monitoring...
Date: 8/28/18 11:54 pm From: Joshua Jarvis <menasor77...> Subject: [NHBirds] Where have all the birds gone?
Weird, it seems all of a sudden the birds have mostly vanished the last two weeks. I still have my usual feeder visitors but all the bushes seem devoid of sparrows and warblers. A walk along the Connecticut river last week revealed only a phoebe and the calls of hidden catbirds. Recent sightings (migrating nighthawks on Tuesday of last week in Hinsdale. Three redtail hawks and a turkey vulture in Hinsdale Sunday, possibly hearing a evening grosbeak calling in Richmond Monday but I was in a hurry to get to work and had no time to investigate) have not been too impressive and have been fairly fleeting.
Date: 8/28/18 5:23 pm From: Brian R <reillybj49...> Subject: [NHBirds] 61 Nighthawks in Keene
Between 6:30 and 7:30 tonight I counted 61 Common Nighthawks adjacent to the Ashuelot River at the Green Wagon Farm Stand in Keene. I first observed them flying north to south but several were circling and very actively foraging. I stopped counting when it appeared that they were beginning to circle back from south to north. This is a very small number compared to the most active days of the last few summers here. I’ll try again tomorrow night.
Five of us watched mostly streaming birds (no major feeding frenzies) and a lot were more easily seen with a scope. Three groups in the thirties were the high counts until near the end of the evening, when a group of nearly 100 went from east to west somewhere south of us.
The season total is now 4,156, and we have exceeded last year's count.
Date: 8/28/18 4:55 pm From: Stephen Mirick <smirick...> Subject: [NHBirds] Eastern Mass Hawk Watch Annual Meeting FRIDAY, Sept 7, 7-9 p.m. Public Invited. Keynote Presentation on Northern Goshawk
Posting this for Paul Roberts.
Steve Mirick
Bradford, MA
The 2018 Eastern Mass Hawk Watch annual meeting is Friday Sept. 7 at 7
p.m. The keynote speaker this year is David Brinker, from Maryland’s
Natural Heritage Program, who will be speaking on “The Rise and Fall of
Northern Goshawks in the Central Appalachian Mountains.” Dave has
studied Northern Goshawks for more than forty years. In 1994 he began
monitoring over 100 goshawk nesting attempts in the study area, banding
63 nesting adults and monitoring their winter movements.
The past decade or two have not been kind to the goshawk in the East.
Dave will share with us his insights as to what is happening and why. If
you have any interest in goshawks, you do not want to miss this. (Dave
is also a long-time bander of Saw-what Owls, co-founder of Owlnet, and
more recently a co-founder of Project SNOWstorm, established to better
understand the wintering ecology of Snowy Owls.)
Prior to Dave’s presentation, Paul Roberts will provide a brief update
on hawk migration and population trends in North America, using the
latest reports from the Raptor Population Index (RPI) sponsored in part
by HMANA.
The meeting is free and open to the public (donations accepted). It will
be held September 7 at the air-conditioned Woburn Elks Lodge, 295
Washington Street, Woburn, MA. A social hour with beverages, appetizers
and snacks starts at 6 pm, followed at 7 pm by a brief business meeting
and Paul’s and Dave’s presentations. We’ll also have our famous raffle,
including many raptor and birding items and some fantastic photography.
Join us for a great evening!
For complete information, including driving directions to the location
in Woburn (plenty of free parking), visit the Eastern Mass Hawk Watch
web site at massbird.org/EMHW (An all-new web site with complete
information should be up by Sept. 1) The Woburn location is easy to
reach, just blocks from Rte. 128 and a short distance off Rte 93.
Date: 8/27/18 7:18 pm From: Bob Crowley <crbob...> Subject: [NHBirds] Nighthawks Along the State Line NH/ME
ll down the East side of the Green Hills in NH and across the intervale to the Saco everyone is seeing Nighthawks moving South . They seem to be feeding on a small insect, not a Carpenter Ant. They are very low to the ground, under 50 feet, I have never seen more than 20 in this area in the 30 years we have been here. No way to count them as they were every where low to the ground.
