Mascomabirds.org        

Fall 2019 Calendar

Upcoming Birding Events

Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area

Addison, VT

Saturday, November 2

9:00 a.m.

A fall visit to Addison’s Dead Creek WMA always brings with it the hope of viewing the great spectacle that is the autumn snow geese migration. 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, pulsating, white, cloud-like formations. Depending on conditions, also 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 Dartmouth’s Lewiston Lot on the Norwich side of the Ledyard Bridge. Participants wishing to join the group in Addison should plan to meet around 9:00 a.m. at the “Goose Viewing Area” on VT Route 17, a mile west of Addison Village (Junction Rt. 22A & VT Rt. 17). Please note: as of this posting, Campbrook Road in Bethel, VT was closed due to flood damage.

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.

Contact: mascomabirds@gmail.com

Recent Birding Outings

Bedell Bridge Bird Walk

Saturday, October 5

Bedell Bridge State Historic Site – NH Rt. 10

Haverhill, NH

This morning on a bird walk arranged by the Mascoma Chapter of New Hampshire Audubon, eleven participants found a total of 25 species at Bedell Bridge State Park in Haverhill, NH.

The event started under foggy conditions with the temperature in the 30s. The sky gradually brightened with a bit of warming, and there then seemed to be increased bird activity.

Among the most conspicuous birds during the walk were dozens of Cedar Waxwings and Yellow-rumped Warblers. At one point in the walk, as we were observing waxwings, yellow-rumps, and other species, a Sharp-shinned Hawk suddenly appeared nearby, whereupon the smaller birds quickly disappeared from view in that vicinity, undoubtedly by taking cover in the ample vegetation.

During the walk, woodpeckers were well represented with five species, including two Red-bellied Woodpeckers. Seasonally appropriate migrants seen this morning included a Blue-headed Vireo, numerous White-throated Sparrows, and a Lincoln's Sparrow.

Thanks to all participants for their help. Coleaders this morning were Jeff MacQueen, Blake Allison, and George Clark.

Special thanks to Blake who recorded the counts and prepared the eBird checklist to be found at https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S60372017

Orford's Richmond Conservation Land

Saturday, September 14

With rain threatening, the temperature hovering near 50 degrees and the pungent smell of recently manured hay fields stinging their nostrils, ten birders gathered at Orford's Richmond Conservation Land to searh for fall migrants there and at other locations in town.

The birds were a bit scarce but a few notable observations were made.

As soon as the party disembarked from its vehicles, at the Richmond Conservation Land, it was treated to to the spectacle of a Sharp-shinned Hawk repeatedly chasing crows out a stand of tall, white pines across the road.  A Northern Waterthrush was seen along the edge of the park's wetland area as well as a few expected species. Travelling to Boat Landing Road some observers got a glimpse of a Lincoln’s Sparrow. Overall it was quiet at this spot and even more quiet at Reed’s Marsh WMA.

A few diehards finished at Tullando Farm where we added a few additional species including four Least Sandpipers at the manure lagoon.

Overall, 24 species were tallied which was the same as the total in 2018 on this trip. Slightly better results were achieved in 2017 when 32 species were recorded.

Thanks to George Clark and Blake Allison for co-leading and thanks to Blake for keeping the bird lists. Links to these eBird lists are below.

Richmond Conservation Land
https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S59793442

Orford Boat Landing
https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S59793438

Reed Marsh WMA
https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S59793365

Tullando Dairy Farm
https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S59793341

Norwich Birdwalk – Early Fall Migrants

Saturday, August 24

https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S59220434

"Pompy" Flats                                                           https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S59490382

Campbell Flats                                                    https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S59490390

Birding River Road – Hanover to Lyme

Saturday, July 27

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 WMA:  https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S58498575

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

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."

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

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