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May 2017 Walks
RECAPS OF "WARBLER WEDNESDAYS" AND "FEATHERED FRIDAYS" OUTINGS
“Warbler Wednesdays”
Boston Lot Lake -- W. Lebanon, NH
May 31
This past Wednesday's visit to Lebanon's Boston Lot Lake brought our 2017 series of outings there to a close.
Nine birders participated in the final walk, setting off uphill to the lake under cloudy skies with the temperature in the mid-50s
Just thrity-five species were observed during the two-and-a-half hour walk; a clear indication that many species seen earlier in the month have moved on to their breeding grounds while those staying locally have begun the busy task of nesting and rearing this year's young.
The day's highlight was the re-locating and viewing of a yellow-throated vireo nest with both parents observed coming and going. No more than a small, ball of lichens, resting on a thin branch, high up in a maple, the nest was well-observed by all attendees who agreed its very survival in such a precarious circumstance was a true wonder.
The total for this year's five count days was 77 species including 18 different warbler types. Highlights there were a bay-breasted, three blackburnians and a singing Louisiana waterthrush. Of the six likely occurring woodpecker species for our area, all but the red-bellied were observed at one time or another. Four members of the vireo family - Philadelphia, yellow-throated, blue-headed and red-eyed - also were seen.
Thanks to Kathy Thompson, Susan Tiholiz and Blake Allison for leading the May 31st outing, and thanks to Chapter Steering Committee members George Clark and Jeff MacQueen for their help on earlier walks too.
A complete eBird list of this past Wednesday's walk sightings can be found by using the following link:
Thanks to Blake for being the day's recorder.
May 17
It is hard to imagine better conditions for birding than those that almost 30 participants enjoyed at Boston Lot Lake for this week's "Warbler Wednesday." The skies were mostly sunny throughout the walk, the temperature ranged between 5 and 64 degrees, and the humidity was low. Did I mention we had a very good morning of viewing. It started with a view of a bald eagle perched on a snag adjacent to the Connecticut River just north of our meeting area and ended with an impressive count of 50 species including 14 different warblers?
Starting with the warblers, the party notably registered a bay-breasted, a Tennessee and a Nashville. Common yellowthroats were the most numerous warbler (seven) but multiple American redstarts (two) and chestnut-sided warblers (two) also were observed.
Species with significant numbers included gray catbird (seven), least flycatcher (seven), turkey vultures (15) and common grackles (five).
An unexpected sighting was a Philadelphia vireo. eBird challenged the record, but the individual was well seen by three experienced birders.
An eBird list of the morning's records can be viewed by clicking on the following link:
May 10
Unseasonably, cool weather conditions continued to be the weather's defining feature, but that did not suppress the enthusiasm of 23 participants who headed up the Boston Lot Lake access road with high hopes of encountering returning wood warblers, flycatchers and other songbirds. Those expectations were modestly met with a tally of eight warblers, including a Louisiana waterthrush heard calling from the brook near the trailhead, and a pair of least flycatchers seen up at the lake.
Otherwise, the results were less than hoped for. Thirty-eight species were recorded. Among the waterfowl, a highlight was five ring-necked ducks and four bufflehead seen on the lake, well-viewed through spotting scopes.
Song/landbird results were not out of the ordinary for mid-May. In addition to the aforementioned waterthrush, seven yellow-rumped warblers, two American redstarts and a northern parole were among the warbler highlights. Other species seen and/or heard and enjoyed included two, singing brown creepers, two calling red-breasted nuthatches and a pair pileated woodpeckers. Species conspicuous in their absence were indigo buntings, scarlet tanagers, rose-breasted grosbeaks and Baltimore orioles to name a few.
Thanks to the event's co-leaders and Mascoma Chapter Steering Committee members George Clark and Blake Allison, and thanks to Blake for keeping the count, a complete list of which can be found by clicking on the following eBird link. http://ebird.org/ebird/nh/view/checklist/S36744227
May 3
There is something about the first day in a series of one-site birding walks that has all the elements of baseball's opening day. There are memories of years past, excitement that the new season is underway, eager anticipation about what lies ahead and the hope of a successful engagement.
Such were the feelings shared by sixteen birders who turned out May 3 for the Mascoma Chapter's first "Warbler Wednesday" outing. The group was not disappointed by the outcome. Despite mostly cloudy, windy, unseasonably cool temperature readings and a brief sprinkle, a very satisfactory 47 species were recorded.
Among the highlights in waterfowl were seven ring-necked ducks, four bufflehead and a hooded merganser; all seen together in a cove at Boston Lot Lake's northwest corner. Also noteworthy was the presence of three double-crested cormorants. Considerable excitement was produced by one cormorant that descended from great altitude, alternately circling and diving as the wind currents enabled. Then, it finally, gently put down, with considerable aplomb after those most impressive aerobatics.
A circling, calling pair of broad-winged hawks was a highlight in the raptor class.
