Mascomabirds.org        

A summary of 2015 bird walks sponsored by the

Mascoma Chapter of the NH Audubon Society.

Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area

Addison, VT

Saturday, November 7

Under partly cloudy skies and with generally good visibility, about 20 participants joined in aMascoma Chapter's annual field trip to Vermont's Champlain Valley.

Numerous Snow Geese, with one estimate of 2500 to 3000, were a special treat. A few Blue Geese were also seen. Near the confluence of Dead Creek and Otter Creak, excellent views were obtained of 2 Hudsonian Godwits, one of which remarkably had only one leg. In that vicinity were also 2 seasonally late Killdeer and a Greater Yellowlegs.

A good variety of diving bird species today included White-winged Scoter, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated and Common Loons, Horned and Red-necked Grebes, and Double-crested Cormorant. One Great Blue Heron was found.

Also seen well were Northern Harrier, an adult Bald Eagle, and Red-tailed Hawks. Of special note was a very white, leucistic, Red-tailed Hawk, which was photographed. Four species of gulls included numerous Bonaparte’s and some Great Black-backed Gulls.

Special thanks go to field trip leader Spencer Hardy, who also compiled the day’s lists for eBird.

Bedell Bridge Bird Walk

Bedell Bridge State Historic Site – NH Rt. 10

Haverhill, NH

Saturday, October 3

Bright, brisk, clear weather provided excellent conditions for an early morning outing at Bedell Bridge State Historic Site in Haverhill, NH. Fourteen birders, some from non-Upper Valley locales that included Peacham, VT and Bath, NH, enjoyed the classic fall weather and emerging autumn foliage colors while tallying 28 different species.

White-throated sparrows (25 observed) and cedar waxwings (35 tallied) were among the most numerous species present, with good numbers of yellow-rumped  warblers (24+/-) and American robins (40+/-) also recorded.

Among the other highlights were a dozen rusty blackbirds and two northern harriers seen at different times in separate locales. Also present was a great blue heron. Two flights of ducks circled rapidly overhead before disappearing over the trees. Based on body-shape, one group almost was certainly mallards the other likely was woods ducks. The speed at which they moved and the fact they only were seen overhead made certain identification nigh impossible.

A rising and steady wind suppressed activity and made observation more difficult as the morning progressed.

Thanks to Blake Allison and George Clark of the Mascoma Chapter Steering Committee for being co-leaders. Blake kept the observation list. A complete summary can be found following this eBird link.

http://ebird.org/ebird/nh/view/checklist?subID=S25281887



Annual Hawk Migration Watch

Lebanon Airport -- Airport Road,

W. Lebanon, NH

Saturday, September 12

About two dozen participants at one time or another joined in Saturday morning’s hawk watch held at the Lebanon Municipal Airport in West Lebanon, NH, and arranged by the Mascoma Chapter of NH Audubon.

At the start, conditions were somewhat foggy. This caused flying birds to, at times, disappear into the fog, Gradually skies cleared, becoming partly cloudy with, occasionally, a wide expanse of blue sky in advance of more clouds moving in from the southwest. For much of the observation time, there was almost no wind. Temperatures were very comfortable.

By late morning, hawks were on the move but, some were at a great distance and hence challenging for identification. Numerous Turkey Vultures were seen early during the watch but disappeared later in the morning. These vultures apparently were flying up from their West Lebanon roost.

Waterbirds included two unidentified flying ducks, believed to be mergansers, and a Double-crested Cormorant flying swiftly southward.

Non-raptorial land birds included numerous American Goldfinches in flight. A flock of European Starlings put on a good display with a number of them molting and showing a mixture of the drab juvenile plumage and the more conspicuous speckled adult plumage of fall.

It was enjoyable to be out to see an early part of the Broad-winged Hawk migration. A full list of species follows below.

