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Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area

Saturday, November 5

Addison, VT

With temperatures in the 40s, almost no breeze and occasional breaks of sunshine, more than two dozen birders participated in the Mascoma Chapter's annual journey to Vermont's Lake Champlain Valley with stops that included the Dead Creek WMA and the shores of Lake Champlain.

Following is a partial summary of finds. More complete details can be accessed by clicking on the links at the end of these notes.

With Spencer Hardy leading, more than 45 species were recorded by the group. Highlights for the day were numerous, but Snow Geese, numbering 3700 in one estimate, were a standout attraction.

Among other waterfowl seen were many Green-winged Teal, three species of scoters, Long-tailed Ducks, Common Goldeneyes and Common Merganser. Other waterbirds included Red-throated and Common Loons and Horned and Red-necked Grebes.

Raptors species observed included Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, and a Peregrine Falcon at close range.

Shorebirds, seen at close distances included a remarkable three species of plovers - Black-bellied, Semipalmated, and Killdeer - as well as a White-rumped Sandpiper. The Chimney Point Area's four regularly occurring gull species, Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Bonaparte's Gull and Great Black-Backer Gull, were seen.

Among land species recorded were a Pileated Woodpecker and a Golden-crowned Kinglet. Flocks of Horned Larks and Snow Buntings added to this splendid day of birding.
 
Special thanks go to event leader and list compiler Spencer Hardy.

Dead Creek WMA -- Goose Viewing Area

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32384621

Chimney Point/Lake Champlain Bridge

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32384603

McCuen Slang -- Addison, VT

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32384589

Potash Bay -- Addison, VT

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32384582

Dead Creek WMA -- Brilyea Access

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32384571

Birding the Richmond Conservation Land and Other Orford Sites

Saturday, October 15

NH Rt.10

Orford, NH

Twenty birders started out at the recently acquired Richmond Conservation Land under cold, damp and somewhat foggy conditions that no doubt caused it to be a quiet morning for birds. Highlights at the site included a quick look at a Northern Harrier, a Blue-headed Vireo and over a hundred American Crows flying north along the river.

The next stop  was at Boat Landing Road where observers spotted an accipiter, (likely a Sharp-shinned Hawk), a Golden-crowned Kinglet and lots of Dark-eyed Juncos.

The group finally picked up a little waterfowl diversity at the Reed's Marsh WMA with Mallards, a Hooded Merganser and some Wood Ducks observed. A crow chasing a Red-tailed Hawk was another highlight. 

The last stop was at Tullando Farm where birders had good looks at a perched Peregrine Falcon. Also found were a second-year Bald Eagle and some Common Ravens interested in a cow carcass near the river. More American Crows were seen flowing north, passing the Canada Geese that were flying south out of the Sawyer Brook cornfields where we had seen them earlier.

A total of 31 species were tallied from five spots along the Connecticut River.

Richmond Conservation Land

http://ebird.org/ebird/nh/view/checklist/S32052696

Orford Boat Launch

http://ebird.org/ebird/nh/ view/checklist/S32052691

Reed Marsh WMA

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32084985

Tullando Farm

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S32084992





Annual Hawk Migration Watch

Saturday, September 17

Lebanon Airport -- Airport Road,

W. Lebanon, NH

Saturday morning, under sunny skies, about 30 participants joined in a hawk watch arranged by the Mascoma Chapter of New Hampshire Audubon at the Lebanon (NH) Municipal Airport.

Raptors were the highlight among 16 bird species found. Thie numbers included 35 Turkey Vultures, three Osprey, an adult and an immature Bald Eagle, two Cooper's Hawks, 24 Broad-winged Hawks, seen in two kettles, and three Red-tailed Hawks.

Among other species that were recorded were a Northern Flicker, an Eastern Phoebe, at least ten American Crows, five Common Ravens, seven  Blue Jays, eight Black-capped Chickadees, a White-breasted Nuthatch, 14 European Starlings, a Song Sparrow, and five American Goldfinches.
 
Additional details are available at

http://ebird.org/ebird/nh/view/checklist/S31622996

Norwich Birdwalk – Early Fall Migrants

Saturday, August 20

The Mascoma Chapter's annual August trip upo theVermont side of the Connecticut River drew about 15 participants. More than 45 bird species found during three stops: 1) Ledyard Bridge (Foley Park), 2) "Pompy Flats" and Kendall Station Road, and 3) Campbell Flats Road.

At the outset, temperatures were cool, in the 50s, under moderate fog, but conditions became notably warmer, into the low 70s, as clearing of the fog provided bright blue skies with abundant sunshine.

