Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from The New Hampshire Birding List > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Saturday, November 7 at 03:23 PM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Yucatan Wren,©Barry Kent Mackay

7 Nov Robin hanged by fishing line/Tyngsborough but it could be anywhere.. [Chris Sheridan ] 7 Nov Connecticut River, Nov. 7 [Ken Cox ] 07 Nov 7 cackling geese in Ipswich fields, Sat. 11/7 ["Jim Berry" ] 7 Nov Pitcher Mountain hawkwatch today and Pack tomorrow [Lance Tanino ] 7 Nov Greater White-fronted Goose in Rye [] 7 Nov Last minute Monadnock Chapter hawkwatching trips this weekend [Lance Tanino ] 6 Nov Newmarket Vultures (no Black Vulture 11/4, 11/5, 11/6) [Lauren Kras ] 6 Nov Exeter WWTP ["sayoung" ] 6 Nov Ruddy Duck on Massabesic [Cliff Otto ] 6 Nov Pitcher Mtn. hawkwatch [Lance Tanino ] 6 Nov Kingston area ponds for waterfowl survey ["Warren Trested" ] 6 Nov Bald eagle shot ["Stoodley's" ] 6 Nov Re: Random coastal birds [Phil Brown ] 5 Nov Coast today... additions plus Exeter WWP [John Williams ] 5 Nov A few coastal additions [Lauren Kras ] 5 Nov Birding the Coast of NH 11-1-09 ["Peter Manship" ] 05 Nov Random coastal birds [Steve Mirick ] 5 Nov Isles of Shoals CBC - December 20th [Benjamin Griffith ] 5 Nov Re: Juv. Red-necked Grebe Continues Silver Lake/Madison -11/5 ["Bob Crowley" ] 5 Nov Carolina Wren, goffstown [lee hansche ] 5 Nov Coopers Hawk [Lynn Roberge ] 05 Nov Northwood Eagle [LadyMacro ] 05 Nov Spofford Evening Grosbeak and Fox Sparrow ["Kenneth Klapper" ] 5 Nov Juv. Red-necked Grebe Continues Silver Lake/Madison -11/5 [] 4 Nov Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, November 4, 2009 ["Mark Suomala" ] 4 Nov Re: Monadnock Chapter trip to Pack Monadnock tomorrow [Cliff Otto ] 04 Nov HSR: Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory (04 Nov 2009) 42 Raptors [] 4 Nov pine siskins [] 4 Nov Juv. Red-necked Grebe, Mergansers -Silver Lake/Madison 11/4 [] 4 Nov Masabessic white duck guess. [] 4 Nov Masabessic black scoters, buffleheads, mystery white waterfowl? [] 4 Nov Pondicherry Black Scoters ["David Govatski" ] 3 Nov Hanover Merlins, Lyme Am. Tree Sparrows [John Williams ] 4 Nov Re: Newington- Peregrine [] 03 Nov Odds & Ends [Steve Mirick ] 3 Nov Black Vulture - yes AM and PM in Newmarket [Lauren Kras ] 3 Nov reporting banded Gulls [Cliff Otto ] 3 Nov Evening Grosbeaks and Gray Jay in Jefferson ["David Govatski" ] 3 Nov Hollis Rufous hummer... ["Shel Michaels" ] 3 Nov Spotted sandpiper at DWWTP-yes [] 3 Nov Saw-whet owl in Ashland ["Iain MacLeod" ] 3 Nov Monadnock Chapter trip to Pack Monadnock tomorrow [Lance Tanino ] 3 Nov No Subject ["judy flanders" ] 03 Nov Bald Eagle [Ron Cooper ] 03 Nov Fwd: Boreal Forest Presentation 11/4 [] 03 Nov HSR: Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory (02 Nov 2009) 43 Raptors [] 3 Nov Re: Clarification of juv. Red-necked Grebe locale ["Keith Gordon" ] 3 Nov Clarification of juv. Red-necked Grebe locale [] 3 Nov Re: Pitcher Mountain hawkwatch ["Stoodley's" ] 03 Nov Black Vulture - Just flew [Steve Mirick ] 03 Nov Black Vulture in Newmarket - YES [Steve Mirick ] 2 Nov Seacoast Chapter NHA program for 11/11-Project Nighthawk ["Dan Hubbard" ] 2 Nov Re: How many blackbirds? (answer) Part II [] 2 Nov Re: How many blackbirds? (answer) [] 02 Nov How many blackbirds? (answer) [Steve Mirick ] 2 Nov Long-tailed Duck in Concord [] 2 Nov Diving Mallards at Field's Grove, Nashua [Chris Sheridan ] 2 Nov Newington- Peregrine ["Daniel M. Keefe" ] 2 Nov RE: Juvenile Red-necked Grebe- Silver Lake 11/2 ["Kevin Klasman" ] 2 Nov Juvenile Red-necked Grebe- Silver Lake 11/2 [] 2 Nov Re: David Sibley in Portsmouth tonight at 7 pm ["Katie Towler" ] 02 Nov Black Vulture in Newmarket [Steve Mirick ] 2 Nov coast and exeter highlights- no murre [lee hansche ] 2 Nov Peregrine, Goshawk, Powdermill Pond, Snow bunting photos [Don and Lillian Stokes ] 2 Nov Pitcher Mountain hawkwatch [Lance Tanino ] 2 Nov Snow Buntings- Concord and Webstah [] 2 Nov longspur on Capital trip [] 02 Nov HSR: Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory (31 Oct 2009) Raptors [] 02 Nov HSR: Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory (30 Oct 2009) 2 Raptors [] 2 Nov (no subject) [] 2 Nov Eurasian Wigeon - yes [] 2 Nov 1st year male King Eider [] 1 Nov Weekend report from southern NH ["Kevin Klasman" ] 01 Nov How many blackbirds? [Steve Mirick ] 01 Nov BBC Trip to NH Coast (Eurasian Wigeon, Common Murre, RIVER OF BLACKBIRDS) [Steve Mirick ] 01 Nov Tom Carrolan's blog on hawks ["Jim Berry" ] Subject: Robin hanged by fishing line/Tyngsborough but it could be anywhere.. From: Chris Sheridan <cmsbirds AT comcast.net> Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 21:20:31 +0000 (UTC) I stopped by Flint's Pond in Tyngsborough this morning where I'd seen some Grebes diving yesterday, hoping for better looks. (I wasn't sure what grebes they were; they were too far out.) I didn't see any grebes, but I did see this: a beautiful, healthy looking American Robin hanging by its neck from a noose of fishing line. (Graphic photo warning) www.pbase.com/cmsbirds/image/119140506 www.pbase.com/cmsbirds/image/119140549 In this case, the line had (ironically) also been incorporated into a Robin's nest, along with lots of other human-produced junk. www.pbase.com/cmsbirds/image/119140557 I've often seen fishing line used in bird's nests and wondered how (or if) the babies survived. Googling for biodegradable fishing line seems to turn up mostly products that degrade in five years, long enough to do a lot of damage. I wonder if there are programs Mass/NH to educate anglers about the danger to birds and other wildlife? I know I've seen monofilament collection boxes at Great Meadows. It would seem impossible to cover every fishing spot, so education seems to be key.... Chris Sheridan cmsbirds at comcast net Nashua NH Subject: Connecticut River, Nov. 7 From: Ken Cox <kencox5 AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 15:38:23 -0500 This morning (0830-1130) I checked out several Vermont locations along the Connecticut River between Springfield and Bellows Falls. Overall it was slow birding with a couple exceptions. The highlight of the morning was a late Greater Yellowlegs at Herrick's Cove. Total species: 14. Hoyt's Landing/White's Cove, Springfield. - Hooded Merganser 41 - Common Merganser 14 - Blue Jay 2 - American Crow 3 Roundee's Cove, Rockingham: nothing! Herrick's Cove, Rockingham. Spoke with one of a pair duck hunters coming off the water, who had seen several Wood Ducks, a Mallard, and a Green-winged Teal. He said, it was tough hunting because without any wind when the ducks flushed the flew high out of shot range. So, I assumed they were leaving with empty bags. - Mallard 3 - Greater Yellowlegs 1 - Blue Jay 2 - Common Crow 3 - Black-capped Chickadee 3 - White-breasted Nuthatch 3 - American Goldfinch 2 Lower Williams River, Rockingham. - Great Blue Heron 1 Albee's Cove, Bellows Falls. - Common Merganser 4 Minard's Pond, Bellows Falls. - Canada Goose 130 - American Black Duck 11 - Mallard 11 - Ring-necked Duck 6 - Hooded Merganser 4 - Common Merganser 1 - American Crow 4 - Dark-eyed Junco 20+ - American Goldfinch 6 TransCanada Hydro Station tailwater, Bellows Falls. - Hooded Merganser 5 - Common Merganser 1 --- Kenneth Cox South Reading, VT http://northernwingsbirder.blogspot.com/ Subject: 7 cackling geese in Ipswich fields, Sat. 11/7 From: "Jim Berry" <jim.berry3 AT verizon.net> Date: Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:28:34 -0500 Many thanks to Tom Wetmore for calling Doug Chickering to get the word out on an impossible number of cackling geese this morning. I thought Tom and Nancy might have been smoking something funny, but when I drove down 133 in Ipswich this morning about 1115, there they were with the usual flock of Canadas (550-600), this time in the field along 133 (Essex Rd.) that is closest to Northgate Rd. (On 133 you now have to pull off on the south side of the road, away from the pastures, because of the utterly superfluous curbing the state/town installed on the north side of the road, presumably to protect the "sidewalk to nowhere" that was also installed. Progress is a relative term.) The seven dwarfs were easy enough to pick out from their huge cousins, and, as on PI, they were together--almost. At first, one of them (Grumpy?) was separate from the others and grazing while they were resting. Eventually they got together and all grazed. One of them--I wish I knew whether it was the one that had been by itself--showed the thin white band I mentioned last week that divides the black collar from the dingier white of the breast. I couldn't see this on the others, though all 7 were the same size, about half that of the Canadas, and all had tiny bills, short necks, and rounder heads, sometimes appearing a bit squared off at the back of the head. I mention this slight (apparent) difference because while one bird has been here a few days, the other six apparently arrived at PI yesterday and followed the crowd to the Ipswich fields this morning. (The south end of PI, from the old polio camp to Sandy Point, is also in Ipswich.) My guess is that the earlier bird may have been the separate one, and also probably the one with the noticeable white band just above the breast. Most cackling geese that show up in this area have been determined to be of the hutchinsii race ("Richardson's goose"), but the white band could signify that the first bird is of the race leucopareia from the Aleutians, which I have seen on St. Paul in the Pribilofs. (These two races are the same size, per Madge and Burn 1988.) Those authors mention this white band as a trademark for leucopareia and do not mention it for hutchinsii. HOWEVER, Sibley (2000) and the 06 NGS guide show leucopareia as having a darker breast than these 7 birds, which all have pale breasts. So perhaps they are all Richardon's. Maybe if we get enough good close photos the subspecies can be worked out. I could not see any white bands in Nancy's photos, nor could I see any through the scope on the six new birds. Jim Berry Ipswich, Mass. jim.berry3 AT verizon.net Subject: Pitcher Mountain hawkwatch today and Pack tomorrow From: Lance Tanino <lancemanu808 AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 15:14:13 -0500 Today, Tom Baillio from MA and Wendy Ward from Keene joined me up at Pitcher Mountain for some hawkwatching. A total of 4.5 hours were spent starting at 9:30am and ending at 2pm. Bald Eagle - 4; 2 were migrating between 9:30 and 10am; another two were non-migrants Unknown Eagle - 1; possible Golden Eagle with golden back but didn't get a good enough look as it disappeared behind a hill and never seen again. Red-tailed Hawk - 12 Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 Join us at Pack Monadnock tomorrow. Meet at the gate if you want to drive up at 9:45am. We'll probably stay until 2pm-ish. Lance Tanino Keene, NH Subject: Greater White-fronted Goose in Rye From: bgriffith AT gmail.com Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 13:27:28 +0000 Steve Mirick found a young Greater White-fronted Goose at the golf course on Fairway Ave in Rye this morning. It is associating with 44 Canada