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11 May Gray Catbird, Baltimore Orioles at home on Heron Pond, Hollis , 5/9/08 ["Kevin Klasman" ] 11 May Durham observations/ Bald Eagle ["Daniel M. Keefe" ] 11 May Pondicherry BBWO ["Rebecca Suomala" ] 11 May Powderhouse: Cerulean? [Jason Lambert ] 11 May CT River birds ["Eric Masterson" ] 11 May Hummers ["thunduh" ] 12 May Little Blue Heron, Uppies, Commies, and Ovvies [] 11 May Powderhouse Pond, Exeter [Leonard Medlock ] 11 May Birdsong Tune-up in Weare ["Mark Suomala" ] 11 May Cerulean W. at Pawtuckaway... [Patience Chamberlin ] 11 May Sandwich area field trip this morning ["Tony Vazzano" ] 11 May Pondicherry IMBD Results: 73 species ["David Govatski" ] 11 May Songbird ID Programs ["Iain MacLeod" ] 11 May FOY ruby-throated hummingbird - Chester ["Maureen Lein" ] 11 May Re: Pickering Ponds Birds and Gull Rescue [Jon Winslow ] 11 May White Crowned Sparrow ["Ken Lidstone" ] 11 May White-faced Ibis, Newbury, MA 5/11 ["Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift" ] 11 May Re: Keene & Hinsdale (NH) and Brattleboro & Westminster (VT) birds today + 3 ... [] 11 May Weird robin behavior ["c-johnson AT hughes.net" ] 10 May Tasker Property/Barnstead ["sayoung" ] 11 May American Bitterns, Brown Thrashers, Ruffed Grouse, & more in North Country [] 11 May Relevant to Orioles on Suet [] 11 May Re: possible REDSHANK in Weare [] 10 May Keene & Hinsdale (NH) and Brattleboro & Westminster (VT) birds today + 3 mystery birds [Julie Waters ] 10 May White and Seavey, Isles of Shoals [Dan Hayward ] 10 May Danville/Kingston ["Schotts" ] 10 May Southeastern NH (Little Blue Heron, Rusty Blackbirds) [Steve Mirick ] 10 May rose breasted grosbeak ["Muffie" ] 10 May Windham/Derry [] 10 May Goose replaced by Turtle ["Sandy" ] 10 May No Subject [] 10 May Re: My FOY orioles - Chester [LadyMacro ] 10 May My FOY orioles - Chester ["Maureen Lein" ] 10 May Cerulean Warblers at Pawtuckaway ["Mark Suomala" ] 10 May solitary sandpipers, Keene [] 10 May Foss Farm, Durham [] 10 May Re: Worm-eating Warbler ["Eric Masterson" ] 10 May Injured Herring Gull, Wallis Sands. [Miedin ] 10 May A few more yard birds [] 10 May Indigo Bunting [] 10 May FOY male hummer [] 10 May Pawtuckaway State Park and East Kingston [] 9 May More FOYs: SCTA, BTGN; seasonal odds and ends [Hank Chary ] 09 May tree swallows Hampton [] 9 May Worm-eating Warbler on a mission [Byard Miller ] 09 May Oops--wrong Waterthrush ["Jane Hills" ] 09 May No Subject [] 9 May FOY hummer Dover Point ["Muffie" ] 09 May New at the feeder--Orange House Finch [] 09 May Massabesic birding 05/09 [Jon Woolf ] 9 May 9 warbler day, Pickering Ponds [Michael ] 09 May Pawtuckaway, Reservation Road, Brentwood County Farm--10 FOYs [] Subject: Gray Catbird, Baltimore Orioles at home on Heron Pond, Hollis , 5/9/08 From: "Kevin Klasman" <kevinklasman AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 22:44:36 -0400 The Orioles were first seen here on Wednesday. 22 species is also a record for one day at our home, and we're now up to 39 species total. Images at http://www.pbase.com/kklasman/ohp_20080509 Location: Home on Heron Pond Observation date: 5/9/08 Notes: Gray Catbird a lifer, great photo ops of Baltimore Orioles. Number of species: 22 Wood Duck 1 Mallard 2 Hooded Merganser 1 Great Blue Heron 2 Mourning Dove 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 Downy Woodpecker 2 Hairy Woodpecker 1 Blue Jay 4 Common Raven 1 Black-capped Chickadee 1 Tufted Titmouse 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 American Robin 2 Gray Catbird 1 Eastern Towhee 1 Chipping Sparrow 2 Red-winged Blackbird 2 Common Grackle 6 Brown-headed Cowbird 4 Baltimore Oriole 3 American Goldfinch 2 This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Subject: Durham observations/ Bald Eagle From: "Daniel M. Keefe" <selchie AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 22:32:35 -0400 I was watching the Orioles and the hummingbirds this morning, normal activity- the Orioles were all chasing each other away- one even chased a Male hummer. Everyone scattered when a Bald Eagle (Full Adult Male) passed over at about 100 feet. A neat sight- I have only seen them here a few times, and never so close. Other visitors Orchard Oriole (M/F) 2 Green Heron's (Three days ago ) Pair of Catbirds Pair RB Gross beaks White