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Summer 2019 Calendar

Upcoming Birding Events

Norwich Birdwalk – Early Fall Migrants

Saturday, August 24

7:00 am – 9:30 am

This will be a leisurely excursion up the Connecticut River’s Vermont side to see what waterfowl and land birds might be passing through as they begin their journey south to their wintering grounds.

Starting at Foley Park located at the Norwich end of the Ledyard Bridge, we’ll carpool north along US Route 5. Likely stops include the Ompompanoosuc River Outflow, “Pompy” Flats, Kendall Station and Campbell Flats.

Gather at Dartmouth’s new Lewiston Lot parking area at the Vermont end of the Ledyard Bridge to form carpools.

The trip is free and open to the public and is to be led by Mascoma Chapter Steering Committee members. All skill levels are welcome. Bring binoculars and/or spotting scopes as you prefer. The walking at the various stopping points is level and mostly paved. Wear comfortable shoes. It is advised to bring water and sun screen.



Recent Birding Outings

Birding River Road – Hanover to Lyme

Saturday, July 27

6:30 am – 9:30 a.m.

On a sunny, pleasantly cool, July 27 morning with bits of scattered fog, participants in a bird walk arranged by the Mascoma Chapter of New Hampshire Audubon found more than 50 species along the Connecticut River in Hanover and Lyme, NH. Indications of incipient fall migration were seen in flocks of swallows which included Tree, Bank, and especially Barn Swallows. Eastern Kingbirds were also conspicuous along the route and might also have included migrant birds. Wilson's Landing was a particularly productive site with 30 species found there.

A tagged adult Common Loon in the Connecticut River just north of the Hanover-Lyme town line on the left leg had a blue tag closest to its trunk and a green tag with a white marking farther out on the same leg. We were unable to determine the markings on its right leg so did not gain enough information to identify the individual bird. Among other interesting finds were a well seen Green Heron, a Spotted Sandpiper, 2 unidentified gulls flying southward along the river, a calling Black-billed Cuckoo, Alder and Willow Flycatchers, a Wood Thrush that sang, a well seen Brown Thrasher, 3 Bobolinks, and a singing Scarlet Tanager.

Our thanks to all who participated, and especially coleaders and list-keepers Blake Allison and Susan Tiholiz, and to Tony Thurston and the Sheridan corporation for authorizing parking which enabled us to carpool.

eBird checklists submitted by Blake Allison from this morning are as follows:

Wilson's Landing: https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S58497932

Hidden Valley: https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S58498000

Wilmot Farm Fields: https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S58498214

Hewes Brook: https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S58498445

Wilder Wildlife Management Area:  https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S58498575

Grant Brook:  https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S58498668

Windsor Grasslands WMA    

Saturday, June 22

Windsor, VT

On a splendid June morning, with plenty of sunshine, a pleasant temperature range and a light breeze, participants in a bird walk at the Windsor Grasslands Wildlife Management Area in Windsor, VT, found more than 35 species of birds. Included were a number of species that are uncommon or of localized distribution within the Upper Valley. Among highlights were displaying Wilson's Snipe, a pair of American Kestrels, both Alder and Willow Flycatchers, Eastern Kingbirds, a Brown Thrasher, and Eastern Bluebirds. Among the seven warbler species located were the not often seen locally Blue-winged and Prairie Warblers. Also observed were a Bobolink, an Indigo Bunting, a pair of Eastern Towhees, and several sparrows including Field, Savannah, Song, and Swamp.

Our appreciation goes to all  participants for their help in finding and identifying birds on this walk arranged by the Mascoma Chapter of New Hampshire Audubon. Thanks to trip co-leaders George Clark, Ed Hack, and Susan Tiholiz and special thanks to Susan who kept and filed the eBird field list.

To access the day's counts, click on the following link: https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S57660175

 Common Mergansers at Wilder Dam

Wayne Benoit - Reno, NV

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Recent Birding Outings, cont.



Note: "Warbler Wednesdays" and Feathered Fridays" results can be found under the "2019 Bird Walk Archive" tab by clicking on "May 2019."

