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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.

Upper Valley, NH
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2018 Bird Walk Archive

Recent Bird Watching Events

Dead Creek WMA

Addison, VT

Saturday, November 3

Cancelled due to poor weather conditions.

Bedell Bridge State Historic Site

Haverhill, NH

Saturday, October 6

Upper Valley birding in early October can be quite exciting as illustrated this morning at Bedell Bridge State Historic Site in Haverhill, NH. With temperatures in the 40s and under overcast skies and a gradually clearing early morning fog, 15 observers on foot found 35 bird species on a bird walk arranged by Mascoma Chapter of New Hampshire Audubon.

Highlights were numerous and included 2 Green-winged Teal, 4 Great Blue Herons, Northern Harriers seen repeatedly, a Red-tailed Hawk holding a squirel and then carrying it in flight, Greater Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Sandpiper, 2 Red=bellied Woodpeckers seen together, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Eastern Bluebirds, Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireo, Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, 12 Pine Siskins in a flock, and Rusty Blackbird.

Thanks to all who participated and especially co-leaders Blake Allison, George Clark and Jeff MacQueen.

Jeff kept records in the field and submitted the eBird report with a full list of species and numbers to be seen at

https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S48980313

Richmond Conservation Land

Orford, NH

Saturday, September 15

Over twenty participants turned out on a foggy morning to explore a few hotspots in the town of Orford. Birding was a bit slow, but the group managed 23 different species of birds at the Richmond Conservation Land, Boat Landing Road and Reed’s Marsh.

Some highlights included nice views of a Belted Kingfisher, Warbling Vireos still singing from a couple of spots, a large flock of Cedar Waxwings and a few species of warblers ( Black-throated Greens, Common Yellowthroats and a Magnolia Warbler seen by several members of the group).

Thanks to George Clark and Blake Allison for co-leading and to Susan Tiholiz for compiling the eBird lists.

Complete eBird lists of the day's sightings can be found by following the links below.

Richmond Conservation Land

https://ebird.org/vt/view/chec klist/S48515411

Boat Landing Road

https://ebird.org/vt/view/ checklist/S48515926

Reed Marsh WMA

https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S48516534

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"

https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S4806878

"Pompy Flats"

https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S4806941

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

https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S47505252

Wilson's Landing

https://ebird.org/vt/shared?subID=UzQ3NDkwOTkz&s=t

Hidden Valley/Wilmot Farm Fields

https://ebird.org/vt/shared?subID=UzQ3NDkxMzc0&s=t

Hewes Brook

https://ebird.org/vt/shared?subID=UzQ3NDkxNTQ2&s=t

River Road "Village"/Wilder WMA

https://ebird.org/vt/shared?subID=UzQ3NDkxODk1&s=t

Grant Brook Outflow

https://ebird.org/vt/shared?subID=UzQ3NDkyNzEw&s=t

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:

https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S46586838

Hunt and Marton Road Site:

https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S46587221

Great Blue Heron

Photo: Wayne Benoit -- Reno, NV

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

https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S46422961

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.

International Migratory Bird Day at

Balch Hill Natural Area

Saturday, May 12

Hanover, NH

In observance of the 100th anniversary of the International Migratory Bird Treaty Act, The Hanover Conservancy and the Mascoma Chapter of NH Audubon teamed up to sponsor a birding outing at Hanover's scenic Balch Hill Natural Area.

Conditions were briskly cool, with the temperature near freezing, when eleven birders set off on the trail leading up to the hill's summit.

A respectable number of species, 35, were observed over the next two-and-a-half hours. Thirteen species of warblers were recorded. Highlights included seeing both a male and female Cape May warbler, a Tennessee warbler and a Nashville warbler. Yellow-rumpeds were the most numerous warbler species on the morning with nine recorded.

Other highlights included both red-breasted (3) and white-breasted (1) nuthatches and a vividly red scarlet tanager.

A complete account of the morning's sighting can be seen by using the following eBird link: https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S45605355

Thanks to The Hanover Conservancy's Gail McPeek, along with Len Reitsma and David Merker, for co-leading. Thanks to the Mascoma Chapter's Blake Allison for compiling the count list

Woodcock Display Walk

Tuesday, April 24

Hanover, NH

Tuesday evening in Hanover, despite a somewhat brisk, gusty breeze, the Mascoma Chapter's annual search for displaying woodcocks was conducted on its anticipated schedule. Under a hazy moon, visible through a largely cloudy sky cover, six participants watched, but mainly listened, as a male performed displays including the remarkable woodcock flights. Two male woodcock were detected at the display field. Other species present included at least one American Robin. which sang for a time before the woodcock show began, and a pair of Canada Geese flying past while the skies were still relatively bright. The field trip was arranged by the Mascoma Chapter of New Hampshire Audubon and the Kendal Bird Club. Thanks to Mascoma Chapter Steerring Committee member George Clark for leading.