Crowned sparrow Wren dive bombing chipmunk, and fighting with Chickadee over ownership of new house. Also, near Bunker Creek (Durham), a pair of Osprey circling, one clutching a branch. Dan Durham, NH Subject: Pondicherry BBWO From: "Rebecca Suomala" <mrsuomala AT net1plus.com> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 22:08:57 -0400 A gorgeous day for birding at Pondicherry. Bird highlight was a great look at a male Black-backed Woodpecker drumming on the trail to Little Cherry Pond. I had never seen or heard them drum. Dave covered most of the regulars and I can (maybe) add a few: Evening Grosbeak Magnolia Warbler (1 or 2) 2 Broad-winged Hawks interacting Sharp-shinned Hawk American Redstart at Airport Marsh. Lots of Yellow-rumpeds and Nashvilles and White-throateds. No Red-eyed Vireos for me, just Blue-headed. Spectacular views of the mountains and the bugs were very light (whew). Becky Rebecca Suomala mrsuomala AT net1plus.com Subject: Powderhouse: Cerulean? From: Jason Lambert <smiley314 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 21:38:55 -0400 Sorry for the late post on this one, bad time for computer problems. Yesterday evening on my way home from the coast I stopped at Powderhouse Pond for the second time that day. I had the usual warblers and this one came down and landed in front of me. Seems like a Juvenile Cerulean but I'm not that great with warblers. http://www.pbase.com/tucky13/warblers For today I stayed close to home: - Evening Grosbeaks: 52 on 5/6/08, and atleast 30 today - Nashville Warbler: 1 in the yard - Indigo Bunting: 1 at the feeders - Pine, Yellow-rumped, Black and White, and Chestnut-sided Warblers in the orchard - Redstart: 1 in the orchard - Bobolink: 2 in the orchard - B. Oriole: 2 in the orchard - The Woodcock remains on her nest. Subject: CT River birds From: "Eric Masterson" <EMasterson AT NHAudubon.org> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 21:03:40 -0400 I birded Mt. Wantastiquet in Hinsdale this morning and then headed to the setbacks for a quick check, where I bumped into Greg Seymour and Cliff Seifer who was just finished leading a Monadnock Audubon trip. Of note was my FOY yellow-throated vireo at the setbacks, a pine siskin flyover on Mt. Wantastiquet along with three eastern towhees and four prairie warblers. The black vulture was still present at retreat meadows and could actually be seen from the summit of Mt. Wantastiquet in NH with a good scope (note to Terry Bronson). Eric Masterson Vice President, Development New Hampshire Audubon 3 Silk Farm Road Concord, NH 03301 Phone 224-9909 ext. 307 New Hampshire Audubon Protecting New Hampshire's natural environment for wildlife and for people Subject: Hummers From: "thunduh" <thunduh AT comcast.net> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 20:37:23 -0400 Some hummingbird pictures I took today in Wilton, NH. http://home.comcast.net/~thunduh2/hummer51108.html Bruce Subject: Little Blue Heron, Uppies, Commies, and Ovvies From: tbbirds AT comcast.net (Terry Bronson) Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 00:02:34 +0000 Thanks to Steve Mirick, I was able to find the adult Little Blue Heron this morning about 9:00 am at the marsh at the North Hampton-Rye town line. 4 Uppies (Upland Sandpipers) were visible at Pease International Tradeport from the golf course parking lot. thery were near the R34 sign. Distant with heat haze, but recognizable. 4 Commies (Common Terns) flew overhead while I was looking at the ocean from the south side of Great Boars Head in Hampton. A few minutes later I found them feeding over the marsh behind Little Jack's Restaurant. All 3 of these were first-of-year birds. 1 Ovvie (Ovenbird) was seen well at about 15 feet this afternoon at Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Newington. Very nervous bird as it posed nicely in the open. I'd heard many, but this was my first sighting of the year. Other highlights: Snowy Egret--3 with the Little Blue, 2 at the Little River Audubon Sanctuary, 1 at Fairhill Marsh in Rye Great Yellowlegs--17 behind Little Jack's, 13 at the Town Line marsh. Willet--11 behind Little Jack's at very high tide. 2 were seen copulating. Inland sightings: North Hampton thickets at Rt. 111 & Woodland Rd.: Yellow Warbler--6 Common Yellowthroat--2 Portsmouth, Route 33 powerline south of