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Mascoma Chapter of NH Audubon

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All Chapter field trips/walks and programs are free and open to the public.

May 2019

“Warbler Wednesdays”

Boston Lot Lake -- Lebanon, NH

May 29

The final walk in the Mascoma Chapter's 2019 "Warbler Wednesdays" series took place under conditions much the same as when the series began on May 1. The weather was cool and damp, albeit the temperature was in the mid-40s and not in the mid-30s as was the case when the first walk was held. Just the same, meteorologically speaking, it seemed as if the needle had scarcely budged.

A dozen people participated and were rewarded with some noteworthy late migration season sightings. An olive-sided flycatcher was seen in the woods adjacent to the access trail on the way up to the lake, and at the lake, a mourning warbler was discovered foraging in some brush near the shore.

In all, 43 species were tallied including three different vireo types; red-eyed, blue-headed and yellow-throated. In addition to the mourning warbler, ten other warblers were recorded including a blackburnian, northern parula (three), American redstart (six) and a black-and-white. A complete eBird list of the day's counts can be found by clicking on the following link: https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S56871573

Thanks to George Clark and Blake Allison for being co-leaders, and thanks to Blake for keeping the eBird count.

May 22

The weather finally turned more clement, and a good morning of birding was enjoyed by the fifteen participants who assembled to take part in the Mascoma Chapter's fourth installment of "Warbler Wednesdays."

It was on the chilly side (48 degrees) and breezy when the group started up the access road to Boston Lot Lake, but the bright, spring sun took the edge off and certainly encouraged a lot of early-morning bird activity. The group tallied 49 species during its three hour stay in the field including a gratifying 15 warbler types.

About 100 yards up from the parking area, the access road passes through a power line cut. There are several flowering crabs at the cut's margins that over the years have proven to be reliable "magnets" for warblers. On the 15th they were not flowering, and no warblers were present. This time they were, and the warblers responded. The group record Nashville, Chestnut-sided, Tennessee, common yellow-throat and magnolia warblers at the site. An indigo bunting, striking to the eye, its iridescent blue plumage vividly shining amongst a backdrop of white crab apple blossoms, was a wonderful bonus.

Other highlights included a pair of adult bald eagles circling the lake. One would later provide drama when it was seen chasing an osprey in hopes of snagging an easy meal. Fortunately, the osprey did not have a catch, and both birds went their separate ways.

Thanks to Blake Allison and Susan Tiholiz for being co-leaders and keeping the eBird counts. A list of the day's records can be viewed by clicking on the following link:

https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S56662625

May 15

Upper Valley Spring Birding - The Endless Bummer

With apologies to documentary film maker Bruce Brown, whose 1966 surfing classic "Endless Summer" tracked the adventures of two young surfers traveling the world in search of "the perfect wave," we make the following assertion. If that film was shot today tracking the Mascoma Chapter's Upper Valley quest for exciting spring migrants, we'd alter the title, and the above subject line says it all.

With today's rained out "Feathered Friday" and the challenging conditions (cloudy and damp with the temperature hovering in the low 40s) at Boston Lot Lake this past Wednesday morning, we continue to experience weather that feels more like early November than mid-May. At least we haven't suffered a reprise of Tuesday's snow.

The outing at Lebanon's Boston Lot Lake may not have taken place under optimal conditions, but the seventeen participants were rewarded with some good highlights among the 42 species observed.

Eleven warbler species were recorded with several of them - black-throated blue (two), black-throated green (three), black and white (three) and overnbird (four) - numbering multiple individuals.

Insect eaters included a least flycatcher, blue-headed vireo and yellow-throated vireo along with 20 tree swallows and five barn swallows. There may have been a couple of northern rough-winged or bank swallows mixed in there, but poor lighting conditions made it hard to pick them out with certainty as they swooped and flitted over the lake's water. An adult bald eagle circling overhead for several minutes was another notable occurrence.

Thanks to George Clark and Blake Allison for being co-leaders, and thanks to Blake for keeping the eBird count that can be seen by clicking on the following link:

https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S56312336

May 8

To paraphrase Willy Nelson, "What a difference a week makes." Prevailing, southerly winds finally steered returning spring and "just passing through" migrants into our realm. Combine that with splendid, early May weather conditions - sunny, clear skies, calm winds and crisp (38 degrees at the start) weather conditions , and you have a formula for a "good day out."

Twenty-two, chomping at the bit birders, enjoyed a very "birdy" morning with 49 species recorded. There were significant reports in several, family categories including eleven warbler species, three different flycatchers (least, great-crested and eastern phoebe) and three thrushes (robin, hermit and veery).

Thanks to Susan Tiholiz, George Clark and Blake Allison for leading. Thanks to Susan and Blake for keeping the eBIrd count.

To access the eBird list, please click on this link: https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S56069510

May 1

The weather gods seem ill-disposed towards Mascoma Chapter birding events of late. Our March event along the Connecticut River's Vermont shore was cancelled due to bad weather. Last Saturday's trip up the river's New Hampshire side could have been cancelled too given that it took place in a steady light rain with a brief shot of hail thrown in for good measure. Our "Warbler Wednesdays" series had an inauspicious start as well. The temperature hovered around 37 degrees at the outset, and there was a decidedly damp, raw-edged quality to the air.

These challenging meteorological circumstances not withstanding, 14 intrepid birders were on hand for the series inaugural recording a total of 30 species.

Some highlights included the continuing pair of ruddy ducks at Wilder's Kilowatt South park viewed from the Boston Lot Lake parking lot on the NH side using George Clark's scope.

Shortly thereafter, up at Boston Lot Lake, a pair of common loons was observed. Also on site were two osprey.