The song bird list was long. A fortuitous, near end of scouting, side trip to the open, tree-circled, grassy area just below and to the west of the lake produced some welcomed warbler records including blackburnian (three), yellow-rumped (eleven), pine and a black-throated green.
A complete list of the day's records can be accessed on NH eBird by clicking on the following link: http://ebird.org/ebird/nh/view/checklist/S36527161
Thanks to George Clark and Blake Allison for hosting, and thanks to Blake for recording.
“Feathered Fridays”
Union Village Dam Park -- Thetford Center, VT
* Season Summary *
Steady rain on Friday, the 26th brought the "Feathered Fridays" series to a pre-mature close The species count for the month was not as high as had been hoped, only 61, but there some good sightings among that number.
On the May 5 walk, a pair of American bittern were seen at the Mystery Trail wetland. A week later on May 12, the party was treated to clear views of a male, Cape May warbler in dazzling breeding plumage. On the May 19 walk, a red-shouldered hawk circled the area briefly.
Following are accounts for each of the three May outings.
May 19
This past week may have been the high water mark for warbler migration. After seemingly being dammed up by cold, wet conditions, the arrival of more seasonable weather followed by mid-week's mini, record-setting heat seemed to unleash a flurry of feathered activity. Anecdotal evidence talked of warblers moving through in waves.
The Mascoma Chapter's Wednesday and Friday bird walk experience produced support for that supposition. At Boston Lot Lake on Wednesday, fourteen different warbler species were recorded, albeit some were just single individuals. Friday's outing at Union Village Dam Park produced fewer species records, but the numbers of those recorded were, in some cases, quite robust.
Among the warblers seen by the party's 19 participants were, 15 common yellowthroats, ten chestnuts-siders and ten yellow warblers. At least five American redstarts were noted, and there were two singing northern parulas near the trailhead. A bonus was a Louisiana waterthrush heard bravely calling over the rush of the Ompompanoosuc as it passed through the "rapids" at the snow mobile bridge entrance to the "Mystery Trail."
There was a raptor debate regarding whether a bird circling briefly in view was a red-shouldered or broad-winged hawk. The matter was settled decisively when a pair of broad-winged arrived moments after the now confirmed red-shouldered had departed.
Among song birds, the group had fine views of a rose-breasted grosbeak couple, veeries (four) and catbirds (six).
A complete list of the morning's observations can be viewed by clicking on the following eBird link: http://ebird.org/ebird/vt/view/checklist/S36994520
May 12
Surprise! Surprise! A gloriously bright, clear morning with only a slight chill at the start, no rain and a moderate temperature range from 46 to 59 degrees. The birds apparently appreciated the change as much as the sixteen birders who came out for the second in the Mascoma Chapter's May series of "Feathered Fridays" at Union Village Dam Park (UVDP). A very respectable 43 species were tallied.
A clear highlight was a dazzling, male, Cape May warbler in full and brilliant breeding plumage. He was one of ten warbler species recorded on the walk. First of season UVDP warbler sightings included a black-throated-green, one black and white and five chestnut-sided warblers. At the Mystery Trail wetland, an American bittern was seen as well as two least fly catchers, a barn swallow and seven tree swallows. Also recorded were two swamp sparrows. It was thought a Baltimore oriole was heard in the area, but it stopped vocalizing and could not be located to confirm its identity.
Among the thrush family three veeries and two hermit thrushes were seen or heard. Other highlights included a singing brown creeper, two belted kingfishers and two drumming roughed grouse.
There was no shortage of spectacle either. A purposely, flying broad-winged hawk was sighted with a snake dangling from its beak and two crows noisily and aggressively chased a common raven out of their territory.
Thanks to Mascoma Chapter Steering Committee members George Clark and Blake Allison for co-hosting the outing, and thanks to Blake for recording. A complete list of the days observations can be found by clicking on the following eBird link: http://ebird.org/ebird/vt/view/checklist/S36784621
May 5
Under cloudy skies with damp and breezy conditions prevailing, the Mascoma Chapter of NH Audubon hosted the first of four bird walks scheduled for May at Thetford Center's Union Village Dam Park.
Nine birders encountered an interesting, albeit limited, assortment of waterfowl and songbirds. The song bird count likely was suppressed by the cool, damp conditions. For example only three warbler species were encountered, while the only insectivore recorded was an eastern phoebe.
The morning's highlights included two American bittern that flushed from the tall grass at the edge of the "Mystery Trail" wetland and a flock of 40+/- migrating blue jays. Also observed was a pair of hooded mergansers atop one of the wetland's nesting boxes. Both a winter wren and house wren were recorded too.
In the end, 33 species were seen and/or heard. A complete checklist can be accessed on eBird using the following link:
Thanks to George Clark and Blake Allison for co-leading, and thanks to Blake for keeping the species count.
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Upper Valley, NH
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