Waterbirds seen included Green Heron, Wood Duck, Mallard, American Black Duck, and Hooded Merganser. A Turkey Vulture,  juvenile Cooper’s Hawk, and a Broad-winged Hawk were the raptorial kinds of species. A Chimney Swift was sighted from Kendall Station Road.

It was rewarding to find several Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Belted-kingfishers, and five species of woodpeckers. A Least Flycatcher was seen in good light. Eastern Phoebes and Eastern Kingbirds were relatively numerous. Barn Swallows were present under the I-91 bridge and presumably still keeping nests there.

One of the more remarkable sightings of the morning was finding three Blue-gray Gnatcatchers together along Kendalll Station Road. Warblers overall seemed a bit scarce, but there were numerous sightings of American Redstarts. 

The cornfield on Campbell Flats Road yielded Common Yellowthroats, and numbers of Song Sparrows, Indigo Buntings, and Bobolinks.

After this fine morning afield, special thanks is due to co-leaders Sara Eisenhauer, Ed Hack, and Spencer Hardy, Special help has been given by Sara in preparing the eBird report for Ledyard Bridge, and by Spencer in entering eBird reports for the "Pompy Flats" area and Campbell Flats Road.

Ledyard Bridge Area

http://ebird.org/ebird/vt/view/checklist/S31165720

"Pompy Flats"

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31166172

Kendall Station Road

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31166191

Campbell Flats Road

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S31166235


 

Birding River Road – Hanover to Lyme

Saturday, July 23

The Mascoma Chapter's annual, July excursion north along the Connecticut River took place under pleasantly cool and clear conditions from its beginning at Hanover's Wilson Landing to its conclusion in Lyme a few yards north of where Grant Brook flows into the "long river." More than 15 observers tallied 45 species of birds.

Among the birds at Wilson’s Landing were Canada geese, both hooded and common mergansers, a young yellow-bellied sapsucker, at least three northern flickers, a singing willow flycatcher, a few vocalizing kingbirds flying about, a barn swallow, cedar waxwings and two rose-breasted grosbeaks.

Lyme's Hewes Brook Cartop Boat Launch area yielded a double-crested cormorant perched on a snag across the river, a Louisiana waterthrush. a singing pine warbler and a mature male American redstart.

Farther along up at Grant Brook, an unusual find was an occasionally singing marsh wren. Among other species observed were six turkey vultures soaring over Thetford and a belted kingfisher.

The outing concluded just up the road from Grant Brook at the home of long time Mascoma Chapter associates Ann Flood and Hal Swartz. Their numerous feeders brought in several previously unrecorded "finds" including mourning doves, ruby-throated Hummingbirds, a hairy woodpecker, an eastern bluebird, a Baltimore oriole, and two purple finches.

Thanks to Jeff MacQueen for preparing the outing's species lists and an additional note of appreciation to Jeff, George Clark and Blake Allison for co-leading. Kudos to Ann and Hal for their generous and gracious hospitality. Their post-walk reception set a very high bar for future Mascoma Chapter gatherings. We also are grateful to Dartmouth Printing for allowing us to use their parking lot as a gathering spot. 

Here are links to the day's accounts as submitted to eBird.

Wilson's Landing:

 http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30847901

River Road -- Hanover to Lyme:

 http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30847894

Hewes Brook Cartop Boat Launch Area:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30847889

Grant Brook and Environs:

 http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S30848011



VT State Prison Farm and Environs

Windsor, VT

Saturday, June 18

On a sunny, pleasantly cool, morning, 26 participants found a total of 46 bird species during a walk on the Windsor (VT) state prison farm grounds as arranged by the Mascoma Chapter of New Hampshire Audubon.

Highlights included two Northern Harriers, an exceptional species in the Upper Valley during the summer months and one ranked as of statewide Special Concern for conservation in the 2015 Vermont state listing. We urge anyone going to view and/or photograph these birds to do so from a road and not to enter vegetated areas where these birds might possibly nest so as to avoid human disturbance which might result in a nesting failure.

Other noteworthy birds were an American Kestrel, a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird which provided spectacular views, and eight species of warblers including a Blue-winged Warbler and a blue-winged/golden-winged hybrid Brewster’s Warbler. Field, Savannah, and Swamp Sparrows, as well as an Eastern Towhee, were present. Bobolinks, a Scarlet Tanager, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and a Baltimore Oriole added to the morning's enjoyment.

Special thanks go to co-leaders Blake Allison, Sara Eisenhauer, and Ed Hack. Additional thanks to Blake who kept the list and has provided much more detail in an eBird report a:

http://ebird.org/ebird/vt/view/checklist/S30283034


Bedell Covered Bridge State Historic Site

Haverhill, NH

Saturday, May 28th

Thanks to Mascoma Chapter Steering Committee members George Clark, Jeff MacQueen and Blake Allison for jointly leading the walk and to Jeff for compiling the event's sightings.





