Mascomabirds.org        

A summary of 2007 bird walks sponsored

by the Mascoma NH Audubon Society.

Bedell Bridge State Park, Haverhill, NH

Saturday, September 29, 8am–11am
Art Mudge, our guide for searching for fall migrants and a variety of sparrows.

Report: After a quiet hour's walk through the morning fog we were rewarded with a sunny and productive second hour walking around the south side of the wooded wetland over the newly harvested cornfields. Highlights included lots of White-Crowned Sparrows, excellent viewing close up and personal of a foraging Sharp-shinned Hawk, and a Bittern who just sat there for his portrait about a quarter of an hour before flying off right over our heads.

Putney Mountain Hawk WatchSaturday, September 15, 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Putney Mountain in Putney, Vt., is one of the better hawk watching sites in New England, particularly during the peak migration of broadwinged hawks. We expect to see several species of hawks, and hope to see hundreds of broadwings. Bring binoculars, sunscreen, a lawn chair, and a lunch.

www.putneyvt.org/hawks/index.php

Cancelled in 2007 due to inclement weather.

Herrick's Cove
Saturday, September 8, 2007, 7:30am - 1pm
Herricks Cove in Bellows Falls is one of the best places to watch birds in the CT River Valley, particularly during fall and spring migration.

An enthusiastic band of birders, undeterred by the heat and threat of thunderstorms, was rewarded with a total of 29 species on a Mascoma Chapter trip to Herrick’s Cove today. Highlights were a juvenile and female pied-billed grebe, wonderful and prolonged views of hunting harriers, and great views of great blue herons, a great egret, and a green heron at Allen Bothers Marsh. Also of interest, after the heat of the morning, was the iced chocolate at Burdicks (Bird-icks?) in Walpole.

Ted Boze and Becky Cook

The complete list:American Robins (flocks), Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Jay, Great Blue Heron'
Chickadee, Cedar Waxwing, Wood Duck, White Breasted Nuthatch, Catbird, Pied-billed Grebe (2), Canada Geese, Song Sparrow, Common Yellow-Throat, Northern Harrier (2),
Downey Woodpecker, Belted Kingfisher, Crow, Eastern Wood Peewee, Goldfinch, Ruby
Throated Hummingbird, Great Egret, Green Heron, Mallards, House Sparrow, Turkey Vultures, Red Tailed Hawk, Starlings, Herring Gulls

Plum Island, MA
Saturday August 4th 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.Plum Island is one of the best places in New England for bird watching, and we always try to go there during the height of shorebird migration. Bring sunscreen, appropriate clothing and a lunch... we'll be back in the late afternoon.

Mark Krenitsky

Local Butterflies
Saturday, July 7, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Birds aren't the only colorful winged critters flying in the summer! We will visit some Upper Valley sites and learn how to find and identify the butterflies that live amoung us in the summer. Bring a lunch, sunscreen and binoculars (close-focusing if at all possible). Group size is limited, so call ahead to reserve your spot!

Report:Mascoma Audubon's butterfly field trip on Saturday had a good showing of both butterflies and participants.
The weather threatened, but the rain didn't begin until we were ending the trip. Despite the intermittent cloudiness, we saw a respectable 24 species of butterflies, and several of us were able to get some photographs. We visited the Wilder substation and the North Hartland Dam entrance dike.
Species List:Cabbage White, Clouded Sulphur, Orange Sulphur, Banded Hairstreak, Eastern Tailed Blue, Spring Azure, Summer Azure, Great-spangled Fritillary, Question Mark, Eastern Comma, Mourning Cloak, Red Admiral, Viceroy, Little Wood Satyr, Common Woodnymph, Monarch, Silver-spotted Skipper, Northern Cloudywing, European Skipper, Tawny-edged Skipper, Long Dash, Delaware Skipper, Hobomok Skipper, Dun Skipper.
Other highlights were a moose at the wetland below the dike, and a cooperative Indigo Bunting at the substation.
Also lots of odonates and Virginia Ctenuchid moths.
Terry Rosenmeier
Mascoma Audubon

Eshqua Bog
Saturday, June 23rd, 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Eshqua Bog is a wonderful place to find orchids and a lovely and unusual ecosystem. The protected area has both the Yellow Ladyslipper, and the Showy Ladyslipper, as well as other bog plants. We may also see some birds!