the park-and- ride lot: Wood Duck--2 flyovers. Where did they come from? Wild Turkey--1 at edge of parking lot House Wren--1 Gray Catbird--5 Yellow Warbler--11 Common Yellowthroat--4 Field Sparrow--1 Swamp Sparrow--4 Portsmouth, Pease Tradeport along Corporate Drive: Eastern Kingbird--2 Gray Catbird--1 Northern Mockingbird--3 Brown Thrasher--1 Yellow Warbler--5 Savannah Sparrow--4 Newington, Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge: Osprey--3, 1 on each nest, and when I returned from walking the Ferry Way Trail, it looked like there was a youngster (only head visible) in the left nest Red-tailed Hawk--1 adult landed on the water tower, and was promptly attacked by an American Kestrel Red-bellied Woodpecker--1 heard Northern Flicker--2, observed a shift change at a nest hole in a dead tree at the wetland on the Ferry Way Trail Eastern Kingbird--2 House Wren--1 Eastern Bluebird--2, male observed carrying food to a birch tree behind the parking lot . Female later seen flying to same area. European Starling--2, 1 carrying food to an apparent nest in one of the weapons storage area gate control boxes. Black-and-white Warbler--1 Common Yellowthroat--2 males Field Sparrow--3 Baltimore Oriole--1 male -- Terry Bronson Hampton Falls, NH tbbirds AT comcast.net Subject: Powderhouse Pond, Exeter From: Leonard Medlock <lmedlock AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 17:47:52 -0500 (CDT) JoAnn O'Shaughnessy and I birded Powderhouse Pond in Exeter early this morning and late afternoon: Warblers: Northern Parula (X) Nashville-2 Yellow (X) Chestnut-sided (1m) Magnolia-2 Black-throated Blue (2m, 1f) Yellow-rumped (X) Black-throated Green (2, heard only) Palm-1 Pine-(0!) Black-and-white (2m, 1f) American Redstart (3m, 1f) Northern Waterthrush-1 Common Yellowthroat-5 Other highlights: Osprey-1 (morning) Sharp-shinned Hawk-1 (afternoon, with prey) Broad-winged Hawk-1 (afternoon) Least Sandpiper-5 (morning) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher-1 Nest box 1 has Tree Swallow nest material--let's hope the other three are used soon. http://www.pbase.com/lmedlock/warblers Len Medlock Exeter, NH Subject: Birdsong Tune-up in Weare From: "Mark Suomala" <mrsuomala AT marksbirdtours.com> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 18:51:14 -0400 Walked some less-birded trails in the Army Corps of Engineers lands adjacent to Clough State Park in Weare this morning. It was a brisk morning for the 8 of us, and not very buggy. The gates were still closed, so we were limited to walking. Highlights: Hooded Merganser 1 Common Merganser 10+ Semipalmated Plover 1 Spotted Sandpiper 2 Killdeer 1 Broad-winged Hawk 1 Ruffed Grouse 1 heard drumming Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 heard drumming Eastern Phoebe 1 Great Crested Flycatcher 1 heard on South Sugar Hill Road Eastern Kingbird 1 Blue-headed Vireo several Common Raven several Northern Rough-Winged Swallow 2 Tree Swallow several Barn Swallow several House Wren 1 Wood Thrush 2 Gray Catbird 2 Yellow Warbler several Chestnut-sided Warbler several Yellow-rumped Warbler several Black-throated Green Warbler 1 heard Pine Warbler several Black-and-white Warbler several Ovenbird many Common Yellowthroat several Wilson's Warbler 1 Chipping Sparrow many White-throated Sparrow many Swamp Sparrow heard Northern Cardinal 1 heard Rose-breasted Grosbeak several Baltimore Oriole many Purple Finch several Mark Suomala mrsuomala AT marksbirdtours.com http://www.marksbirdtours.com Subject: Cerulean W. at Pawtuckaway... From: Patience Chamberlin <patiencec AT comcast.net> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 17:38:54 -0400 ...continues at Middle Mt trail. Easily located due to its lusty, continual singing. And great views due to the relatively sparse foliage, as Mark mentioned in his post yesterday. Also one Red-eyed Vireo, FOY, and American Redstart, FOY. It was a quick trip! And a pleasure to meet Scott Young also enjoying the bird. In our woods back in Exeter: very quiet except for highlights... Blackburnian Warbler 1, FOY Black-throated blue 1 it seems a good year for them here At our feeders: highlights.. White-crowned Sparrow 1 second day here B Orioles Downtown Exeter: Chimney swifts 30-ish the numbers are steadily ramping up Powder House Pond in Exeter was packed with birds: almost all in