Mascoma River Greenway Bird Walk

Saturday, June 8

Lebanon, NH

For the third consecutive year, Mascoma Chapter Steering Committee member Jeff MacQueen led a bird walk along the Mascoma River via the Northern Rail Trail.

This year's trip explored the newly opened (July 21, 2018) Mascoma River Greenway Trail (MRG). This recently paved trail along a former railroad bed offers a great, level, tick-free walk through some nice habitat in residential Lebanon and along the Mascoma River beginning just east of Alice Peck Day Hospital (APD), then traveling westerly to its current terminus near Glen Road and the Miracle Mile.

Under a mostly sunny sky with a light breeze, and the temperature ranging through the 60s, twenty-one participants enjoyed a range of sightings totalling 36 species that provided opportunities to observe several individuals close enough to study their vocalizations.

The broad families of species observed included chimney swifts (two), a great blue heron, a pair of red-tailed hawks and a turkey vulture.

Passerine species seen ranged from insectivores (great-crested flycatcher, wood pewee and red-eyed vireo), to sparrows (chipping, white-throated and song) to six warbler species (ovenbird, black-and-white, common yellowthroat, American redstart, yellow and chestnut-sided).

A complete eBird list of the day's sightings can be seen by clicking on the following link:

https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S57218840

Thanks to Mascoma Chapter Steering Committee members Jeff MacQueen, Susan Tiholiz and George Clark for hosting the event. Special thanks to Susan for keeping the count list.

The walk was co-sponsored by the Mascoma Chapter of NH Audubon and the Mascoma River Local Advisory Committee.



Spring Migrants Bird Walk

Saturday, April 27

Hanover, NH

Conditions were inauspicious, decidedly damp and cool, for the Mascoma Chapter's annual bird walk along the Connecticut River from northern Hanover to Lyme's Grant Brook outfow. Meteorlogically speaking, most strikingly, the group's departure from Wilson's Landing in Hanover was marked by a barrage of small hail bouncing off vehicles and briefly whitening the ground. Most of the time, however, there was merely rain to a greater or lesser extent.

Despite the less than ideal weather conditions, two dozen or so bird species were found by five, hardy walk participants. The Connecticut River and its tributaries were all running high and swiftly due to recent extended rain and spring snow melt. This no doubt accounted for the lower than anticipated waterfowl numbers. Canada geese, wood ducks, mallards, and hooded mergansers were seen, but their counts were low. Two double-crested cormorants were seen winging their way northward along the river.

Non-waterfowl species recorded included two belted kingfishers. While at Wilson's Landing, about two dozen tree Swallows and a barn swallow were circling low over the river; evidently foraging on unseen arthropod prey. Among other spring arrivals encountered this morning were northern flicker, eastern phoebe and American robins. Chipping, song, swamp, and white-throated sparrows were recorded as well as juncos, red-winged blackbirds, and cowbird.

A nice sampling of early migrants was thus a reward for persevering through what might be considered the weather of early spring -- on April 27!
 
Our thanks go to Hanover's Sheridan Corporation for enabling use of their parking lot. Also greatly appreciated was the help provided by co-leader Gail McPeek representing trip co-sponsor The Hanover Conservancy. Mascoma Chapter Steering Committee members George Clark, Blake Allison, and Jeff MacQueen also were on hand. Special thanks to Jeff for submitting eBird lists. Links to those can be found below.


Wilson's Landing                                  https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S55570872

Hidden Valley                                        https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S55485046

Wilmott Farm Fields                                   https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S55485018

Hewes Brook                                                https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S55484989

Grant Brook                                           https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S55484970

Woodcock Walk

Wednesday, April 24

Hanover, NH

Cloudy, damp conditions did not deter ten hopeful and hearty birdwatchers from tramping through fields in hopes of seeing the male, American woodcock's dazzling and wonderous flight display.

There intrepid characters rewarded the faithful with three confirmed sightings and perhaps a fourth.

Led by Mascoma CHapter Steering Committee member George Clark, this woodcock outing was one of the most successful in recent memory.

Thanks to Joanne Norton and the Kendal Birding Club for co-hosting