Mark Krenitsky

Birdathon
Saturday, May 26, 2007 All day Mascoma Chapter of NH Audubon Fundraiser.
Whether in teams or by yourself, on foot/bicycle or by auto, please help the Chapter raise funds to support our youth scholarships.Go to your favorite birding spots and just have fun, but ask others to support you for the day.

Get Ready for 2008


Union Village Dam
Sunday, May 20th, 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Union Village Dam is a great place to go bird watching in the spring. We'll be looking for migrants, butterflies, dragonflies, and anything else interesting. Meet at the JC Penney parking lot at Exit 20 off I-89, at 7:00 a.m.or at Thetford Elementary School at 7:30. We should arrive at the RT 113 entrance parking lot (drive in until you get to a closed gate) by 7:45 am to start our walk.

The Mascoma Chapter held a field trip at Union Village Dam on Sunday, though due to confusion the leader(moi) waited for fellow birders at one end of the park, and the rest of the group met at the *other* end. This unfortunate error had one side effect - pretty good coverage of the park, since we only met after the trip ended. So, a combined trip list yielded 16 species of warblers and 64 species overall, further proof of the wonderful migration that we've had the past week. Highlights: Warblers! Northern Parula, Yellow(many), Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Pine, Bay-breasted(2), Black and White, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's, and Canada. 3 types of vireos: Blue-headed, Red-eyed and Warbling. 3 types of thrushes: Hermit, Wood, and Veery 3 types of sandpipers: Spotted and Solitary Sandpiper, Wilson's Snipe 4 types of flycatchers: E.Kingbird, E. Phoebe, L. Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher 6 types of sparrows: Song, Swamp, Field(2), White-throated, Chipping, and 4 White-crowned Sparrows Plus the usual assortment of brightly colored birds: Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Brown Thrasher, and a Barred Owl. Mark Krenitsky

Pillsbury State Park
Sunday, May 13th, 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Dan Hopkins led a trip to Pillsbury State Park last year, and was impressed enough to do it again this year. It's an interesting place that doesn't get the birder attention it deserves. Meet at the Exxon station on the north side of Exit 16, off of I-89, at 7:00 a.m. Bring bug repellent, and be ready for a bit of a hike.


Sightings:
Yesterday morning (Sunday) the Mascoma Chapter of NH Audubon hosted a hike to Pillsbury State Park in search of spring migrants. The park is not yet open and the entrance is gated at route 31 so we followed roads and trails out to Bear Pond and Bacon Pond. We had some interesting sightings and saw/heard the following: Common Loon Great-blue Heron (sitting on nest at Bear Pond, Canada Geese, Mallard, Great-horned Owl (on an old heron nest at Bear Pond), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Pileated Woodpecker, Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Kingbird (at Bacon Pond), Blue-headed Vireo, Blue Jay, Crows, Tree Swallows, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Tufted Titmouse, Winter Wren, Robin, Bay-breated Warbler (apparently injured since it was walking on the ground next to the trail), Blackburnian Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warble,r Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Ovenbird, American Redstart (female), White-throated Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Juncos, Red-winged Blackbird, American Goldfinch

Herrick's Cove Wildlife Festival
( Mt Ascutney Aububon)

Sunday, May 6th, 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Herrick's Cove is one of the best places to watch birds in the Upper Valley, and the Wildlife Festival is a yearly celebration of our birds. This year, Ted Boze and Becky Cook will lead us to the Festival. We'll join in an early morning bird walk and then spend some time enjoying the birds and the festival. Meet at the JC Penney parking lot at Exit 20 off of I-89, at 6:30 a.m.