the trees and bushes alongside the walk. wonderful views at eye level. N Parula 6 Black-throated blue W. 1 Am. redstart 2 Nashville W 1 Chestnut-sided W 1 Yellow W 10+ I stopped counting Yellow- rumped W ditto Warbling Vireo 3 C Yellowthroat 2 B Oriole 4 E Kingbird 1 Tree swallows 2 I think they are using one of the boxes Len put up. My idea of a great Mother's Day! Patience Chamberlin Exeter Subject: Sandwich area field trip this morning From: "Tony Vazzano" <tvazzano AT ncia.net> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 16:58:40 -0400 A bird walk for the Lakes Region Chapter of NHA began at Thompson WS in North Sandwich this morning. The trail is flooded past the first 100 yards. We were treated to views of a calling American Bittern from less than 40 feet as it stood in the wet brush a few feet from the trail. Of the 10 species of warblers, a male Bay-breasted, a Wilson's and a Northern Waterthrush were the highlights. Near the Community School in South Tamworth there was another bittern. At the gravel pit on Route 113 on the Sandwich - Tamworth line there were 1 or 2 Greater Yellowlegs, a few Solitary Sandpipers and a singing thrasher. On our way out a Peregrine flew low, just past us, and continued northbound. Tony Vazzano Sandwich Subject: Pondicherry IMBD Results: 73 species From: "David Govatski" <pondicherry AT wildblue.net> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 15:27:42 -0400 A group of 28 birders celebrated International Migratory Bird Day at the Pondicherry National Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson and Whitefield on Saturday. We first birded the Airport Marsh area where we were treated to several Yellow Warblers, 4 Brown Thrashers, a female Northern Harrier; Wood Ducks and Hooded Mergansers in breeding plumage. The walk to Cherry Pond produced numerous singing warblers including Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue, Black and White, Myrtle, Chestnut-sided, Nashville, Northern Parula, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Waterthrush, Pine and Palm Warblers. At Cherry Pond we dedicated a plaque honoring the visionary efforts of Tudor Richards to create a refuge at Pondicherry. We were treated to drumming ruffed grouse, a pair of loons, honking Canada geese, a bald eagle flyover and an osprey at the far end of the pond as we enjoyed some refreshments on the viewing platform. We also walked to Little Cherry Pond anticipating that we would see a black-backed woodpecker but to no avail. The sounds of spring in the boreal forest made up for the absence of the woodpecker and we enjoyed exploring the fen at the edge of Little Cherry Pond. On the way back we spotted a robin's nest that was being raided by a red squirrel and watched with discomfort as the squirrel took the blue eggs and cracked and ate them. The total number of bird species was 73 which is good for the 10th of May in the North Country. We missed several of the later arriving warblers such as Cape May, Bay-breasted, Mourning, Wilson's, Blackpoll and American Redstart which are expected later this week. The only unusual species were a White-crowned Sparrow and a Double-crested Cormorant. A friend in Randolph also mentioned that they had White-crowned Sparrows yesterday. Kathi and I went back early Sunday morning and walked the same route. As luck would have it, we found both the male and female Black-backed Woodpecker in the same location that we had looked for to no avail on Saturday. We alerted a few other birders who were on the trail to be looking for them. We also heard two other species that we missed on Saturday: Wilson's Snipe and Blackburnian Warbler. As I write this note, I can see both an Evening Grosbeak and a Rose-breasted Grosbeak in the apple trees by the house. We missed both of these yesterday but seeing a lot of birds is only part of the experience. David Govatski Jefferson, NH Subject: Songbird ID Programs From: "Iain MacLeod" <iain.macleod AT nhnature.org> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 12:00:29 -0400 My Southern Woodland Songbird program went well yesterday. From 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. we tallied 74 species in a variety of locations in the Lakes Region (Holderness, Campton, Meredith, Sandwich and Moultonborough) Canada Goose Wood Duck Mallard Common Merganser