Geese. Ben Griffith and Lauren Kras On location in Rye Subject: Last minute Monadnock Chapter hawkwatching trips this weekend From: Lance Tanino <lancemanu808 AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 08:25:59 -0500 Apologies for the sending this out so late. November hawkwatching this weekend: Saturday - Pitcher Mountain (Route 123 in Stoddard) at 10am Sunday - Pack Monadnock (Miller State Park); hike up or meet at 9:45am at the gate if you want to drive up because the gate will be closed once we head up the road. The forecast is southerly winds (not great for raptors) and sunny (great for us). Lance Tanino Keene, NH lancemanu808 AT gmail.com Subject: Newmarket Vultures (no Black Vulture 11/4, 11/5, 11/6) From: Lauren Kras <lauren.kras AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 19:45:43 -0500 This afternoon I spent some time watching the Turkey Vultures in Newmarket hoping to stumble into the Black Vulture again and snap some photos. I did NOT find the Black Vulture but did observe 30+ Turkey Vultures hanging around. I've updated my "Vulture Map" to show the patterns and some of my thoughts: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=116726294347820862610.0004777f101b8c251b178&ll=43.083025,-70.935931&spn=0.015421,0.028324&t=h&z=15 It seems that the Vultures "stage" in a variety of trees before settling down. The staging activity began around 2pm and the first vulture entered the roost (off the end of Nichols) at 3:30 today. Birds were seen coming into the roost until 4:30. A few birds LEFT and headed low over the trees along the powerline to the north, but most stayed put. There was no mass exit of the roost tonight, yesterday, or the day before for that matter. Who knows what these birds are doing, or if they have multiple roosts etc. Perhaps they have multiple roosts and multiple staging sites and birds from any of the staging sites can end up in any of the roosts? Maybe some birds get pushed out and go to a secondary roost? I have no idea. However, it does seem that they have shown loyalty to a few sites and trees in staging and roosting. Also, when they do fly in the evening it doesn't seem that they ever fly very far. Checking off of Bass st. may be more productive than the areas checked the past 3 nights off Nichols and Beech as no one has seemed to have any luck there... Has anyone tried off of Bass yet? I couldn't figure out how to get over there tonight but it may worth checking (its off of River St., which is off of Beech St. Lauren Kras Dover, NH Subject: Exeter WWTP From: "sayoung" <sayoung AT metrocast.net> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 19:36:06 -0500 Of note during a quick tour of the ponds this morning: 7 Am Widgets, 5 Lesser Scaup, 2 Ruddies , Northern Shoveler, Iceland Gull , a few American Tree Sparrows and a Solitary Medlock. Scott Young/Strafford Subject: Ruddy Duck on Massabesic From: Cliff Otto <ottoc.bb.etc AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 16:14:33 -0500 I spotted a female Ruddy Duck this afternoon on Lake Massabesic while I was checking for the two banded Ring-billed Gulls I saw a couple of days ago (at least one of which was still there). Cliff Otto Manchester Subject: Pitcher Mtn. hawkwatch From: Lance Tanino <lancemanu808 AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 16:13:19 -0500 Today I arrived at Pitcher Mountain at 10am and was later joined by Ken Klapper. Bald Eagle 1 adult Red-tailed Hawk 21 Herring Gull (American) 16 American Crow 2 Common Raven 10 Evening Grosbeak 2 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Lance Tanino Keene, NH Subject: Kingston area ponds for waterfowl survey From: "Warren Trested" <wtrested AT comcast.net> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 16:06:30 -0500 Check of Powwow Pond for the NH Audubon waterfowl survey today by Dennis Skillman and myself resulted in the following: Mallard 13 Pied-billed Grebe 5 American Coot 10 Ring-billed Gull 1 Warren Trested Hampstead Subject: Bald eagle shot From: "Stoodley's" <brandybrk AT tds.net> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 13:21:36 -0500 News from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department > Phone: (603) 271-3211 > Email: info AT wildlife.nh.gov > For information and online licenses, visit http://www.wildnh.com > > * * * * * * * > > PHOTO AVAILABLE at http://www.fws.gov/northeast > > News media: for further information, contact > Diana Weaver 413-253-8329 (USF&WS) > Lt. Robert Bryant 603-271-3361 (NHF&G) > > Nov. 6, 2009 > > BALD EAGLE SHOT IN MILLSFIELD, N.H. > REWARD OFFERED FOR INFORMATION ABOUT SHOOTING > > Officials are seeking information to aid an investigation into the shooting of a juvenile bald eagle off the Millsfield Loop Road in Wildlife Management Area B, in Millsfield, northern New Hampshire, on or about October 22, 2009. > > Anyone with information should call the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department Operation Game Thief 24-hour hotline at: 1-800-344-4262, or report online anytime at http://www.HuntNH.com/OGT. Callers may remain anonymous. > > New Hampshire Fish and Game Departments conservation officers and special agents of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are conducting a joint investigation into the incident. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a reward of up to $2,500 to the person or people who provide information leading to a conviction under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. > > Local sportsmen discovered the injured bald eagle and notified the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. A licensed wildlife rehabilitator is caring for the eagle. Examination of the eagle revealed it had been shot with a shotgun and sustained a fractured wing and other injuries. A veterinarian expects the wing will heal well enough for the eagle to fly again and for it eventually to be released into the wild. The New Hampshire moose and small game hunting seasons were open at the time the eagle was found. > > In addition to the Eagle Act, state laws and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act protect bald eagles. Until 2007, bald eagles were also protected under the Endangered Species Act. > > The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and a trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals, and commitment to public service. For more information about our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov . > > New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the states fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats. Visit http://www.wildnh.com . > > -USFWS/NHFG- Subject: Re: Random coastal birds From: Phil Brown <downtownpab AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 10:11:18 -0800 (PST) I had a few different birds from the coast/Great Bay on Wednesday, 11/4. Ragged Neck: White-rumps - 11 Semipalmated plover - 3 Black-bellied plover - 3 Dunlin - 1 Sanderling - 40 American pipit - 4 Snow bunting - 6 Little River WS: Peregrine falcon - 1 Am black duck - 12 Greater yellowlegs - 4 North Hampton State Beach (across street): 10+ different RT Loons in the water Sunset Farm: Canada goose - 600 Greater scaup - 340 Am black duck - 130 Black scoter - 130 Bufflehead - 7 Lesser scaup - 4+ Green-winged teal - 1 Greater yellowlegs - 2 Great blue heron - 2 Bald eagle - 1 Am tree sparrow - 1 Phil Brown Stoddard, NH --- On Thu, 11/5/09, Steve Mirick wrote: > From: Steve Mirick > Subject: Random coastal birds > To: "New Hampshire Birds" > Date: Thursday, November 5, 2009, 5:37 PM > Not a lot to report along the coast > today, although there were a few loons migrating. In > general, it has not been as good for coastal migration this > fall as it has been the last couple of years. Land > birds also continue to be VERY sparse with the noteworthy > exception of "Ipswich" Savannah Sparrows which seem to be > relatively common. > Location: - NH Coast > Observation date: - 11/5/09 > Notes: - About 1 to 2 hours of sea watching. Then > general birding along the coast for a couple of hours. > > Brant - 1 - 1 flew by Ragged Neck and then into Rye harbor > and then flew out! > Canada Goose - 24 - Single migrating flock. > Mallard - 2 - Migrating. > Northern Pintail - 1 - Migrating. > White-winged Scoter - 4 - Migrating. > Long-tailed Duck - 18 - Migrating. > Hooded Merganser - 4 - On Eel Pond. > Red-breasted Merganser - 20 - Migrating. > Red-throated Loon - 42 - Migrating. > Common Loon - 12 - Migrating. > Pied-billed Grebe - 2 - On Eel Pond. > Red-necked Grebe - 4 - Migrating. > Northern Gannet - - Very few. Less than 10 > total! > Bald Eagle - 1 - Immature wandering around offshore near > Concord Point. > Semipalmated Plover - 3 - Lingering at Ragged Neck. > White-rumped Sandpiper - 6 - Juveniles lingering at Ragged > Neck. > American Pipit - 4 - Ragged Neck. > WARBLER SP. - 1 - Very frustrating bird near parking lot > for Fuller Gardens off Willow Avenue in North Hampton. > Seen best by Jane first as "possible" Pine Warbler, but then > seen by me to have buffy flanks but fleeting glimpse. > Then ID'd by Jane after discussion/review as likely > Bay-breasted Warbler. > Savannah Sparrow (Ipswich) - 4 - At least 4 at Ragged > Neck. > > Steve & Jane Mirick > Bradford, MA Subject: Coast today... additions plus Exeter WWP From: John Williams <john AT 2young.us> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 21:13:09 -0500 Also noted today at Rye Neck: Northern Gannet 1 adult 2 Black-bellied Plovers 4 "Ipswitch" Sparrows 38 Snow Buntings 2 White-rumped Sandpipers (Lifer, thanks Steve!) 