Last night I had about 150 nighthawks flying over my field and off into the woods and back.. Went on from before dusk to whenever. (got too dark to see them). Tonight I counted about 35. They were around the Grater Woods area.
Date: 8/27/18 5:00 pm From: Mark Suomala <mrsuomala...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, August 27, 2018
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, August 27th,
2018.
A NEOTROPIC CORMORANT was photographed on the Androscoggin River in Gorham
on August 2nd, has been seen almost every day since then, and was last
reported on the 27th. The bird has been most commonly seen perched on orange
safety buoys just above the Gorham Hydroelectric Station dam on Power House
Road. This is also the site of the Gorham Transfer Station and there is
signed River Access parking at the entrance, so park here and walk to the
dam.
2 adult SANDHILL CRANES were seen foraging with a juvenile SANDHILL CRANE in
the fields opposite the cemetery along Plains Road in Monroe on August
21st.
A pair of MISSISSIPPI KITES with a chick was seen in a nest near Madbury
Road in Durham on July 26th, and was most recently reported on August 26th.
To try to see the Durham birds, park at the Durham Town Library, walk out to
the road and watch overhead for soaring KITES. Two additional nests, each
with a chick being fed by 2 adult birds, were discovered in Newmarket and
Stratham and were last reported on the 26th.
A DICKCISSEL was reported from Woodmont Orchard in Hollis on August 23rd.
3 CASPIAN TERNS were seen along the coast in North Hampton on August 27th,
and 1 was reported from Hampton Marsh on the 21st.
A BAIRD’S SANDPIPER was seen at the Charlestown Wastewater Treatment Plant
on August 25th and 26th. If visiting the Plant please stay behind the fence,
and do not park along the access road or near the entrance to the road.
There is public parking at the boat launch area at the end of Lower Landing
Road.
A BAIRD’S SANDPIPER was seen on Mount Moosilauke in Benton on August 21st.
A STILT SANDPIPER was seen at the Rochester Wastewater Treatment Plant on
August 24th. The treatment plant is gated and the hours of operation are
7:30-3:00 on weekdays. If you visit, please check in at the office and be
out of the plant by 2:45 so that plant personnel do not have to ask birders
to leave. Do not drive on the dikes and do not block the road. The Trails at
Pickering Ponds, located east of the plant, are not gated, and are always
open during daylight hours.
A MARBLED GODWIT, 2 RED KNOTS, a STILT SANDPIPER, and a LESSER BLACK-BACKED
GULL were seen in Hampton Harbor on August 25th.
3 HUDSONIAN GODWITS were seen in Hampton Marsh on August 24th.
2 WESTERN SANDPIPERS and 3 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were seen at Plaice Cove
in Hampton on August 25th and 26th.
A SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER was seen at Morrill’s Farm in Concord, and 1 was seen
at Horseshoe Pond in Merrimack, both on August 21st.
A juvenile BLACK GUILLEMOT was seen in Hampton Harbor on August 25th.
8 BLUE-WINGED TEAL were seen in Hampton Harbor on August 25th.
An immature LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen in coastal North Hampton on August
24th, 25th, and 26th.
2 LEAST BITTERNS were seen at the Cranberry Ponds located behind the Price
Chopper store in West Lebanon several times in August and was last reported
on the 24th.
A LEAST BITTERN was reported from World End Pond in Salem on the 23rd.
A GREAT EGRET was seen at Copps Pond in Tuftonboro on August 21st.
Several migrating CAPE MAY WARBLERS, BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS, and TENNESEE
WARBLERS were reported from scattered locations during the past week.
Migrating COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were reported from several locations during the
past week, with a high-count of 1,681in Concord on August 24th that
coincided with a large hatch of flying ants. On the 25th, 761 migrating
COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were tallied in Concord.