Woodcock Walks

Hanover, NH

Tuesday, April 19 and Thursday, April 21

After cancelling Tuesday's walk due to inclement weather, the Mascoma Chapter of New Hampshire Audubon and the Kendal Birding Club hosted a modestly successful woodcock outing under more favorable conditions on Thursday, the 21st. Nearly 20 people attended.

Thanks to co-host George Clark for sharing his field observations.

"Thursday weather conditions seemed quite favorable, as was the moonlight illumination.

On Thursday at least one bird (and perhaps a distant second) displayed, and overall the trip was successful in giving participants an introduction to woodcock displays.

We saw the one calling bird on the ground in the usual location on the west side of the field off Goodfellow Road.

That bird shifted his display starting points within the field, rather than coming back near the initial area.

He did not make an extended series of display flights despite a bright moon.

Perhaps, although this is by no means certain, the size of our group and proximity to the usual display area might have “spooked” the bird.

Possibly we’d have done better by remaining more distant, though then having a poorer view."

Thanks to George and Joanne Norton of the Kendall Birding Club fo serving as co-leaders.

Co-sponsored with the Kendal Birding Club

Spring Migrant Birding on River Road

Hanover & Lyme, NH

Saturday, April 16 

Under clear skies and with the temperature ranging through the 30s, about two dozen participants enjoyed Saturday morning’s birding along the Connecticut River from Wilson’s Landing in Hanover northward to Grant Brook in Lyme. At least 40 bird species were found. Among the highlights were six species of ducks (including hooded and common mergansers along with ring-necked and wood ducks), a pied-billed grebe, a kettle of 13 turkey vultures seen over Thetford's hills from Grant Brook, drumming yellow-bellied sapsuckers, a yellow-shafted flicker, eastern phoebes, tree swallows, a singing ruby-crowned kinglet, two hermit thrushes, three trilling pine warblers and two fox sparrows.

Cosponsors of this event were the Mascoma Chapter of New Hampshire Audubon, the Hanover Conservancy and the Upper Valley Land Trust. Thanks to Dartmouth Printing Company for generously providing parking. Special thanks go to trip leader George Clark and coleaders Blake Allison, Doug Brown, Jeff MacQueen, and Gail McPeek. Additional recognition goes to Jeff MacQueen who has provided eBird summaries at

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S28981392

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S28981342

Migratory Waterfowl Along the Connecticut River

Norwich, VT 

Saturday, March 19

The Mascoma Chapter kicked off its 2016 birding season with a trip up the Connecticut River's Vermont side. Nineteen people took part in the expedition that began at Foley Park at the Vermont end of the Ledyard Bridge. From there the group made its way north to stops at Kendall Station Road, "Pompy Flats" and Campbell Flats Road. Weather conditions were challenging. The sky was mostly sunny, and the temperature hovered just below freezing. A stiff northwest breeze created windchill that made it feel even colder.

Twenty-eight species were recorded. Among the highlights were ring-necked ducks and wood ducks seen downriver from the Ledyard Bridge, an adult bald eagle perched in a tree on the New Hampshire side opposite the Ompompanoosuc's outflow into the Connecticut, two killdeer at "Pompy Flats" and a pair of eastern bluebirds near their nesting boxes at the far end of Campbell Flats Road.

Full lists for each stop can be found by clicking on their respective links below.

Foley Park/Ledyard Bridge:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S28429056

Kendall Station Road:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S28429124

"Pompy Flats":

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S28429156

Campbell Flats Road:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S28429178

Thanks to Sara Eisenhauer, Ed Hack, Blake Allison and Scott Johnson for co-leading and to Scott again for recording the observations.

Annual Bald Eagle Watch at Wilder Dam

Wilder, VT

Saturday, February 13

In cold conditions abetted by a flag-snapping wind, about a dozen participants joined in the annual Eagle Watch at Wilder Dam in Wilder, VT, as arranged by the Mascoma Chapter of New Hampshire Audubon. The weather circumstances were not made any better by occasional snow flurries that considerably reduced visibility. Fortunately, there were a few “balmy" interludes  that provided a little sunshine accompanied by a light breeze.

Altogether, the watch provided some of the best viewing of Bald Eagles that participants have experienced in recent years on these February watches. Not only were two adult eagles viewed while perched on both the NH and VT sides of the river, but, more spectacularly, both came flying upstream and for a time soared over the vicinity of the dam, providing great overhead views.

Apart from the two adult eagles, bird numbers were rather limited, including a pair of Common Mergansers, ten Rock Pigeons, and two American Crows.

An eBird summary is available at

http://ebird.org/ebird/vt/view/checklist?subID=S27483335