40 Sanderlings Hampton SP 75 Snow Buntings. Eel Pond 2 Mute Swans Landing Road 6 Greater Yellowlegs Exeter Waste water plant 4 Ruddy Ducks 13 American Widgeon 5 Lesser Scaup Pair Green-winged Teal 1 Red-tailed Hawk Chapman's Landing Cooper's Hawk Sunset Farm STEVE and JANE 2 American Pipit 35 Dunlin 400 Canada Geese 1 Great Blue Heron 1 Brant Throughout the coast Rye to Hampton: Multiple sightings of Surf and White-winged Scoters, Red-throated Loon, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Horned Grebe, Long-tailed Duck, Common Eider, Red-breasted Merganser, Bufflehead. Only three gull species. Rumney 12 Wild Turkeys 1 Ruffed Grouse John Williams, Suzanne Smith, John Lloyd... Pemi chapter ASNH Rumney and Hebron Subject: A few coastal additions From: Lauren Kras <lauren.kras AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 20:19:16 -0500 I spent the mid-morning birding around the coast with Mike Thompson and briefly ran into Steve and Jane. Mike and I had many of the same species so I don't have too much add other than the following: Black Scoter - 15+ off Great Boar's Head. Some were really close and offered spectacular views. Black Guillemot - 1 off of Little Boars Head before I was questioned by the cops After swinging by the coast I checked Great Bay and Newmarket. No Eurasian Wigeon, Black Vulture (or any vulture for that matter but it was raining), or anything else unusual to report in that area. Lauren Kras Dover, NH On Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 5:37 PM, Steve Mirick wrote: > Not a lot to report along the coast today, although there were a few loons > migrating. In general, it has not been as good for coastal migration this > fall as it has been the last couple of years. Land birds also continue to > be VERY sparse with the noteworthy exception of "Ipswich" Savannah Sparrows > which seem to be relatively common. > Location: - NH Coast > Observation date: - 11/5/09 > Notes: - About 1 to 2 hours of sea watching. Then general birding along the > coast for a couple of hours. > > Brant - 1 - 1 flew by Ragged Neck and then into Rye harbor and then flew > out! > Canada Goose - 24 - Single migrating flock. > Mallard - 2 - Migrating. > Northern Pintail - 1 - Migrating. > White-winged Scoter - 4 - Migrating. > Long-tailed Duck - 18 - Migrating. > Hooded Merganser - 4 - On Eel Pond. > Red-breasted Merganser - 20 - Migrating. > Red-throated Loon - 42 - Migrating. > Common Loon - 12 - Migrating. > Pied-billed Grebe - 2 - On Eel Pond. > Red-necked Grebe - 4 - Migrating. > Northern Gannet - - Very few. Less than 10 total! > Bald Eagle - 1 - Immature wandering around offshore near Concord Point. > Semipalmated Plover - 3 - Lingering at Ragged Neck. > White-rumped Sandpiper - 6 - Juveniles lingering at Ragged Neck. > American Pipit - 4 - Ragged Neck. > WARBLER SP. - 1 - Very frustrating bird near parking lot for Fuller Gardens > off Willow Avenue in North Hampton. Seen best by Jane first as "possible" > Pine Warbler, but then seen by me to have buffy flanks but fleeting glimpse. > Then ID'd by Jane after discussion/review as likely Bay-breasted Warbler. > Savannah Sparrow (Ipswich) - 4 - At least 4 at Ragged Neck. > > Steve & Jane Mirick > Bradford, MA Subject: Birding the Coast of NH 11-1-09 From: "Peter Manship" <maddog54l AT tds.net> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 18:35:42 -0500 Last Sunday I went over to the coast of NH for the day to go birding with Steve and Jane Mirick and the Brookline Bird club, Images and trip report at : http://beautifulflyingobjects.blogspot.com/ Good birding, Peter Manship Ludlow Vt Subject: Random coastal birds From: Steve Mirick <smirick AT comcast.net> Date: Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:37:41 -0500 Not a lot to report along the coast today, although there were a few loons migrating. In general, it has not been as good for coastal migration this fall as it has been the last couple of years. Land birds also continue to be VERY sparse with the noteworthy exception of "Ipswich" Savannah Sparrows which seem to be relatively common. Location: - NH Coast Observation date: - 11/5/09 Notes: - About 1 to 2 hours of sea watching. Then general birding along the coast for a couple of hours. Brant - 1 - 1 flew by Ragged Neck and then into Rye harbor and then flew out! Canada Goose - 24 - Single migrating flock. Mallard - 2 - Migrating. Northern Pintail - 1 - Migrating. White-winged Scoter - 4 - Migrating. Long-tailed Duck - 18 - Migrating. Hooded Merganser - 4 - On Eel Pond. Red-breasted Merganser - 20 - Migrating. Red-throated Loon - 42 - Migrating. Common Loon - 12 - Migrating. Pied-billed Grebe - 2 - On Eel Pond. Red-necked Grebe - 4 - Migrating. Northern Gannet - - Very few. Less than 10 total! Bald Eagle - 1 - Immature wandering around offshore near Concord Point. Semipalmated Plover - 3 - Lingering at Ragged Neck. White-rumped Sandpiper - 6 - Juveniles lingering at Ragged Neck. American Pipit - 4 - Ragged Neck. WARBLER SP. - 1 - Very frustrating bird near parking lot for Fuller Gardens off Willow Avenue in North Hampton. Seen best by Jane first as "possible" Pine Warbler, but then seen by me to have buffy flanks but fleeting glimpse. Then ID'd by Jane after discussion/review as likely Bay-breasted Warbler. Savannah Sparrow (Ipswich) - 4 - At least 4 at Ragged Neck. Steve & Jane Mirick Bradford, MA Subject: Isles of Shoals CBC - December 20th From: Benjamin Griffith <bgriffith AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 14:48:34 -0500 Attention CBCer's: I am the compiler for the Isles of Shoals Christmas Bird Count. The count will be held aboard UNH R.V. Gulf Challenger on Sunday, December 20th, with a tentative weather date of December 27th (pending crew availability). Steve Mirick has agreed to narrate the trip (Steve won't be able to attend on the 27th, so Lauren Kras will be dutifully filling in). Conditions permitting, we will be landing on Star Island, NH for about an hour. We will then circle Boone Island in York County, Maine for Purple Sandpipers and larids. We will be chumming for seabirds as well. Some species which we have observed on previous endeavors have been multiple Snowy Owls and Harlequin Ducks as well as close views of Black-legged Kittiwakes, Black Guillemots, and Razorbills. The price of the trip is $40 per person ($35 for the boat and $5 for CBC fee). We will meet at the Coastal Marine Lab pier in New Castle between 7:00 and 7:30am and the UNH Gulf Challenger will leave at 8:00am and will return by 1:00pm or 2:00pm on December 20th, a Sunday. Please inform others who may be interested. I will provide directions to the dock upon confirmation of the reservation. To reserve a spot please email me with the name(s) of the participants, contact information (phone and email), and whether you're able to attend the 20th, 27th, or both. You can also call me at 603-801-1856, however, I would prefer email reservations. Ben Griffith Subject: Re: Juv. Red-necked Grebe Continues Silver Lake/Madison -11/5 From: "Bob Crowley" <crbob AT fairpoint.net> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 14:17:55 -0500 I just stopped bye the the litle park behind the bridge construction trailer to the east of Chick's on Rt.113 at the North end of Siver Lake, Madison. I had a nice view of the Red-necked Grebe in good light at abot 100 yards. Thank You, Jean Bob Crowley Chatham, NH ----- Original Message ----- From: <> To: "New Hampshire Birds" Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 10:45 AM Subject: Juv. Red-necked Grebe Continues Silver Lake/Madison -11/5 > The grebe was the only birdB present this morning at 9:08. It was in the > same > location as yesterday-behind the elderly housing on Rt. 113. I walked to > the > end of my vantage point to scan the southern end of the lake with my > binoculars but turned up nothing. On the way back, I heard something flush > from the shoreline. It wasB a Common Loon. Giving the grebe one last look > about 9:20 turned up the 4 Common Mergansers. The Hooded might still be > lurking in the rushes along the shoreline. > > > > Also seen: > > 3 Black-capped Chickadees > > 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch > > 1 Downy Woodpecker > > 3 American Crows > > > > A resident told me she had great looks at a perched Bald Eagle on the lake > about 2 weeks ago. > > > > Good birding, > > > > Jean Mullen > > Silver Lake/Madison > > jmullen43 AT comcast.net Subject: Carolina Wren, goffstown From: lee hansche <xxleeweexx AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:30:16 -0800 (PST) The feeders at my house in goffstown were much more active today than they have been... The highlight was a CAROLINA WREN that was a new yard bird for our place... also had: House Sparrow- superduper common i know but we live in the woods and its a first for our yard... Hairy Woodpecker- looked extra big today but they are like that sometimes... and a long list of usual suspects... Lee Hansche goffstown NH Subject: Coopers Hawk From: Lynn Roberge <lynn4020081996 AT YAHOO.COM> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 08:27:33 -0800 (PST) While I was traveling home from Rochester this morning,,,I got into Hooksett NH on 28, just at the 101 Over pass and saw a beautiful Cooper's Hawk flying to capture a pigeon,,unfortunately for the Hawk,,,,,He missed LOL. Lynn Roberge Manchester NH Subject: Northwood Eagle From: LadyMacro <LadyMacro AT metrocast.net> Date: Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:24:34 -0500 Eagle on pole today at Tornado Alley on Rt. 4 by Northwood Lake. My camera was not readily available, but got a couple, not very good shots, in as it flew across the lake. http://www.pbase.com/image/119084704 Debbie Stahre http://www.webofnature.com/ Subject: Spofford Evening Grosbeak and Fox Sparrow From: "Kenneth Klapper" <kklapper AT antioch.edu> Date: Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:11:51 -0500 Joining the regular visitors at the home feeders today are a group of six Evening Grosbeaks (3 males and 3 females/imm) and a Fox Sparrow (actually hanging out in the shrubs around the house, not the feeders). We're next to Pisgah State Park, so the grosbeaks are somewhat regular, if a bit sporadic (I havn't seen any since September). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kenneth Klapper MS Candidate in Conservation Biology Antioch University New England Spofford, NH Subject: Juv. Red-necked Grebe Continues Silver Lake/Madison -11/5 From: jmullen43 AT comcast.net Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 15:45:01 +0000 (UTC) The grebe was the only birdB present this morning at 9:08. It was in the same location as yesterday-behind the elderly housing on Rt. 113. I walked to the end of my vantage point to scan the southern end of the lake with my binoculars but turned up nothing. On the way back, I heard something flush from the shoreline. It wasB a Common Loon. Giving the grebe one last look about 9:20 turned up the 4 Common Mergansers. The Hooded might still be lurking in the rushes along the shoreline. Also seen: 3 Black-capped Chickadees 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 Downy Woodpecker 3 American Crows A resident told me she had great looks at a perched Bald Eagle on the lake about 2 weeks ago. Good birding, Jean Mullen Silver Lake/Madison jmullen43 AT comcast.net Subject: Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, November 4, 2009 From: "Mark Suomala" <mrsuomala AT marksbirdtours.com> Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 21:08:20 -0500 This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, November 4th, 2009. An immature RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD was discovered coming regularly to a feeder at a private residence in Hollis at least as early as October 21st, and was last reported visiting the feeder on November 2nd. A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was seen along with 14 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS among a flock of thousands of blackbirds going to roost at the Great Bog in Portsmouth on October 30th. The birds were observed from the side of Newington Road in Greenland. An observer counted over 200,000 COMMON GRACKLES going to roost at Great Bog on November 2nd. A BLACK VULTURE was seen in Newmarket roosting with up to 35 TURKEY VULTURES in a tree behind the Town Hall on November 2nd and 3rd. An adult male EURASIAN WIGEON was seen at the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant on October 30th, and was last reported on November 2nd. A NORTHERN SHOVELER, 2 LESSER SCAUP, and an ICELAND GULL were seen here on the 30th, and a second ICELAND GULL was reported on November 1st. A COMMON MURRE was seen in Rye Harbor on October 31st, and November 1st. 17 juvenile WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS were seen at Ragged Neck in Rye on November 