A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen in Hampton on August 25th.
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: 8/27/18 4:54 pm From: ROBERT SWEET <rgsweet...> Subject: [NHBirds] Hooksett - 71 nighthawks @ 7:30 tonight. One big group, in migration mode not feeding.....
Neotropic Cormorant was on the buoy line at Gorham this morning when we got there about 9:15. Double-crested Cormorant flew in 1/2 hour later, for a good comparison. 2 Great Blue Herons, a couple of Tufted Titmouse and Magnolia, American Redstart female and Chestnut-sided warblers were present, perhaps other warblers behind the leaves.......
Date: 8/27/18 8:18 am From: Mascoma Chapter NH Audubon <mascomabirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Mascoma Chapter Birding Event August 25
A heavy fog enshrouded Campbell Flats early Saturday morning when eleven birders gathered for a Mascoma Chapter bird watching outing.
Group leader George Clark noted that fog presented among the most challenging conditions for birding. Not only does it restrict visibility making visual identification very challenging but the dampness causes the birds to "stay down." Not very encouraging.
Undeterred, the group set off and managed to total a respectable 31 species by the time the walk ended two hours later under slightly less oppressive conditions. The corn field provided good opportunities for viewing bobolinks (16), indigo buntings (6) and song sparrows (7). More were certainly present, but the corn's height limited viewing to the field's perimeter.
Only four warbler species were seen including three common yellowthroat and one each of black and white warbler, chestnut-sided warbler and American redstart.
After concluding at Campbell Flats, a small group of observers went over to "Pompy Flats" where 18 species were recorded in about twenty minutes time. A highlight was two male and female pairs of Baltimore orioles engaged in a territorial squabble. A yellow warbler, streaked breast clearly visible was the stop's only warbler species, and the call note of a rose-breasted grosbeak announced that one was in the area.
Complete eBird lists of the morning's sightings can be viewed using the following links:
Date: 8/27/18 4:14 am From: steph ttlc <steph...> Subject: [NHBirds] Capital Chpt. FT: FALL MIGRATION-FREEDOM TOWN FOREST (9/8)
Field Trip: Fall Migration at Freedom Town Forest
Date: Saturday, September 8, 7:30-11:30
Freedom Town Forest, in the Ossipee Pine Barrens, has proven to be an amazing hotspot for spring and fall migration. Expect a full complement of warblers, along with assorted woodpeckers, flycatchers, vireos, nuthatches, thrushes and sparrows. We'll walk a five-mile loop, up the abandoned air strip and back down Old Pequawket Trail. Amanda Kallenbach and Mark Suomala will co-lead. Meet at the Green Kiosk/Pequawket Trail lot on Ossipee Lake Rd., across the street from Pequawket Trail Rd. Do pack a hat, snacks and bug spray, but please leave pets at home. For directions contact Amanda Kallenbach at <mailto:<amanda.kallenbach...> <amanda.kallenbach...> or 503-964-1805
Saturday evening between 5:30-7:40ish, many nighthawks were flying over our property, the count was 263. Sunday evenings count was 61. They were flying north to south, we live one mile south of Alton Bay, all the nighthawks were coming from the the direction of the Bay. (Winnipesaukee)
Last year's total fall migration count here was 43. Nice to see so many more this year!
Biggest flock was about 30 birds; it was small groups all evening.
Towards dusk we could see Venus, Jupiter (and three moons), Saturn (with a nice angle for viewing the rings), and Mars. The moon rose in a haze that cast it in a reddish hue. It was pretty spectacular, but we had hoped for a clear horizon and a chance to look for Mercury...
The season total for nighthawks is 3002 to this point.
Neotropic Cormorant was still at the Gorham hydro today at 2:30. Glad the couple from Lee were able to see the bird. Good views of the Neotropic with the double-crested Cormorant.