Warbler species present were limited to just two; seven yellow-rumped warblers and a single pine warbler. Insectivores were absent with no phoebes, flycatchers, vireos or swallows counted.

On the way back down to the parking lot, the party was treated to the sight of a pileated woodpecker poking its head out of its nest hole. Back down at the parking area, a bald eagle was observed a considerable ways upriver perched in a white pine.

Thanks to Mascoma Chapter Steering Committee members George Clark and Blake Allison for co-leading, and thanks to Blake for keeping the eBird count list; a copy of which can be seen by clicking on the following link:

https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S55633170

“Feathered Fridays”

Mink Brook Nature Preserve - Hanover, NH

May 31

Finally, a "Feathered Fridays" outing not held tight in the grip of cold, damp weather. Under pleasant conditions - partly sunny, dry, a light breeze and the temperature hovering in the mid-50s, eleven participants recorded 46 species over the course of three different segments explored in Hanover's Mink Brook Nature Preserve.

A clear highlight for the morning was the spotting of a non-vocalizing, black-billed cuckoo perched in a tree near NH Route 10. Another notable sighting was a singing pine warbler fully visible at close (ten feet?) range in a white pine; a bird more often heard than seen.

Full accounts of the morning's sighting can be found following these links:

Mink Brook River Trail:

https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S56934617

Connecticut River Overlook at Mink Brook Point:

https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S56934598

Mink Brook Nature Preserve:

https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S56938255

Thank you to Susan Tiholiz, Kathy Thompson, Larry Morin and Blake Allison for serving as co-leaders. Thanks to Susan for keeping the eBird counts.

May 24

It was "deja vu all over again" for the 15 birders who gathered at Hanover's Mink Brook for the Mascoma Chapter's fourth of the season "Feathered Friday's" outing. It seemed like the meteorological needle had not moved at all since the May 10th event. Never mind that the 17th session was cancelled due to inclement weather.

At today's session, cloudy, damp, breezy conditions prevailed with the temperature resting in the low 50s. On the 10th, it was somewhat cooler, and there was a slight rain, but otherwise the circumstances for both were depressingly familiar.

Upper Valley birders will recognize this weather pattern as all too recognizable for May 2019. The upside, however, is that it has disrupted migration activity resulting in one of the best warbler seasons in recent years. That proved to be this morning's bright spot as the group recorded twelve warbler species including Tennessee (six), magnolia (five), a Cape May and a Canada among others.

The brook's low water level reduced the number of waterfowl seen, although twenty wood ducks were tallied, but the exposed mud flats did result in some good shorebird activity with three solitary and three spotted sandpipers counted.

A complete eBird checklist of the morning's sightings can be found by clicking on the following link: https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S56694408

Thanks to Mascoma Chapter Steering Committee members George Clark, Jeff MacQueen and Blake Allison for being co-leaders; with a tip of the hat to Gail McPeek and Peg Ackerson for their capable assistance. Blake kept the eBird count.

May 17

Trip cancelled due to inclement weather conditions.

May 10

"Neither snow nor rain nor gloom ........."

Ok. There wasn't snow, it was fifteen degrees too warm for that, but there was plenty of rain and gloom. Nonetheless, that did not keep five dedicated birders from heading out along Hanover's Mink Brook in search of returning, spring migrants.

Despite the steady rain, there was a significant presence of wood warblers. The morning's trip ended up with ten warbler records among including blackburnian (two), magnolia (magnolia), black-throated green (one) and black-throated blue (one).

Helping to dispel the gloom was the cheery singing of a carolina wren, two brown creepers and two winter wrens; while a rose-breasted grosbeak's melodious call also helped lift the spirits.

Thanks to Susan Tiholiz for keeping and submitting the eBird lists. Their links appear below.

River Trail (Off Mink Brook), Hanover:

https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S56095088

Mink Brook Point at the Connecticut River

https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S56094955

May 3

The "more like March than May" weather conditions that characterized the Mascoma Chapter's first "Warbler Wednesdays" outing prevailed again as birders gathered for the inaugural, 2019 "Feathered Fridays" event. Indeed, one of the ten intrepid, assembled birders commented as the party set off along Mink Brook, "We should rename this event "Frigid Fridays."

Gray, damp, cold conditions notwithstanding, the sighting of a few returning spring songbirds portended better days to come.

Several notable, new arrivals were recorded over the course of the ensuing two hours. Singing newcomers, heard but not seen, included a hermit thrush, an ovenbird and a brown creeper. Good, close up looks included six spotted sandpiper, a palm warbler, two pine warblers and the season's first, black-throated green warbler seen foraging at ground level along the brook's edge. That circumstance caused George Clark to observe that seeing the bird so low was indicative of the early season scarcity of food in the black-throated green's preferred foraging site well up into the tree canopy.

In all, 34 species were observed. The morning's big show event was an aerial "dogfight" pitting three, persistent American crows against an annoyed bald eagle.

Waterfowl present included Canada geese (eight), mallards (three), a solitary, male wood duck and a collective total of twelve hooded mergansers comprised of smaller clusters strung out along the brook.

Other sightings along the brook included yellow-rumped warblers (five), ruby-crowned kinglets (six), two belted kingfishers and a red-breasted nuthatch. At the Connecticut River overlook, three common mergansers and a double-crested cormorant were observed.

Thanks to George Clark and Blake Allison for being co-leaders, and thanks to Blake for keeping the species count. Complete eBird lists of the morning's observations can be found using the following links.

Mink Brook River Trail:

https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S55728682

Mink Brook Point at the Connecticut River: https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S55729793

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