1st. A PECTORAL SANDPIPER was seen at Great Bay Farm in Greenland on November 3rd. 16 AMERICAN COOTS, 9 PIED-BILLED GREBES, and 3 RUDDY DUCKS were seen in Powwow Pond in Kingston on October 29th. 70 BLACK SCOTERS were seen on the Connecticut River near the Wilder Dam, and 34 were seen on Cherry Pond in Jefferson, all on November 4th. 3 GREATER SCAUP were seen in Turee Pond in Bow on October 31st, and 2 GREATER SCAUP and 2 COMMON GOLDENEYE were seen on Spofford Lake on October 29th. A juvenile RED-NECKED GREBE was seen on Silver Lake in Madison on November 2nd, and again on the 4th. 2 COMMON TERNS were seen in Hampton Harbor on November 1st. A GREAT EGRET was seen on Great Bay in Greenland on November 3rd. A LAPLAND LONGSPUR and over 50 HORNED LARKS were seen in the fields adjacent to Horseshoe Pond in Concord on October 31st. 180 SNOW BUNTINGS and 4 HORNED LARKS were seen in Hampton Beach State Park on October 29th. 15 SNOW BUNTINGS were reported from Ravine Road in Warren on October 31st. Several AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were reported from a few scattered locations during the past week. 6 EVENING GROSBEAKS were reported from Jefferson on November 4th. A SAW-WHET OWL was seen in Ashland on November 3rd. HAWK migration continues, with 6,935 raptors, including 50 BALD EAGLES, 6 GOLDEN EAGLES, and 30 PEREGRINE FALCONS reported from the Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory in Peterborough since September 1st. This message is also available by phone recording: call (603) 224-9909 and press 2 as directed or ask to be transferred. If you have seen any interesting birds recently, you can leave a message at the end of the recording or send your sightings to the RBA via e-mail at: birdsetc AT nhaudubon.org. Please put either "bird sighting" or "Rare Bird Alert" in the subject line and be sure to include your mailing address and phone number. The RBA is also available on-line at the New Hampshire Audubon web site, www.nhaudubon.org Thanks very much and good birding. Subject: Re: Monadnock Chapter trip to Pack Monadnock tomorrow From: Cliff Otto <ottoc.bb.etc AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 18:16:23 -0500 Sounds like you had a good day, Lance. I would have liked to have joined you but today was our anniversary and hawk watching just didn't fit in. Thought you might like this picture from the last day. Cliff [demime 1.01d removed an attachment of type image/jpeg which had a name of co_10984.jpg] Subject: HSR: Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory (04 Nov 2009) 42 Raptors From: reports AT hawkcount.org Date: 04 Nov 2009 18:11:49 -0400 Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory Peterborough, New Hampshire, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 04, 2009 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 80 Osprey 0 0 182 Bald Eagle 0 0 50 Northern Harrier 1 3 87 Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 10 1194 Cooper's Hawk 4 4 131 Northern Goshawk 1 2 25 Red-shouldered Hawk 7 22 127 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 4322 Red-tailed Hawk 21 41 402 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 6 American Kestrel 0 0 135 Merlin 0 0 56 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 30 Unknown Accipiter 1 1 8 Unknown Buteo 0 0 14 Unknown Falcon 0 0 8 Unknown Eagle 0 0 2 Unknown Raptor 2 2 76 Total: 42 85 6935 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 10:30:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 4.5 hours Official Counter: Lance Tanino Observers: Ken Klapper Visitors: 104 visitors including 90 5th graders from High Plain Elementary in Andover, MA and Environmental Education teachers from Nature's Classroom. Weather: Mostly sunny with light winds out of the west-northwest. Raptor Observations: Great day for Red-tailed Hawks and an unexpected good day for accipiters, even some really nice overhead flights. Non-raptor Observations: Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet (1), American Crow (20), Common Raven (6) ======================================================================== Report submitted by Julie Tilden (julie_tilden AT hotmail.com) Pack Monadnock information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org Site Description: The Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory is run by New Hampshire Audubon and was launched in September 2005 with funding from the Samuel P. Hunt Foundation, The Monadnock Community Foundation, and the Putnam Foundation. Funding allowed for dramatically-improved visitor access through trail enhancement and landscaping, design and installation of three large interpretive panels and the staffing of the site each day (9/1 to 10/31) by a N.H. Audubon Seasonal Biologist/Interpreter. Site Leader/founder is Iain MacLeod (pandiain AT myfairpoint.net) Fall 2008 Seasonal Counter/Interpreter is Julie Tilden. Directions to site: Located in Miller State Park in Peterborough, N.H. >From Manchester, the Seacoast, Nashua, Concord, and other points north and east, head west on NH-101 (from NH-101 in Manchester or NH-101 in Nashua) past Milford towards Peterborough. Keep an eye out for Temple Mountain. Miller State Park is just beyond this to the right. Once there, you can take the access road to the summit by car or hike one of the two trails (~1.5m) from the main parking lot. >From Keene and Peterborough, take NH-101 East past Peterborough. Miller State Park is to the left near the top of the steep rise. If youve reached Temple Mountain youve gone too far. Once there, you can take the access road to the summit by car or hike one of the two trails (~1.5m) from the main parking lot. Once at the summit pking lot, look for the sign for the Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory. It is an easy walk, .2m down a gravel trail to the north overlook and observatory. There are primitive restrooms, water and shelter available at base and summit. Park is open for day use only. Fees as of 2008:Adults: $4.00; Children ages 6-11: $2.00 Children ages 5 & under, NH residents age 65 & over: FREE Subject: pine siskins From: s42yth AT comcast.net Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 17:14:51 +0000 (UTC) as of noontime the pine siskins are back on my thistle feeders. sylvia hartmannB B B B B manchester nh Subject: Juv. Red-necked Grebe, Mergansers -Silver Lake/Madison 11/4 From: jmullen43 AT comcast.net Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 16:04:19 +0000 (UTC) I checked yesterday morning before heading to Brownfield Bog and the grebe was not seen. A quick walk down to the lake todayB produced the grebe, 4 Common Mergansers and a female Hooded, 1 Common Loon. B My vantage point was from private property. However, the birds are in the area behind the elderly housing on Rt.113 (Village Rd.). There is public access between Chick's Packaging and the housing. A scope would be helpful. Patience may also be required because there is a low sandbar with rushes that may block viewing. I watched the birds from 10:25-10:45. They were still present when I left. Also work is being done on the nearby bridge. You could probably park at the Silver Lake Post Office and walk down. Jean Mullen Silver Lake/Madison jmullen43 AT comcast.net Subject: Masabessic white duck guess. From: mthompson2100 AT gmail.com Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 15:25:18 +0000 Just relooking through my guide makes me think they were long-tailed ducks! When they flew they had dark backs and wings except when they were flying at me then they were mostly white with some dark blotches. The only thing keeping from saying that is the shear quantity of them! Now I'm really curious so if someone else would check them out it would be much apreciated. Mike Thompson Derry, NH Sent on the Sprint. Now Network from my BlackBerry. Subject: Masabessic black scoters, buffleheads, mystery white waterfowl? From: mthompson2100 AT gmail.com Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 15:21:06 +0000 Hello all! Well I scoped masabessic (sp?) Today and had a flock of 20 bufflehead. I was mildly proud becuase I id'ed them from across the lake when they were little black and white dots then they flew in close for a much better look. Also a raft of 10 black scoters (lifer) but what was really catching my attention was a flock of all (or predominately) white birds very close in size to the buffleheads but were deffinately different species. The flock was about 18 and is deffimately worth another check by anyone with a better scope or better id-ing ability than I (which shouldn't be hard haha) I got the birds from the rt.28 parking lot on the lake right off exit 1. Good luck and if anyone gets the birds I'd love to know what they were! Mike Thompson Derry, NH Sent on the Sprint. Now Network from my BlackBerry. Subject: Pondicherry Black Scoters From: "David Govatski" <pondicherry AT wildblue.net> Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 09:44:55 -0500 There were 34 Black Scoters at Cherry Pond in Jefferson on Wednesday morning. There was a light dusting of snow on the trail and I also saw several White-crowned Sparrows and several Pine Siskins. We now have 6 Evening Grosbeaks outside our home asking us to put out our bird feeders. They will have to be patient until the bears go for their winter nap. David Govatski Jefferson, NH Subject: Hanover Merlins, Lyme Am. Tree Sparrows From: John Williams <john AT 2young.us> Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 20:24:26 -0500 Today in Lyme at Post Pond there were 7 Mallards, an American Black Duck, a winter plumage Common Loon, 20 plus American Robins, 2 American Tree Sparrows (My first of the fall) and 30+ Eu. Starlings. At 2 PM, there was a Merlin perched in a tree top beside the rte 10 round-about and the golf course. I pulled into the COOP parking lot and scoped it. While studying it, it suddenly took a pressed down tail fanned posture as a second Merlin flew near it vocalizing. After the flyby, it returned to the normal erect posture. Along the Connecticut River on River Rd., Lyme, there were 50 or so Canada Geese, 3 Hooded Mergansers and 7 Mallards. Driving by Upper and Lower Baker Ponds in Orford and Wentworth I noted zero waterfowl. John R Williams Rumney NH Subject: Re: Newington- Peregrine From: smbasile AT comcast.net Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 00:12:35 +0000 (UTC) Sorry about the late reply. B Bob and I were passing over the Little Bay Bridge around 1:30-1:45 pm in Newington yesterday and I saw this same peregrine. When I first saw the bird it was hunkered down on the light pole and looked as though it was resting. B Because it was so hunkered down, I could not tell what kind of bird it was when I first spotted it. We turned around and stopped at Hilton Park. We walked under the bridge and got on the General Sullivan Bridge where we spotted the peregrine and saw it had just caught a rock dove and was eating it. B Amazingly, there was still a group of about 10 rock doves perched on the rail of the General Sullivan Bridge. Maybe they figured the falcon was pre-occupied? B We got some nice pictures and left the bird to eat its catch. As we were returning to the car, the falcon flew