Recent Birding Events
Norwich Birdwalk – Early Fall Migrants
Saturday, August 18
A heavy fog enshrouded Campbell Flats early Saturday morning when eleven birders gathered for a Mascoma Chapter bird watching outing.
Group leader George Clark noted that fog presented among the most challenging conditions for birding. Not only does it restrict visibility making visual identification very challenging but the dampness causes the birds to "stay down."
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.
After concluding at Campbell Flats, a small group of observers went over to "Pompy Flats" where 18 species were recorded in about twenty minutes time. A highlight was two male and female pairs of Baltimore oriole engaged in a territorial squabble. A yellow warbler, streaked breast clearly visible was the stop's only warbler species, and the call note of a rose-breasted grosbeak announced that one was in the area.
Complete eBird lists of the morning's sightings can be viewed using the following links:
"Campbell Flats"
"Pompy Flats"
Thanks to George Clark, Ed hack and Blake Allison for serving as co-leaders, and thanks to Blake for being the count recorder.
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.
Links to the outing's eBird lists:
Sheridan Printing
Wilson's Landing
Hidden Valley/Wilmot Farm Fields
Hewes Brook
River Road "Village"/Wilder WMA
Grant Brook Outflow
Windsor Grasslands WMA
Saturday, June 16
Marton Road -- Windsor, VT
In Romeo and Juliet's famous balcony scene, Juliet poses the question "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet." Might not that be true of favorite birding sites as well? By a different name would they be any less appealing?
That proposition was tested Saturday, June 16 when the Mascoma Chapter sponsored a birding trip to the Windsor site formerly know as the VT State Prison Farm; now offically renamed the Windsor Grasslands WMA. A new name, yes, but judging by he day's stellar results, different in name only.
Twenty birders assembled at the Marton Road parking area near the head of the road that leads to the former prison's building complex. One salutary change resulting from Vermont Fish and Wildlife taking over the property is that there now is access via the road farther into the grounds affording better views of the adjacent fields.
Fifty-three species were recorded during the two-and-a-half hour hours spent at the site which also included surveys of its orchard and a short segment of Pond Road.
Highlights included a blue-winged warbler seen in the orchard. Perhaps two others were observed as well, but enough details could not be seen to establish firm IDs. A black-billed cuckoo seen in the same vicinity was another plus.
The fields had not been mowed providing good conditions for grassland birds viewing including red-winged blackbirds, bobolinks and six members of the sparrow family; chipping, song, Savannah, field, swamp and eastern towhee.
Concluding at the WMA site, most of the party continued to the wetland/pasture complex at the corner of Hunt and Marton roads. There a Virginia rail made its presence known by vocalizing in response to a pre-recorded call.
Thanks to George Clark, Blake Allison and Ed Hack for co-leading, and thanks to Blake for keeping the count lists. A complete record of the day's activity can be found using the following eBird links.
Windsor Grasslands WMA:
Hunt and Marton Road Site:
Northern Rail Trail Bird Walk
Saturday, June 9
Lebanon, NH
On a most pleasant June morning, 14 participants joined in a bird walk along a Lebanon (NH) section of the Northern Rail Trail in the vicinity of Riverside Drive., as arranged by the Mascoma Chapter of New Hampshire Audubon. Overall, the area birded is suburban with woodlands along the Mascoma River and open field and brushy areas in the Baker'c Crossing Conservation Area, and with residences, businesses, and a few roadways in the vicinity.
We found 31 bird species, all of which might nest in that area. Among hightlights were a Common Merganser female on the river, a molting Broad-winged Hawk providing fine views as it soared nearby overhead in a rising thermal air mass, and a first year (yellowish rather than orange) male American Redstart watched at close range while vigorously singing. A total of nine species of warblers were detected. A full list of species and other details are at
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.