Sightings:
Notes: All birds were seen or heard by Kai Reed and/or Taj. Black-throated Green Warbler, Hermit Thrush, and Blue-headed Vireo were reported at Herricks by other birders but we did not see them and therefore did not count them on our list. Number of species: 70 Canada Goose X Wood Duck X American Black Duck X Mallard X Green-winged Teal X Common Goldeneye X Common Merganser X Ruffed Grouse X Double-crested Cormorant X American Bittern X Great Blue Heron X Green Heron X Turkey Vulture X Osprey X Bald Eagle X Northern Harrier X Cooper's Hawk X Red-tailed Hawk X Greater Yellowlegs X Lesser Yellowlegs X Solitary Sandpiper X Wilson's Snipe X Ring-billed Gull X Mourning Dove X Belted Kingfisher X Yellow-bellied Sapsucker X Downy Woodpecker X Northern Flicker X Pileated Woodpecker X Least Flycatcher X Eastern Kingbird X Warbling Vireo X Blue Jay X American Crow X Tree Swallow X Northern Rough-winged Swallow X Bank Swallow X Cliff Swallow X Barn Swallow X Black-capped Chickadee X Tufted Titmouse X White-breasted Nuthatch X Marsh Wren X Ruby-crowned Kinglet X Blue-gray Gnatcatcher X American Robin X Gray Catbird X European Starling X Nashville Warbler X Northern Parula X Yellow Warbler X Yellow-rumped Warbler X Pine Warbler X Palm Warbler X (even numbers of Western and Eastern Palms) Black-and-white Warbler X American Redstart X Northern Waterthrush X Common Yellowthroat X Chipping Sparrow X Savannah Sparrow X Song Sparrow X Swamp Sparrow X White-throated Sparrow X White-crowned Sparrow X Northern Cardinal X Rose-breasted Grosbeak X Red-winged Blackbird X Common Grackle X Brown-headed Cowbird X American Goldfinch X

Wildflower Walk with Sarah Schwaegler at the Plainfield Wildflower Sanctuary

Saturday, May 5th, 10:45 am - 2 pm

Spring isn't just about birds...we await the wildflowers as well. We are delighted to have Sarah Schwaegler as our trip leader.

Sightings:
Blue Cohosh, Wild Ginger, Wood Anemone, Wild Columbine, Hepatica, Early Meadowrue, Dutchman's Breeches, Hairy Solomon's Seal, False Solomon's Seal, Trout Lily, Large-flowered Bellwort, Purple Trillium (many), Wild Oats, Garlic Mustard, Cut-leaved Toothwort, Bloodroot, Early Saxifrage, Miterwort, Foam Flower, Pennsylvania Sedge, Maidenhair Fern, Fragile Fern, Ostrich Fern, Christmas Fern, Marginal Wood Fern.

Warbler Wednesdays - Boston Lot Lake

Every Wednesday in May, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.,

Every Wednesday in May is a Warbler Wednesday to our chapter president, Dan Hopkins. He'll be leading a morning trip to Boston Lot Lake every week, and it should be a good chance to see how migration progresses!

May 2 Sightings:
We had a beautiful spring morning and saw/heard a number of species: Double-crested Cormorant, Canada Geese, Great Blue Herons, Turkey Vultures, Morning Dove, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Flicker, Easter Phoebe, Blue-headed Vireo, Crow, Tree Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Red-Breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglets (lots), Robin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Pine Warbler, White-Throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Brown-headed Cow Bird, American Goldfinch.

May 9 Sightings:
We had a beautiful spring morning and saw/heard the following species:
Double-crested Cormorant, Canada Geese, Mallard, Solitary Sandpiper, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, FLicker, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Crows, Tree Swallow, B-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Blue Jay, Robin, Veery, Gray Catbird, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, White-throat Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Norther Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch

May 16 Sightings:
We had a cloudy, cool spring morning and the rain held off until just after 9 a.m.

Mallard, Sandpiper, Mourning Dove, Pileated Woodpecker, FLicker, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Crows, Tree Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Blue Jay, Robin, Veery, Gray Catbird, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, White-throat Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, 2 Indigo Buntings, Red-winged Blackbird, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch, Grackle, Rock Pidgeon, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Headed Vireo, Scarlet Tananger, Raven, Wood Thrush, Chipping Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird.