over us and toward a stand of pines where it was mobbed by a group of about 5 crows. Then it appeared the falcon started going after some of the crows. After a while, the peregrine returned to the light pole on the Little Bay Bridge. B Here are some shots I digiscoped: B http://www.flickr.com/photos/corvid01/4072723883/ B http://www.flickr.com/photos/corvid01/4072719539/ B http://www.flickr.com/photos/corvid01/4073472514/ B http://www.flickr.com/photos/corvid01/4073457546/ B I took this shot of one of the rock doves that was still on the Gen. Sullivan Bridge as the peregrine dined. Does this bird look nervous to you? B http://www.flickr.com/photos/corvid01/4072679971/ B Siobhan Basile Epping ----- Original Message ----- From: "Daniel M. Keefe" To: "New Hampshire Birds" Sent: Monday, November 2, 2009 6:30:13 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Newington- Peregrine Peregrine Falcon on the light poles of the General Sullivan Bridge this afternoon- sighted three times from 2 to 4:ish . Curiously no pigeons sighted in the vicinity. Dan Durham, NH Subject: Odds & Ends From: Steve Mirick <smirick AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:27:38 -0500 Tough day for us today. Got to Newmarket too late for the Black Vulture, and at the end of the day, left too early! :-( Anyhow.......while poking around, we saw the following: Greater Scaup - 600 close to shore (they're usually far out) from Sunset Farm on Great Bay Lesser Scaup - At least 3 mixed in with Greaters. Common Goldeneye - 17 on Great Bay from Great Bay Discovery Center. First of fall for us. Long-tailed Duck - 4 on Great Bay from Great Bay Discovery Center. GREAT EGRET - 1 late bird continues from Sunset Farm on Great Bay. Peregrine Falcon - 1 juvenile on water tower in Hampton American Kestrel - 1 male in Hampton. Semipalmated Plover - 16 on Seabrook Beach Black-bellied Plover - 24 on Seabrook Beach Pectoral Sandpiper - 1 at Great Bay Farm in Greenland White-rumped Sandpiper - 15 total along NH coast. Semipalmated Sandpiper - 3 on Seabrook Beach. Getting late. Dunlin - 68 on Seabrook beach. "IPSWICH" SAVANNAH SPARROW - 1 continues at Exeter WWTP. Rare for location. My first record away from immediate coastline. 2 more along coast. Steve & Jane Mirick Bradford, MA Subject: Black Vulture - yes AM and PM in Newmarket From: Lauren Kras <lauren.kras AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 18:01:38 -0500 This AM as Steve reported I spotted the BLACK VULTURE in Newmarket. Unfortunately it left before anyone else could get there. However, this evening Len Medlock, Denny Abbott, Davis Finch, and I were lucky and were able to relocate the bird after stalking vultures for over an hour. Unfortunately we found the bird about 20 minutes after Steve and Jane Mirick left Newmarket (doh!). It was a state bird for Davis and myself, Len's second sighting, and Denny's fourth! I've constructed a google map marking the locations where I saw the bird this morning along with locations numerous vultures were seen tonight. http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=43.081631,-70.93591&spn=0.007993,0.014162&t=h&z=16&msid=116726294347820862610.0004777f101b8c251b178 The bird was seen after searching for quite some time and right before we all were about to leave. At about 4:35 vultures started to fly over Elm St as we watched from the Municipal Parking (marked on map). They flew in a single file line and were easily counted. The Black Vulture was easily picked out (bird #30) as the Turkey Vultures flew by, single file. This bird had much shorter, stumpier tail (like the end of a small broom) and shorter head. Wings seemed shorter and size slightly smaller than the Turkey Vultures in front and behind it. Overall we had 35 Vultures (34 Turkey, 1 Black). The birds were very active throughout the evening and moved from spot to spot and increased in number every time we looked. Spots where we saw the birds move are noted on the map. The best advice I have is to park at the municipal parking and walk around following the vultures and BE PATIENT! They were moving a lot so don't give up until its too dark to see as they may move roost sites and the Black Vulture may be more visible in one than another and/or more visible in flight. Lauren Kras Dover, NH Subject: reporting banded Gulls From: Cliff Otto <ottoc.bb.etc AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 17:14:20 -0500 I saw two banded gulls at Lake Massabesic this afternoon. I think they are first-winter Ring-billed Gulls. Each had bright orange circular bands attached to each wing bearing a hand-written number: A 300 and A 301. Does anyone know to whom this should be reported? This was at the park off the Londonderry Turnpike just south of the traffic circle on Candia Road. A picture of one may be seen at http://www.pbase.com/image/119027768 Cliff Otto Manchester Subject: Evening Grosbeaks and Gray Jay in Jefferson From: "David Govatski" <pondicherry AT wildblue.net> Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 16:50:51 -0500 On Tuesday afternoon I saw 5 Evening Grosbeaks near our home in Jefferson. We don't have feeders up yet due to potential black bear conflicts but I think these birds are scouting around for their winter food supply. At Little Cherry Pond on Monday morning we saw a couple of small flocks of Pine Siskins and several Red-breasted Nuthatches which are around in good numbers this fall due to the cone crop. At Mud Pond in the Pondicherry NWR we saw a Gray Jay while we were taking soil samples of soil type 992A Pondicherry Muck, which is understandably one of my favorite soil types. We were using a special auger for the samples and we would see methane bubbles boiling up through the dark water of this bog. Quite fascinating. The Presidential Rail Trail from Route 115A in Jefferson Meadows is now passable by hikers. Several blocked culverts were replaced with two bridges near Cedar and Moorhen Marshes. This is a popular route to Cherry Pond for hikers. The Airport Marsh bridge and dam have also been replaced and are open for traffic. Airport and Hazen Roads have now been paved. I am presenting a slide program on Life of the Boreal Forest at the NH Audubon Headquarters on Silk Farm Road in Concord on Wednesday evening at 7 PM. Hope to see you there. David Govatski Jefferson, NH Subject: Hollis Rufous hummer... From: "Shel Michaels" <shel AT shel.net> Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 16:34:51 -0500 ...was last seen here yesterday Nov. 2 at 7:30 AM. God speed, little one! ...Shel Michaels Hollis, NH Subject: Spotted sandpiper at DWWTP-yes From: mthompson2100 AT gmail.com Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 18:21:51 +0000 Just stumbled across my little friend :) and he's is happy picking away at filth :). I'm curious to know how late SPSA have been seen in nh? Michael Thompson Derry, NH Sent on the Sprint. Now Network from my BlackBerry. Subject: Saw-whet owl in Ashland From: "Iain MacLeod" <iain.macleod AT nhnature.org> Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 13:28:14 -0500 When I topped up my bird feeders this morning, I noticed a noisy group of mobbing chickadees and titmice in the small white pines next to my house. I followed the noise and there perched about 6 feet off the ground and half hidden in the needles at the end of a branch was a Northern Saw-whet Owl. I approached to within 6 feet. It glared at me but initially did not move. As I backed away it took off and flew through the pines to another perch and out of sight -- with an entourage of mobbing chickadees in pursuit. Iain MacLeod Executive Director Squam Lakes Natural Science Center 23 Science Center Road, PO Box 173, Holderness, NH 03245 Phone: 603-968-7194 ext. 23 Fax: 603-968-2229 iain.macleod AT nhnature.org www.nhnature.org Advancing understanding of ecology by exploring NH's natural world TRAILS OPEN DAILY MAY 1 - NOVEMBER 1. Subject: Monadnock Chapter trip to Pack Monadnock tomorrow From: Lance Tanino <lancemanu808 AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 11:59:20 -0500 For anyone interested in joining a few of us at Pack Monadnock tomorrow, we will be meeting at the gate at 10AM (for those that want to drive up). We'll probably stay until 2 or 3PM. We'll see how much cold winds we can take. The weather forecast for tomorrow is a high of 44F and WNW winds 10-15mph OR Mostly sunny, with a high near 41. West wind between 3 and 9 mph. Lance Tanino Keene, NH Subject: No Subject From: "judy flanders" <12meows AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 11:28:54 -0500 We had the first red bellied woodpecker of the season. Judy Flanders, Henniker Subject: Bald Eagle From: Ron Cooper <Ron AT hightechnh.com> Date: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:45:37 -0500 Just had a mature bald eagle soaring over my office in Salem, NH. I usually see one or two every year. Subject: Fwd: Boreal Forest Presentation 11/4 From: joseagle AT aol.com Date: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:29:13 -0500 Just a reminder: Evenings At Audubon Series Life of the Boreal Forest Wednesday November 4 at 7 pm New Hampshire Audubon - Silk Farm Road off I-89 exit 2 in Concord David Govatski, a celebrated naturalist, will present an illustrated slide presentation about the northern forest and the extraordinary plants and animals which survive there. The program will focus on adaptations that plants and animals use to survive this extreme environment. members - $6 nonmembers - $8 Subject: HSR: Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory (02 Nov 2009) 43 Raptors From: reports AT hawkcount.org Date: 03 Nov 2009 10:11:14 -0400 Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory Peterborough, New Hampshire, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 02, 2009 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 0 80 Osprey 0 0 182 Bald Eagle 0 0 50 Northern Harrier 2 2 86 Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 5 1189 Cooper's Hawk 0 0 127 Northern Goshawk 1 1 24 Red-shouldered Hawk 15 15 120 Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 4322 Red-tailed Hawk 20 20 381 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 6 American Kestrel 0 0 135 Merlin 0 0 56 Peregrine Falcon 0 0 30 Unknown Accipiter 0 0 7 Unknown Buteo 0 0 14 Unknown Falcon 0 0 8 Unknown Eagle 0 0 2 Unknown Raptor 0 0 74 Total: 43 43 6893 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 10:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 5 hours Official Counter: Iain MacLeod Observers: Visitors: Park is closed, so only a few hikers (maybe 10) Weather: Lovely day. North-east winds, good clouds. Cool, but not cold. Raptor Observations: Steady push of Red-shoulders and Red-tails in morning. A few of the shoulders were eager to be double counted. They would circle up then head towards me, then circle again overhead and double back north. One bird (with distinctive tail feather wear)came up and overhead three times over the space of 2 hours. Non-raptor Observations: Distance flock of 30 Scoters. Trickle of crows heading south (74). 1 Loon. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Iain MacLeod (pandiain AT gsinet.net) Pack Monadnock information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org Subject: Re: Clarification of juv. Red-necked Grebe locale From: "Keith Gordon" <kmg AT myexcel.com> Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 09:26:16 -0500 There's also a Silver Lake in Harrisville (half in Nelson).. Anyone reporting birds in SL should specify the town. Cheers---Keith Gordon Munsonville ----- Original Message ----- From: To: "New Hampshire Birds" Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 8:35 AM Subject: Clarification of juv. Red-necked Grebe locale > Hi! A response to yesterday's posting regarding the juvenile Red-necked > Grebe in Silver Lake made me realize I wasn't precise in my posting. The > Silver Lake mentioned is in Madison, not Hollis. I didn't realize there > was more than one "Silver Lake". My apologies! > > > > Jean Mullen > > Silver Lake/Madison > > jmullen43 AT comcast.net Subject: Clarification of juv. Red-necked Grebe locale From: jmullen43 AT comcast.net Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 13:35:22 +0000 (UTC) Hi! A response to yesterday's posting regarding the juvenile Red-necked Grebe in Silver Lake made me realize I wasn't precise in my posting. The Silver Lake mentioned is in Madison, not Hollis. I didn't realize there was more than one "Silver Lake". My apologies! Jean Mullen Silver Lake/Madison jmullen43 AT comcast.net Subject: Re: Pitcher Mountain hawkwatch From: "Stoodley's" <brandybrk AT tds.net> Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 07:44:32 -0500 Hey Lance, Let me know when you guys are heading out and I may join you if I'm in town. Cheers, Scott Stoodley On Nov 2, 2009, at 12:19 PM, Lance Tanino wrote: > Yesterday (Sunday) I was joined by Ken Klapper, Cliff Seifer, Maki and > Nathan Briggs for a few hours at Pitcher Mountain for some November > hawkwatching. A total of 15 raptors from 11:45am to 3:00pm were > observed > mostly far and high in the sky: > > Red-tailed Hawk - 10; mostly adults > Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2 > Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 adult > Northern Goshawk - 1 adult very close to the fire tower > Turkey Vulture - 1 > > Contact me if you are interested in joining others for some November > Monadnock Chapter hawkwatching from Pitcher or Pack Monadnock > depending on > the weather of course. > > Lance Tanino > Keene, NH Subject: Black Vulture - Just flew From: Steve Mirick <smirick AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:37:43 -0500 Another call from Lauren to say that the Black Vulture just flew heading toward Mississippi Kite nest tree.......I think she chased it away when she heard I was heading up! :-) Steve Mirick Bradford, MA Subject: Black Vulture in Newmarket - YES From: Steve Mirick <smirick AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:22:14 -0500 Lauren just called to say that the Black Vulture is now being seen (7:15 AM) in tree behind town hall in Newmarket with about 4 Turkey Vultures. Apparently in a deciduous tree off South Street near Rt. 108 in the vicinity of the town hall. Steve Mirick Bradford, MA Subject: Seacoast Chapter NHA program for 11/11-Project Nighthawk From: "Dan Hubbard" <danielhubbard AT peoplepc.com> Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 21:42:48 -0500 Seacoast Chapter, NH Audubon Programs Seacoast Science Center, Odiorne Point State Park, 570 Ocean Boulevard, Rye. Contact: Dan Hubbard, 332-4093, danielhubbard AT peoplepc.com Program: Project Nighthawk Wednesday, November 11 7:00 pm: refreshments; 7:30 pm: meeting The state-endangered Common Nighthawk has declined significantly in New Hampshire. Becky Suomala of New Hampshire Audubon will discuss these birds and New Hampshire Audubon's Project Nighthawk -- an experiment to see if gravel patches on rooftops will serve as nesting sites in urban areas. Subject: Re: How many blackbirds? (answer) Part II From: RAQbirds AT aol.com Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 21:15:13 EST Seriously, an organized group count is about the only way. As a special project while in school at UNH- "in the dim past" as Tudor liked to say :), I studied the temperature regimes of a large blackbird roost (in North Hampton) but back then I had no one to help me with finding the roost, let alone doing accurate counting. Fun though. But practicing really helps with counting birds. Lots of practice both in the field and with images like Steve's and even using items at home like rice and even pepper! Now there's a fun piece for NHBR- "Household items I have used for estimating birds". Hmmm. Bob Quinn Webstah, NH In a message dated 11/2/2009 8:56:23 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, smirick AT comcast.net writes: Now how in the world do you estimate when they are flying by from different directions and different distances, and varying concentrations!? Subject: Re: How many blackbirds? (answer) From: RAQbirds AT aol.com Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 21:07:44 EST Practice, practice, practice! raq In a message dated 11/2/2009 8:56:23 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, smirick AT comcast.net writes: Now how in the world do you estimate when they are flying by from different directions and different distances, and varying concentrations!? Subject: How many blackbirds? (answer) From: Steve Mirick <smirick AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:54:58 -0500 Here's the photo again.... http://www.pbase.com/lmedlock/image/118952550/original I broke down the photo into sections and methodically counted the number of birds (primarily grackles). I concluded there were 676 birds in the photo (plus or minus a few)! I had three people send me estimates of 725, 910, and 600. Not bad! My quick guesstimate was closer to 500. Now how in the world do you estimate when they are flying by from different directions and different distances, and varying concentrations!? Maybe next time I'll try to get some high speed video! Steve Mirick Bradford, MA Subject: Long-tailed Duck in Concord From: RAQbirds AT aol.com Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 20:47:36 EST A sunset stop at Long Pond (aka Penacook Lake) in Concord turned up a hen Long-tailed Duck to go along with hundreds of other water birds, especially Hooded Mergansers. Tough viewing as most of the birds came in after sunset. Bob Quinn Webster, NH Subject: Diving Mallards at Field's Grove, Nashua From: Chris Sheridan <cmsbirds AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 23:38:54 +0000 (UTC) I stopped by Field's Grove "just for a moment" to see what was around. A (or the) Pied Billed Grebe was still there...unfortunately, it was near the bank, hidden from my view, and when I walked down the bank, it was startled and flew off. It flew barely above water level, landed among some floating leaves and reeds, and quickly submerged like a submarine. While watching for it to emerge, I began to notice a group of several Mallard drakes off to my left, realizing that they were not just tipping and dabbling, or quickly "ducking under", but were actually diving! A hen which was observing the group from afar soon joined them. I watched four ducks for over twenty minutes as they dove underwater until they were completely submerged. Each duck would remain underwater for about 5-10 seconds or so (it seemed longer) then pop to the surface, often several feet from where it submerged. The water was too murky to see exactly what they were doing under water. They would either quickly gobble down the smaller food items, or take a few seconds to gulp down larger ones with some effort. (It looked like snails to me; they could have been eating something else round and obviously hard. I did find a reference to mallards diving for acorns, so that could explain the larger items, but I'm pretty sure it was snails.) One of the most successful divers looked like a Mallard-Black Duck hybrid. Maybe this is not uncommon behavior among Mallards, but I've never seen it before. I only saw this one group diving among 20+ Mallards in the area. The three drakes and the hen eventually swam off together in a line. In googling for information on this behavior, I found this article: www.jl-studio.com/jlstudio/Observations/Mallards/index.html which speculates that it is a learned behavior among a sibling group, and oddly enough, a Nashua blog "Hiking with Chuck" that describes the behavior in Mine Falls Park in Nashua: www.hikingwithchuck.com/stories/RobertDMallard.htm (There's supposed to be a video there, but the link doesn't work for me.) Mallards diving here: www.pbase.com/cmsbirds/diving_mallards Chris Sheridan Nashua cmsbirds at comcast net Subject: Newington- Peregrine From: "Daniel M. Keefe" <daniel.keefe AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 18:30:13 -0500 Peregrine Falcon on the light poles of the General Sullivan Bridge this afternoon- sighted three times from 2 to 4:ish . Curiously no pigeons sighted in the vicinity. Dan Durham, NH Subject: RE: Juvenile Red-necked Grebe- Silver Lake 11/2 From: "Kevin Klasman" <kevinklasman AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 18:13:26 -0500 May I ask where is this Silver Lake? There may be more than one. Thanks, Kevin -----Original Message----- From: owner-NH.Birds AT lists.unh.edu [mailto:owner-NH.Birds AT lists.unh.edu] On Behalf Of jmullen43 AT comcast.net Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 5:52 PM To: New Hampshire Birds Subject: Juvenile Red-necked Grebe- Silver Lake 11/2 After pishing up only a Junco and two Blue Jays in theB yard area,B I walked down to Silver Lake.B There was a juvenile Red-neckedB Grebe swimming with six Mallards fairly close to shore. They flew after a few minutes but the grebe hung aroundB till the light left, activelyB diving and then swimming on the surface at varying distances from the shore. B Also heard a Common Loon call during that time. There were three Canada Geese as well. Jean Mullen Silver Lake jmullen43 AT comcast.net Subject: Juvenile Red-necked Grebe- Silver Lake 11/2 From: jmullen43 AT comcast.net Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 22:52:04 +0000 (UTC) After pishing up only a Junco and two Blue Jays in theB yard area,B I walked down to Silver Lake.B There was a juvenile Red-neckedB Grebe swimming with six Mallards fairly close to shore. They flew after a few minutes but the grebe hung aroundB till the light left, activelyB diving and then swimming on the surface at varying distances from the shore. B Also heard a Common Loon call during that time. There were three Canada Geese as well. Jean Mullen Silver Lake jmullen43 AT comcast.net Subject: Re: David Sibley in Portsmouth tonight at 7 pm From: "Katie Towler" <katie AT katherinetowler.com> Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 16:19:35 -0500 Hi folks, The original posting of the Sibley event at RiverRun Bookstore tonight had the time wrong. It is at 7 pm NOT 8 pm. I hope this reaches those of you who may have the time wrong before this evening and apologize for the mix-up! Katie Towler Portsmouth Subject: Black Vulture in Newmarket From: Steve Mirick <smirick AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:44:21 -0500 Denny Abbott just called 20 minutes ago to report a BLACK