Double-crested Cormorant    1
Turkey Vulture  25 (probably an underestimate)
Accipiter, unknown species  1 (probably Sharp-shinned or Cooper’s)
Broad-winged Hawk 14 (7 was the largest number in a single group)
Red-tailed Hawk  1
Unidentified distant hawks  8
Falcon  1 (probably either American Kestrel or Merlin)
Eastern Phoebe 1
Blue Jay  4
Common Raven 2
Gray Catbird  2
European Starling  20
Song Sparrow  2
Northern Cardinal  1
American Goldfinch 22
House Sparrow  2



Norwich Bird Walk

Early Fall Migrants

Saturday, August 15

About 20 participants joined a morning bird walk arranged by the Mascoma Chapter of New Hampshire Audubon. A total of at least 52 species was found with three stops, all in Norwich, VT.

We began at Foley Park by the Ledyard Bridge where among highlights were a kingfisher, four Hooded Mergansers flying by, a singing adult male American Redstart, a Scarlet Tanager, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.

Then we visited the Pompy Flats/Kendall Station Road area, where we found a putative family group of four Green Herons including a juvenile with natal downs still on its head and which perched for many minutes on a utility wire providing us with superb views. Another highlight was an adult Bald Eagle flying majestically upstream over the Connecticut River. In the same area, a Carolina Wren was singing loudly.

After our scheduled ending time at 9:00 a.m., several birders continued with a brief walk along Campbell Flats Road, where highlights included Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, a Common Raven, a calling Veery, a Savannah Sparrow, two Indigo Buntings, a number of Bobolinks, and a sizable flock of Red-winged Blackbirds.

Additionally, this morning the group found Canada Geese, Wood Ducks, a Great Blue Heron, four woodpecker species including Yellow-shafted Flicker, four flycatcher species, five warbler species, Baltimore Oriole, and a Purple Finch. A great morning afield!

Special thanks to coleaders and compilers Sara Eisenhauer and Ed Hack, who repared eBird reports. Access them by using the links below.

Ledyard Bridge/Foley Park:

http://ebird.org/ebird/vt/view/checklist?subID=S24648712

Kendall Station/Pompy Flats:

http://ebird.org/ebird/vt/view/checklist?subID=S24648708

Campbell Flats Road: 

http://ebird.org/ebird/vt/view/checklist?subID=S24670011

Birding River Road 

Hanover to Lyme

Saturday, July 25

Despite very foggy conditions, a dozen participants enjoyed a bird walk along the Connecticut River in Hanover and Lyme, NH. The trip started at Wilson’s Landing in Hanover and continued northward along River Road into Lyme ending at Grant’s Brook.

Despite the restricted visibility imposed by the dense fog along the river, 29 species were counted. Among highlights were several Mallards, a Hooded Merganser, a male Hairy Woodpecker watched foraging at close range, numerous and vocal Eastern Kingbirds, a singing Willow Flycatcher, numerous Gray Catbirds, numerous Cedar Waxwings, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and a loudly singing Indigo Bunting, A few dozen Red-winged Blackbirds also were seen. Other species singing to varied extent included Red-eyed Vireo, American Robin, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, and Swamp Sparrow.

Special thanks to Cathy Hybels for keeping records in the field. 

Thanks to Dartmouth Printing for generously providing space for parking.

List of species observed:
Mallard
Hooded Merganser
Mourning Dove
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Hairy Woodpecker
Willow Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Bank Swallow
Blue Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Black-capped Chickadee
White-Breasted Nuthatch
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Cedar Waxwing
Red-eyed Vireo
Common Yellowthroat
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
American Goldfinch

 Red-breasted nuthatch striking a characteristic pose.

Wayne Benoit -- Manchester, NH 

VT State Farm Prison Grounds

Windsor, VT

Saturday, June 27th

On a fine, late June morning under very comfortable conditions for birding, about 15 participants enjoyed a bird walk arranged by the Mascoma Chapter of New Hampshire Audubon on the grounds of the Windsor (VT) state correctional facility (prison farm).

Birders appreciated hearing vocalizations of Wilson’s Snipe, Willow Flycatchers, and numerous songbirds such as 1)  an unseen winged warbler singing the song of a  Blue-winged Warbler, 2) a Scarlet Tanager, 3) a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 4) two Eastern Towhees, and 5) a Baltimore Oriole. Among many species seen particularly well through spotting scopes were a pair of American Kestrels, Eastern Kingbirds, Cedar Waxwings, Field Sparrows, a brilliant male Indigo Bunting, a male Bobolink, and a colorful male American Goldfinch.