May 23 Sightings:
Wood Duck, Mallard, Mourning Dove, Pileated Woodpecker, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Blue Header Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, House Wren, Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Veery, Wood Thrush, American Robin, Grey Catbird, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Green Warble, Pine Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Black and White Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Canada Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Eastern Towhee, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Common Grackle, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch, Solitary Sandpiper. (42 species)

May 30 Sightings:
Double Crested Cormorant,Wood Duck, Mallard (with chicks), Rock Pidgeon, Mourning Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Alder Flycatcher, Phoebe, Eastern Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, House Wren, Winter Wren, Veery, Hermit Thrush, Robin, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-Throated Green Warbler, Pine Warbler, Black and White Warbler, American Restart, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Red-breasted Grosbeak, Common Grackle, Baltimore Oriole, American Goldfinch, Solitary Sandpiper. (36 species)

Plum Island in the Spring!

Sunday, April 29, 7 am - 6 pm

Plum Island is one of the best places in New England to witness spring migration! Meet at the north side of I-89, Exit 16. Bring a lunch and warm layers. It should be great fun, with lots of interesting birds!

Sightings:
The Mascoma chapter of ASNH field trip to Plum Island on Sunday was quite successful, despite the overcast sky, persistent drizzle, and a complete absence of warblers. Highlights were seeing White-faced Ibis in Newbury, MA; a breeding-plumage Ruff at Joppa Flats, a Summer Tanager in Hampton, NH and the Eastern Screech owl in Greenland, NH. Special thanks to Rick Heil for showing us the White-faced Ibis, Ken and Helen Lidstone and family for showing us the Summer Tanager and Leonard Medlock for *telling* us about the Summer Tanager and showing us the
Ruff.


Special thanks from *me* to JoAnn O'Shaughnessy for her networking skills that let us find all those goodies.
Other birds of note at Plum Island and Joppa Flats:
Hundreds of D.C.Cormorants, Glossy Ibis, Mute Swan, Northern Pintail, Gadwall, Green-winged Teal, Bufflehead, R.B. Merganser, Osprey, N.Harrier, American Kestrel, Merlin, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Willet, Least Sandpiper, Common Tern, B.H.Vireo, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Eastern Towhee(lots), Savannah Sparrow




Field Trip: Woodcock Walk

Wednesday, April 18, 7:30 pm - 9 pm

Every year woodcocks prepare for mating season by engaging in ritual display flight. Every year we try to watch them, and most years we succeed! Dress warmly! Meet at the LaSalette Shrine parking lot on Route 4A and we'll carpool to Bog Rd in Enfield.

Contact Mark Krenitsky, 603-863-1068



Ducks on the Connecticut

Saturday, March 31, 7:30am - 4 pm

We will stop at Herrick's Cove between Belows Falls and Springfield VT off Rt 5, and then move south looking for waterfowl migrating up the river corridor. Bring lunch, or plan to grab lunch at Allen Brothers. Meet at the J.C. Penney in West Lebanon at 7:30 am.

Contact Dan Hopkins, 603-443-0155.

Trip Report

We had 9 participants join the Duck Trip along the Connecticut river today. Lots of birds and other birders and great weather for an enjoyable outing. We followed RT 12 from Lebanon NH to Charlestown NH, over to Herricks Cove in Vermont and followed RT 5 north back to Lebanon.

We saw a total of 36 species, including a Greater White-fronted Goose amoung many Canada Geese in a cornfield along Rt 5 in Springfield, VT.

Additional Species: Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Mallard, American Black Duck, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Common Golden-eye, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Turkey Vultures (one seen on a deer carcass), Red-tailed Hawk, Bald Eagle (immature), Turkey, Killdeer, Ring-billed Gull, Rock Dove, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Horned Lark, Tree Swallow, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, Northern Cardinal, Song-Sparrow, Red-winged Black Bird, Common Grackle, American Goldfinch, Snowbunting (possible).



Mascoma Chapter of New Hampshire Audubon

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