VULTURE circling with about 10 Turkey Vultures near the McDonald's along Route 108 in Newmarket. Keep you eyes up! Steve Mirick Bradford, MA Subject: coast and exeter highlights- no murre From: lee hansche <xxleeweexx AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 10:30:36 -0800 (PST) My buddy mike thompson and i did some birding today and had a few bird highlights as well as running in to some other birders along the way, Len, Lauren, Ben, nice to meet you... Exeter WWTP: 4 american wigeon 5 lesser scaup Great Bay: 500+ Greater Scaup Ragged neck: 20-ish snow buntings 1 black bellied plover 1 Dunlin 8 White rumped sandpiper (looked like juviniles, the most ive seen at once in NH) 2 Gannets Hampton beach state park: 135 snow buntings 2 ruddy turnstones 1 gannet We were not able to find the Murre that has been seen recently at rye harbor... Lauren tried very hard to relocate the Eurasian Wigion to show us but we didnt get it... thanks for the effort lauren... Lee Hansche goffstown NH Subject: Peregrine, Goshawk, Powdermill Pond, Snow bunting photos From: Don and Lillian Stokes <stokesbirds AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 13:11:14 -0500 (EST) This morning we had a Peregrine Falcon, then shortly, a Northern Goshawk juv. flew by our feeders. Plus Photos from the coast, of Snow Buntings in flight, http://stokesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/snow-buntings-in-flight.html Lillian and Don Stokes Powdermill Pond Hancock for more bird information and updates see our daily blog: http://www.stokesbirdingblog.blogspot.com Subject: Pitcher Mountain hawkwatch From: Lance Tanino <lancemanu808 AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 12:19:58 -0500 Yesterday (Sunday) I was joined by Ken Klapper, Cliff Seifer, Maki and Nathan Briggs for a few hours at Pitcher Mountain for some November hawkwatching. A total of 15 raptors from 11:45am to 3:00pm were observed mostly far and high in the sky: Red-tailed Hawk - 10; mostly adults Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2 Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 adult Northern Goshawk - 1 adult very close to the fire tower Turkey Vulture - 1 Contact me if you are interested in joining others for some November Monadnock Chapter hawkwatching from Pitcher or Pack Monadnock depending on the weather of course. Lance Tanino Keene, NH Subject: Snow Buntings- Concord and Webstah From: RAQbirds AT aol.com Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 11:54:48 EST We also saw one Snow Bunting at Horseshoe Pond then I saw two more near my house. Bob Quinn Webster, NH Subject: longspur on Capital trip From: RAQbirds AT aol.com Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 11:53:01 EST Belated post from Saturday morning's re-scheduled Capital Area Chapter trip in Concord. Ten people joined me on a nice day for a decent array of late fall migants. Highlights- Canada Geese- a total of about 300 with 200 on Horseshoe Pond. Wood Duck- a pair seen well at South End Marsh. Greater Scaup- one drake and two hens on Turee Pond in Bow (behind Bow High School). Wilson's Snipe- two or three zig-zagging away. In the field at Horseshoe Pond. Horned Lark- 50-75, maybe more. Ditto. LAPLAND LONGSPUR- a very nice scope look for all, eventually. Ditto. mystery warbler- a bird in the tangle near the road/gate at Horseshoe (that I did not see) had a bright yellow throat/breast and was skulking in the bushes. Most likely a Common Yellowthroat but worth looking for by anyone birding that area. Bob Quinn Webstah, NH Subject: HSR: Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory (31 Oct 2009) Raptors From: reports AT hawkcount.org Date: 02 Nov 2009 11:11:39 -0400 Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory Peterborough, New Hampshire, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 31, 2009 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 76 80 Osprey 0 23 182 Bald Eagle 0 15 50 Northern Harrier 0 44 84 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 455 1184 Cooper's Hawk 0 52 127 Northern Goshawk 0 15 23 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 99 105 Broad-winged Hawk 0 10 4322 Red-tailed Hawk 0 312 361 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 6 6 American Kestrel 0 38 135 Merlin 0 16 56 Peregrine Falcon 0 14 30 Unknown Accipiter 0 4 7 Unknown Buteo 0 3 14 Unknown Falcon 0 4 8 Unknown Eagle 0 2 2 Unknown Raptor 0 26 74 Total: 0 1214 6850 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 3.5 hours Official Counter: Julie Tilden, Lance Tanino Observers: Julie Tilden, Katrina Fenton, Maki Briggs, Tom Baillio, Wendy Ward Visitors: Hikers passed by with strange looks as hawk-watchers had a end-of-the-season celebration under abnormal picnic-conditions. Weather: Fog, light drizzle, and wind gusts of 30-40mph as we waited patiently for the clouds to clear on our last official day. Raptor Observations: Just the Great Horned Owl decoy on the pole. The Most Valuable Player of the season. Non-raptor Observations: Black-capped Chickadee and Dark-eyed Junco. Predictions: None. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Julie Tilden (julie_tilden AT hotmail.com) Pack Monadnock information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org Site Description: The Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory is run by New Hampshire Audubon and was launched in September 2005 with funding from the Samuel P. Hunt Foundation, The Monadnock Community Foundation, and the Putnam Foundation. Funding allowed for dramatically-improved visitor access through trail enhancement and landscaping, design and installation of three large interpretive panels and the staffing of the site each day (9/1 to 10/31) by a N.H. Audubon Seasonal Biologist/Interpreter. Site Leader/founder is Iain MacLeod (pandiain AT myfairpoint.net) Fall 2008 Seasonal Counter/Interpreter is Julie Tilden. Directions to site: Located in Miller State Park in Peterborough, N.H. >From Manchester, the Seacoast, Nashua, Concord, and other points north and east, head west on NH-101 (from NH-101 in Manchester or NH-101 in Nashua) past Milford towards Peterborough. Keep an eye out for Temple Mountain. Miller State Park is just beyond this to the right. Once there, you can take the access road to the summit by car or hike one of the two trails (~1.5m) from the main parking lot. >From Keene and Peterborough, take NH-101 East past Peterborough. Miller State Park is to the left near the top of the steep rise. If youve reached Temple Mountain youve gone too far. Once there, you can take the access road to the summit by car or hike one of the two trails (~1.5m) from the main parking lot. Once at the summit pking lot, look for the sign for the Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory. It is an easy walk, .2m down a gravel trail to the north overlook and observatory. There are primitive restrooms, water and shelter available at base and summit. Park is open for day use only. Fees as of 2008:Adults: $4.00; Children ages 6-11: $2.00 Children ages 5 & under, NH residents age 65 & over: FREE Subject: HSR: Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory (30 Oct 2009) 2 Raptors From: reports AT hawkcount.org Date: 02 Nov 2009 10:11:42 -0400 Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory Peterborough, New Hampshire, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 30, 2009 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total ------------------ ----------- -------------- -------------- Black Vulture 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 76 80 Osprey 0 23 182 Bald Eagle 0 15 50 Northern Harrier 1 44 84 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 455 1184 Cooper's Hawk 0 52 127 Northern Goshawk 0 15 23 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 99 105 Broad-winged Hawk 0 10 4322 Red-tailed Hawk 1 312 361 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 6 6 American Kestrel 0 38 135 Merlin 0 16 56 Peregrine Falcon 0 14 30 Unknown Accipiter 0 4 7 Unknown Buteo 0 3 14 Unknown Falcon 0 4 8 Unknown Eagle 0 2 2 Unknown Raptor 0 26 74 Total: 2 1214 6850 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Observation start time: 08:15:00 Observation end time: 16:15:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter: Lance Tanino Observers: Cliff Otto, Tom Baillio Visitors: 18 visitors. Thanks Cliff and Tom for persevering through those inactive hours and empty skies. Weather: There was a high overcast for the entire day. Relatively comfortable light winds out of the south. The temperature ranged 42-48F. Raptor Observations: The first raptor of the day (11:02 AM EDT) was a non-migrant adult Northern Goshawk gliding off to the east and dived downslope into the forest. The first migrating raptor of the day (1:55 PM EST) was a Northern Harrier flapping frequently from the Lyndeborough Mountain area towards North Pack over the saddle. It strugged to get any lift and finally disappeared to the east side headed south. Non-migrants: SS hunted through the trees below the observatory. RT glided north towards North Pack. Non-raptor Observations: American Crow (5), American Robin (45), Blue Jay, American Goldfinch, Common Raven (1), Dark-eyed Junco, Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1), Hairy Woodpecker (1), Pileated Woodpecker (1), Yellow-rumped Warbler (1). Predictions: Very windy and low clouds ======================================================================== Report submitted by Julie Tilden (julie_tilden AT hotmail.com) Pack Monadnock information may be found at: www.nhaudubon.org Site Description: The Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory is run by New Hampshire Audubon and was launched in September 2005 with funding from the Samuel P. Hunt Foundation, The Monadnock Community Foundation, and the Putnam Foundation. Funding allowed for dramatically-improved visitor access through trail enhancement and landscaping, design and installation of three large interpretive panels and the staffing of the site each day (9/1 to 10/31) by a N.H. Audubon Seasonal Biologist/Interpreter. Site Leader/founder is Iain MacLeod (pandiain AT myfairpoint.net) Fall 2008 Seasonal Counter/Interpreter is Julie Tilden. Directions to site: Located in Miller State Park in Peterborough, N.H. >From Manchester, the Seacoast, Nashua, Concord, and other points north and east, head west on NH-101 (from NH-101 in Manchester or NH-101 in Nashua) past Milford towards Peterborough. Keep an eye out for Temple Mountain. Miller State Park is just beyond this to the right. Once there, you can take the access road to the summit by car or hike one of the two trails (~1.5m) from the main parking lot. >From Keene and Peterborough, take NH-101 East past Peterborough. Miller State Park is to the left near the top of the steep rise. If youve reached Temple Mountain youve gone too far. Once there, you can take the access road to the summit by car or hike one of the two trails (~1.5m) from the main parking lot. Once at the summit pking lot, look for the sign for the Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory. It is an easy walk, .2m down a gravel trail to the north overlook and observatory. There are primitive restrooms, water