After the formal end of today’s trip, five of the participants heard a singing Northern Parula warbler near the intersection of Weeden Hill and Marton Roads in Windsor.

A full list of the 40 species found this morning can be seen using the link below.

http://ebird.org/ebird/vt/view/checklist?subID=S24067924

Special thanks to Peg Ackerman for keeping the record of today’s sightings by the group and to George Clark for these field notes.

Spring Migrant Birdwalk

Saturday, April 18

George Clark and Gail McPeek led a group of 20 birdwatchers on a spring river excursion, stopping at various points from Wilson's Landing in Hanover to Grant Brook in Lyme.  Along with many Canada Geese and Mallards, we had nice views of Green-winged Teal, American Black Ducks, Hooded and Common Mergansers and a good number of Wood Ducks, including three perched in a tree at Grant Brook.  At least two pair of Belted Kingfishers provided good entertainment.  Other highlights were Killdeer, Louisiana Waterthrush (Lower Slade Brook), Pine Warbler, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet.  A full list of the 36 species seen is below. 

NH Audubon's Mascoma Chapter, The Hanover Conservancy and Upper Valley Land Trust sponsored this annual trip.

Canada Goose
Mallard
Black Duck
Wood Duck
Green-winged Teal
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Killdeer
Belted Kingfisher
Mourning Dove
Rock Pigeon
Eastern Phoebe
Tree Swallow
Swallow (either Bank or Rough-winged)
Pileated Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Hairy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
American Crow
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Pine Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Common Grackle
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch

Woodcock Display Viewing

Tuesday, April 21 and Thursday, April 23

7:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

As is often the case, weather conditions played an important role in this year's pair of woodcock walks. Tuesday evening was chilly but clear. One woodcock was seen displaying and another was heard "peenting" in the distance. On Thursday, weather conditions were less favorable with a very cold temperature and a brief snow shower. No woodcocks were seen or heard.

Co-sponsored with the Kendal Birding Club.

Spring Migratory Waterfowl Field Trip

Saturday, March 21

    8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.   

In the ornithological equivalent of baseball's opening day, the Mascoma Chapter hosted its first birding tour of the season sponsored in conjunction with the VT Center for Ecostudies. Sixteen birders, eager to get out in the field despite winter's lingering grip, recorded a total of 23 species over a three hour period beginning at 8:00 a.m. and traveling south from the Wilder Dam to the end of Connecticut River Rd. opposite the Lebanon landfill.

Along the way were seen six bald eagles, three red-tailed hawks and one ring-billed gull, but the morning's consensus best record was of the four red-winged blackbirds seen at the end of Connecticut River Road. They even did a few trilling calls much to the party's delight. Spring will not be denied.

Click on the eBird links below to see the day's results.

Thanks to George Clark and Chris Rimmer for leading.

Wilder Dam

http://ebird.org/ebird/vt/view/checklist?subID=S22452961

Lyman Point Park

http://ebird.org/ebird/vt/view/checklist?subID=S22453288

Connecticut River Road

http://ebird.org/ebird/vt/view/checklist?subID=S22453595

Mascoma Chapter Annual Wilder Dam Bald Eagle Watch

Saturday, February 14

Eight intrepid birders braved cloudy, cold conditions and a biting south wind blowing straight up the Connecticut to look for eagles at Wilder Dam. They were rewarded for their efforts by locating two adults, perched in pines on the  NH side of the river. about 200 yards downstream from the dam. It was speculated they might be the nesting pair that has been present in the area the previous two years.

Also seen were three Hooded and five Common Mergansers as well 21 Rock Pigeons, the most numerous bird species seen, a Blue Jay, 12 American Crows, two American Robins, and three House Finches.

A full report may be seen at

http://ebird.org/ebird/vt/view/checklist?subID=S22004669





 A bald eagle obligingly posing at Wilder Dam

Wayne Benoit -- Manchester, NH