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Fall 2018 Events Calendar

 Upcoming Birding Outings

Bedell Bridge State Historic Site

Haverhill, NH

Saturday, October 6

7:00 am – 10:00 am



The Bedell Covered Bridge may be long gone, a victim of a violent 1979 windstorm, but the grounds surrounding it offer a diverse array of habitats that always produce some interesting sightings. There are wetlands and hardwood stands as well as active agricultural fields. Last fall’s trip recorded nearly 30 species. Including five woodpecker species and 30 American pipits.

The walk will be co-hosted by members of the Mascoma Chapter’s Steering Committee. People from southern locales wishing to carpool should meet at 7:00 a.m. in the “Park ‘n Ride” lot on the Vermont side of the Ledyard Bridge in Norwich. 

If you decide to drive, in New Hampshire go north on NH Route 10 until you reach the Haverhill Green. A quarter mile farther on the left you'll see Meadow Road. Turn onto it and proceed until you reach the boat launch area. From VT, take I-91 north to Exit 16 (Bradford). At the bottom of the ramp turn right onto VT 25 and follow it east across the Connecticut River into New Hampshire. About a half mile farther on your left you'll see River Road. Turn onto it and proceed north until it joins NH Route 10 just below the Haverhill Green. Pass the Green and look for the Meadow Road sign

The trip is free and open to the public. All experience levels are welcome. The walking is level traveling over a dirt road and lawn-like grassy areas. Bring binoculars and/or spotting scopes as you prefer. Water is recommended. In the event of steady rain, the event will be cancelled.

 

Dead Creek WMA 

Addison, VT

Saturday, November 3

7:00 am – 5:00 pm

Did someone say snow geese? Last year’s visit to this major migratory stop on the Lake Champlain flyway produced a tally of nearly 3000 of the beautiful, white birds. Watchers occasionally were treated to wonderful views of the flock spiraling upward creating spectacular white, cloud-like formations. Depending on conditions, expect to see a variety of waterfowl, raptors and perhaps even late migrating shore birds.

This is an all-day event. Carpoolers will depart at 7:00 a.m. from the “Park ‘n Ride” lot on the Vermont side of the Ledyard Bridge in Norwich. If you decide to drive over in your own vehicle, look for the group around 9:00 a.m. at the "Goose Viewing Stand" on VT Route 17.

The trip is free and open to the public. All experience levels are welcome. The walking is level traveling over paved and dirt roads. Bring binoculars and/or spotting scopes as you prefer. Packing a lunch and water is recommended. In the event of adverse weather conditions the event will be cancelled.

Recent Birding Events



Richmond Conservation Land

Orford, NH

Saturday, September 15



Over twenty participants turned out on a foggy morning to explore a few hotspots in the town of Orford. Birding was a bit slow, but the group managed 23 different species of birds at the Richmond Conservation Land, Boat Landing Road and Reed’s Marsh.

Some highlights included nice views of a Belted Kingfisher, Warbling Vireos still singing from a couple of spots, a large flock of Cedar Waxwings and a few species of warblers ( Black-throated Greens, Common Yellowthroats and a Magnolia Warbler seen by several members of the group).

Thanks to George Clark and Blake Allison for co-leading and to Susan Tiholiz for compiling the eBird lists. 

Complete eBird lists of the day's sightings can be found by following the links below.

Reed Marsh WMA

https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S48516534

Norwich Birdwalk – Early Fall Migrants

Saturday, August 18

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.







A Hooded Merganser Achieving Lift Off Mode

Photo by Wayne Benoit -- Reno, NV

Snow Geese Aloft at Dead Creek WMA in Addison, VT

Photo by Peg Ackerson -- Lyme, NH

Recent Birding Events, cont.

 

Birding River Road – Hanover to Lyme

Saturday, July 28

Less than three hours before the start of this morning's bird walk in Hanover and Lyme, a noisy thunderstorm was still in progress in the region. However, by the time the bird walk began, a predicted "dry slot" had arrived, and the rain had stopped. No rain fell during the bird walk, but water drops were falling off overhead trees and the vegetation under foot was very wet on a humid morning.

On this trip, arranged by the Mascoma Chapter of NH Audubon, ten observers found more than 55 bird species with coverage along NH Route 10 in Hanover and along River Road in Hanover and Lyme.  Among numerous highlights were a Pied-billed Grebe,  46 Turkey Vultures by an East Thetford (VT)  roosting area, an adult Bald Eagle, a Wild Turkey, Willow Flycatchers still calling "Fitz-bew", five species of swallows over the Connecticut River at Wilson's Landing; apparently moving southward,  Overhead Bobolink calls suggested that at least a few of those birds were on the move southward as well.

Also notable were a calling Louisiana Waterthrush heard on the return pass over Lyme's Hewes Brook, a flock of five Eastern Bluebirds, and brightly colored mature male Purple Finches. Species still singing this late in the season included, in part, a Black-billed Cuckoo at Grant Brook in Lyme,  Blue-headed, Warbling, and Red-eyed Vireos, Chestnut-sided Warbler, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat, Scarlet Tanager, and Indigo Bunting. 

A Solitary Sandpiper flying over the Sheridan Printing parking lot in Hanover was unexpected. None had ever been seen previously at that location. The only other shorebird found was a Spotted Sandpiper at Grant Brook in Lyme.  A Merlin perched in a tree by the Hanover Golf Course was a bonus for a few birders to see after the regular trip had ended. 

Thanks go to Sheridan Printing NH for providing parking spaces to enable car-pooling. Special thanks go toGeorge Clark and his three coleaders whose contributions were too numerous and varied to list in full. Susan Tiholiz diligently compiled records in the field and prepared the eBird lists cited below. Kathy Thompson played a major role in field compilation and tabulation of results.. Adam Burnett helped greatly by detecting bird species.



Windsor Grasslands WMA

Saturday, June 16

Marton Road -- Windsor, VT

Northern Rail Trail Bird Walk

Saturday, June 9

Lebanon, NH

Thanks to all who participated,  to Jeff MacQueen for valuable assistance in planning, and special thanks to Susan Tiholiz for coleading, for keeping the list of birds while afield, and for preparing the eBird report cited above.

Co-sponsored by the Mascoma Chapter of NH Audubon and the Mascoma River Local Advisory Committee.



Bedell Bridge Bird Walk

Saturday, May 26

Bedell Bridge State Historic Site

Haverhill, NH

On an overcast, Saturday morning with the temperature ranging through the 70s, Mascoma Chapter of NH Audubon Steering Committee members George Clark and Jef MacQueen led 17 birders around the Bedell Brdige's woodland and wetland complex; habitats where we encountered most of the species we typically get here, plus a few surprises. Blackpoll Warblers were the notable migrants present and we had great looks at several. Some of us also got a glimpse of two Northern Harriers as they flew towards the south from the area. An immature Bald Eagle perched obligingly, twice, and we had good scope views. We had a great opportunity to scrutinize and study vocalizations of Willow and Alder Flycatchers as they called almost simultaneously at one point. We also heard a Yellow-throated Vireo, but could not find it. An American Bittern flew over and gave most of us a quick look.

An impressive count numbering 50+ species was recorded. The eBird list can be observed here: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S46037649. 

Thanks to George Clark and also Adam Burnett for his keen ears and knowledge.