Spring Migrant Bird Walk

Saturday, April 21

Hanover, NH

The temperature may have been hovering near 30, and many of the Connecticut River's side bays and impoundments were showing patchy ice covering, but clear skies, a bright sun and the presence of avian migrants held forth the prospect that spring will arrive.

The Mascoma Chapter of NH Audubon, along with co-sponsors the Hanover Conservancy and the Upper Valley Land Trust (UVLT), hosted seventeen birders on a leisurely journey up the Connecticut beginning at Hanover's Wilson's Landing, then making several stops on River Road before finishing at Lyme's Grant Brook.

Forty species were seen over the course of two-and-a-half hours. Highlights among waterfowl were ring-necked ducks (18) and bufflehead (3). At Grant Brook, a juvenile bald eagle was seen flying downriver with a harassing crow in pursuit. Many of the songbird species observed were ones that would not be associated with migration such as dark-eyed juncos, black-capped chickadees, American goldfinches and the now ubiquitous northern cardinal. But sightings of swamp sparrows, eastern phoebes, red-winged blackbirds, common grackles, a pine warbler and yellow-bellied sapsuckers gave assurance that a new season of bird watching was at hand. Complete eBird lists for the day can be found by clicking on the links below.

Thanks to The Hanover Conservancy's Gail McPeek, the UVLT's Kaytee Currie-Huggard and Mascoma Chapter Steering Committee members George Clark, Jeff MacQueen and Blake Allison for being co-leaders. Thanks to Blake for keeping the counts and preparing the eBird reports.

Sheridan Printing/Hanover:

https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S44839254

Wilson's Landing/Hanover:

https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S44797944

River Road/Hanover:

https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S44797929

Hidden Valley/Lyme:

https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S44797921

Wilmot Farm Fields/Lyme:

https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S44797907

Hewes Brook/Lyme:

https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S44797888

River Road "Village"/Lyme:

https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S44797877

Wilder WMA/Lyme:

https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S44797866

Grant Brook Outflow/Lyme:

https://ebird.org/nh/view/checklist/S44797857

Spring Migratory Waterfowl

Saturday, March 24

Norwich, VT

Spirits were high as 23 birders eagerly gathered for the Mascoma Chapter's first birding event of the nascent spring. Even the snowy ground conditions and near freezing temperature could not suppress the assembled crowd's eager anticipation over the prospect of viewing the season's first migrants.

From there the party car pooled north to "Pompy Flats where the Ompompanoosuc River flows into the Connecticut. Most of the flats area was ice covered, but there was enough open water to accommodate six hooded and three common mergansers.

Nearby, across US Route 5, Kendall Station Road proved well worth the visit as the group recorded 27 species. Early arriving common grackles (3) and red-winged blackbirds (7) were noisily making their presence known. A sharp-eyed observer saw over on the Connecticut's New Hampshire side, an adult bald eagle barely visible in a thicket of poplars.

On the river were observed Canada geese (12), mallards (16) and two hooded mergansers. Four sparrow species were recorded including four white-throated, three song, two American tree and ten of the ubiquitous, at least for this season, dark-eyed junco. The day's most numerous species by far was the American goldfinch with 44 counted at Kendall Station.

Complete lists of all the counts can be accessed by using the following links.

Foley Park:

https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S43916996

"Pompy Flats":

https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S43917403

Kendall Station:

https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S43917789

Many thanks to George Clark, Blake Allison and Ed Hack for being trip co-leaders, and a tip of the hat to Blake for keeping the count lists.

Annual Bald Eagle Watch 

Saturday, February 17

Wilder Dam -- Wilder, VT

The first, chapter-sponsored event of the 2018 calendar year took place today at Wilder Dam in Wilder, VT. A dozen birders participated under favorable weather conditions; mostly sunny skies, a light breeze and temperature readings that moved from the mid-20s to the low 30s during the course of the two hour event.

Early arriving participants were immediately rewarded with an adult bald eagle sighting. The bird was on the ice above the dam, mid-river, working on a small carcass. George Clark had no sooner stepped out of his car and set up his scope when he spotted the bird. The eagle remained at the carcass for about ten minutes before flying to the New Hampshire shore where it perched briefly in a tree before flying off done river accompanied by three harassing crows.

Unfortunately, that was the only bald eagle observation for the remaining time at the dam, even though there is a nesting pair nearby. Our bird likely was one of them.

In general it was a quiet morning for sightings. The only waterfowl seen was an adult female merganser swimming in the open water below the dam. The resident rock pigeons numbered 23 this morning. Up at the parking area a male cardinal was heard singing in the adjacent woods, three chickadees were observed feeding in a nearby birch and a white-breasted nuthatch could be heard "whinnying" in the woods. Also seen/heard were three house finches.

A complete eBird list can be seen at:

https://ebird.org/vt/view/checklist/S42890945

Thanks to George Clark and Blake Allison for co-leading. Thanks to Blake for recording the sightings.

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