and shelter available at base and summit. Park is open for day use only. Fees as of 2008:Adults: $4.00; Children ages 6-11: $2.00 Children ages 5 & under, NH residents age 65 & over: FREE Subject: (no subject) From: JORYANDBRENDA AT aol.com Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 08:57:32 EST Last Wednesday we had 175 canadian geese here at our pond which is a record for us. Jory and Brenda-Effingham Subject: Eurasian Wigeon - yes From: lauren.kras AT gmail.com Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 13:37:05 +0000 This morning on a quick check of sunset farm Ben Griffith and I re-found the Eurasian Wigeon. It is still being seen as of 8:35 am. Lauren Kras Dover, NH Subject: 1st year male King Eider From: david.h.arnold AT comcast.net Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 13:14:55 +0000 (UTC) Maine sighting - Andra and I got good looks through the binoculars of a 1st year male King Eider traveling north off the rocks of the Marginal Way in Ogunquit, Maine at about 12:30 PM yesterday. He was not far off shore at all and traveling with (sort of) a group of Common Eiders, as would be expected. The beak was yellow as shown in Sibley but a bit thicker than in the illustration. The head was noticeably grey (unlike the painting in Sibley) and that color drew our attention to the bird. Though his bill was thicker than shown, the rest of the markings were exactly as in Sibley (2000). dave and andra Newmarket, NH Subject: Weekend report from southern NH From: "Kevin Klasman" <kevinklasman AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 23:24:31 -0500 Location: Great Meadow, Hollis Observation date: 10/31/09 Notes: A leisurely walk along the Beaver Brook Association trail along Great Meadow (aka Parker Meadow on Google Maps). Our first visit to this location. Number of species: 7 Canada Goose 27 American Black Duck 6 Mallard 8 hawk sp. 1 just a brief glimpse... Belted Kingfisher 1 Blue Jay 2 American Robin 4 probably many more. Wood Duck 1 Only saw this bird when reviewing my photographs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- Location: Battery Point, Lake Massabesic, Auburn Observation date: 11/1/09 Number of species: 2 Very quiet here today. No ducks at all on the lake, at least around the Audubon property. Dark-eyed Junco 10 sparrow sp. 1 Snow Bunting 4 Images at http://pbase.com/kklasman/snow_bunting ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- Location: Livingston Park, Manchester Observation date: 11/1/09 Number of species: 5 My first ever visit to this beautiful little park in Manchester. Thanks to Jon Woolf for telling me about this spot. Was hoping to see a Ruddy Duck, but did not see it. Mallard 20 Hooded Merganser 8 Great Blue Heron 1 White-throated Sparrow 2 sparrow sp. 4 probably many more Red-winged Blackbird 1 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/nh) Subject: How many blackbirds? From: Steve Mirick <smirick AT comcast.net> Date: Sun, 01 Nov 2009 21:30:32 -0500 Counting birds is a very difficult and challenging exercise. I have no idea how Rick Heil and Blair Nikula estimate their huge numbers of seabirds; however, years of experience certainly helps. Estimating a "river" of blackbirds is probably easier than other species because of their uniform flow, but it still very daunting, to say the least! For an excellent overview of counting birds, visit these e-bird articles: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/news/bird-counting-101 http://ebird.org/plone/ebird/news/bird-counting-201 and if you think your good......give it a shot with this game.......... http://personal.inet.fi/cool/live/birds/index.html Tonight, the blackbirds at the Great Bog blackbird roost in Portsmouth, NH flew over from about 4:15 to 5:00 PM. Although the rate varied, it never stopped, and at times there were two rivers. If I estimate that there were 200,000 birds, that means that an average of over 4,000 birds per minute should have flown by. Tonight there were two primary routes that the birds followed, likely conforming to the easterly and southerly shorelines of Great Bay. We chose to bird from the parking lot at Target for ease of parking and for viewing a wider area. This was great for following the "east river", but the majority of birds followed the "west river" according to this map and flew roughly over the McDonald's at the intersection of Ocean Road. An accurate count would require a couple of teams of counters carefully estimating birds coming in from different directions. Here's a map... http://home.comcast.net/~smirick//blackbirdroost.jpg Here's a beautiful photo of "the river" passing in front of a full moon this evening taken by Len Medlock. A challenge........how many blackbirds are there? http://www.pbase.com/lmedlock/image/118952550/original Answer to follow............ Steve Mirick Bradford, MA Subject: BBC Trip to NH Coast (Eurasian Wigeon, Common Murre, RIVER OF BLACKBIRDS) From: Steve Mirick <smirick AT comcast.net> Date: Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:42:32 -0500 15 1 birders joined Jane and I for a fun-filled day of birding along the NH Coast on a trip we led for the Brookline Bird Club. For more information on the BBC, visit the web site at http://massbird.org/BBC. The day started off with a complete change in itinerary as we veered northward for a staked out Eurasian Wigeon on Great Bay that flew off just as we arrived! We then visited the Exeter wastewater treatment plant and then headed east to the coast and worked north stopping at Hampton Beach State Park, Bicentennial Park, Ragged Neck, Seal Rocks and then Odiorne Point State Park. A trip extension finished the day at the Great Bog blackbird roost. Generally land birds were VERY SCARCE along the coast. Sparrows were in short supply and essentially zero warblers! A short walk around Odiorne produced almost nothing! Fortunately, we managed to scare up a few nice birds for the day! 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Partly cloudy and clearing skies 45F-60F Winds NW 15-25 mph Total species - 69 --------------------------- Canada Goose Mute Swan Wood Duck - 5 flying by at dusk near blackbird roost. EURASIAN WIGEON - 1 male seen by only a few members of group from Sunset Farm on Great Bay in Greenland. Unfortunately the bird flew with the American Wigeon as most of the group drove up! :-( American Wigeon - 4 from Sunset Farm. American Black Duck Mallard NORTHERN SHOVELER - 1 female continues at Exeter WWTP. Green-winged Teal - 17 at Exeter WWTP Greater Scaup - A couple hundred+ distant from Sunset Farm on Great Bay Lesser Scaup - 5 at Exeter WWTP Common Eider Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead - 2 at Exeter WWTP Red-breasted Merganser Red-throated Loon - Including 31 counted on water off Ragged Neck in Rye. Common Loon Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Northern Gannet - Lots along coast. Most far out, but a few not too far offshore. Mostly adults. Double-crested Cormorant Great Blue Heron GREAT EGRET - 1 at Sunset Farm on Great Bay. Getting late. Especially for Great Bay. Sharp-shinned Hawk - A couple Red-tailed Hawk - A few along coast. A couple appeared to be migrating. Peregrine Falcon - Distant views of a bird chasing pigeons near Hampton beach. Semipalmated Plover - About 12 at Ragged Neck. Greater Yellowlegs Sanderling - 300+ at Jenness Beach. Huge flock continues, but not carefully counted. WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER - 17 juveniles continue at Ragged Neck in Rye, NH. Although not rare in early November, this is a large group for the date. Dunlin - Including 19 at Sunset Farm on Great Bay. Wilson's Snipe - 1 at Exeter WWTP Bonaparte's Gull Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull ICELAND GULL - 2 first winter birds continue at Exeter WWTP. Great Black-backed Gull COMMON TERN - 2 picked out by Nick Barber flying into Hampton Harbor. Late. Our last tern in NH this fall was on October 4th. COMMON MURRE - 1 continues in Rye Harbor. Great bird for NH coast and very odd for one to be hanging out in Rye Harbor. Unfortunately, it may be an ill bird.....hope it makes it. Only my 3rd record for NH. Here's my photo again from yesterday: http://home.comcast.net/~smirick//photos/commonmurre1.jpg Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 vocalizing at Sunset Farm Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Blue Jay American Crow Horned Lark - 7 at Hampton Beach State Park. Black-capped Chickadee Golden-crowned Kinglet - 2 at Odiorne Point State Park Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2 at Exeter WWTP Eastern Bluebird - 1 at Sunset Farm American Robin European Starling Cedar Waxwing Warbler sp. - 1 at Ragged Neck. Incredibly only one warbler for the day and could not be tracked down. Possible Yellowthroat/Orange-crowned. American Tree Sparrow - 1 at Odiorne Point State Park. Our first of the winter??!!!!! "Ipswich" Savannah Sparrow - 6 including 3+ at Hampton Beach State Park and great views of 3 feeding together in grasses at Odiorne Point State Park. Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow - 1 at Exeter WWTP White-throated Sparrow - A few at Exeter WWTP Dark-eyed Junco Snow Bunting - About 311 including 170 at Hampton Beach SP, 16 at Exeter WWTP, 75 at Ragged Neck and 50 at Odiorne. Northern Cardinal Red-winged Blackbird COMMON GRACKLE - 200,000. For those who stuck around to the bitter end, we finished the day at the Great Bog blackbird roost and witnessed "The River" of blackbirds from the parking lot of the Target Store along Rt. 33 at the Greenland/Portsmouth town line. Today it started later than yesterday....at about 4:15 PM (EST) and continued non-stop until very late when it finished somewhat abruptly almost exactly at 5:00 PM. About 25 minutes after sunset! I really don't know how many birds there are in "The River", but today's flight was significantly longer than last nights and lasted about 40-45 minutes. Based on input from others, I decided to up last nights estimate of 100,000 to 200,000 birds tonight. There may have been more than that and Len seemed to think closer to 400,000 birds.....who knows? More in a separate post. Brown-headed Cowbird House Finch House Sparrow Mammals ---------- White-tailed Dear Red Squirrel Gray Seal - Now regular along NH coast Harbor Seal Herps ------ Painted Turtle - 1 at Exeter WWTP Insects ------- Cabbage White Clouded Sulphur - Many RED ADMIRAL - 1 at Ragged neck (late?) American Lady - 1 or 2 COMMON GREEN DARNER - 1 at Ragged Neck Meadowhawk sp. - A few along coast including pair flying in tandem (likely Autumn Meadowhawk) Steve & Jane Mirick Bradford, MA Subject: Tom Carrolan's blog on hawks From: "Jim Berry" <jim.berry3 AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:57:35 -0500 Tom Carrolan, one of the northeast's best hawkwatchers, has moved to upstate New York but has kept in touch. His website has morphed into a blog site, but the link has remained the same: www.hawksaloft.com. Tom is a great writer, and he makes hawk ID (among other things) very interesting. It's a good site to bookmark if you want to keep up on hawk ID problems and hawk matters in general. Jim Berry Ipswich, Mass. jim.berry3 AT verizon.net