Hooded Merganser Wild Turkey Common Loon Great Blue Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Cooper's Hawk Herring Gull Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Chimney Swift Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker Least Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Yellow-throated Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Warbling Vireo Red-eyed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper House Wren Winter Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Eastern Bluebird Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird European Starling Nashville Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Pine Warbler Black-and-white Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Northern Waterthrush Common Yellowthroat Canada Warbler Chipping Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Rose-breasted Grosbeak Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole Purple Finch American Goldfinch My next workshop is in a couple weeks: NORTHERN FOREST BIRDS Thursday, May 29 -- 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. AND Saturday, May 31 -- 6:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Join Iain MacLeod for another in this series of in-depth workshops this time focusing on the birds that inhabit our boreal forest habitats in northern NH. The evening session will include a presentation with color illustration and audio recordings. The Saturday field trip will visit Trudeau Road in Twin Mountain, Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge in Whitefield/Jefferson and perhaps Cannon Mtn. in search of spruce/fir specialties such as Black-backed Woodpeckers, Boreal Chickadee, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher and a wide variety of northern forest dwelling warblers. Cost: $45/member; $55/non-member Contact Iain at 603-968-7194 x23 or iain.macleod AT nhnature.org 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 NOW OPEN DAILY! Advancing understanding of ecology by exploring NH's natural world Northern New England's only AZA*-accredited institution. *Association of Zoos and Aquariums -- www.aza.org Subject: FOY ruby-throated hummingbird - Chester From: "Maureen Lein" <mmleinnh AT comcast.net> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 11:53:11 -0400 A little late compared to others, but we just got our first male ruby-throated hummingbird. Maureen Lein Subject: Re: Pickering Ponds Birds and Gull Rescue From: Jon Winslow <jon_221998 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 08:33:12 -0700 (PDT) Pickering Ponds, Rochester. Sunday, May 11, 2008. Many Warblers (though not near as reported several days ago). Yellow Warbler (many), Chestnut Sided Warbler (two) , Northern Oriole (one). Female Commone Merganser, along with all the usual and more common species. Disturbingly though was a Immature Herring Gull I noticed with a plastic Rite-Aid bag around it trying to fly out of the pond.. As I thought about what to do next it slowly drifted toward shore. I went to my truck got some leather work gloves and got a long stick. I located the bird and slowly crept up and stabbed the plastic bag, holding it in place. I carefully picked up the bird and let him latch onto my finger, it kept him happy while I assessed his condition. I noticed the bag(which I thought was caught around his feet ) was actually wound so tightly around its neck I can't believe it could breathe. It took five minutes to unravel the bag enough to slip it around its neck. I gave him the once over and aside from some messed up feathers on one wing he looked good enough for release. I put him back in thepond and he briskly swam off with his head high and looking alert. If anyone goes to Pickering Ponds today or Monday please have a good look in the frdt pond closest to the parking area and see if he was able to fly off by himself, thank you. That was my Mothers Day gift to my mom who passed away last year. She was the one who got me interested in birding and I know she would have been very happy to see that bird swim off without that bag around it. Jon Winslow Dover, NH ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ Subject: White Crowned Sparrow From: "Ken Lidstone" <klidstone AT pyramidadvisors.com> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 10:45:17 -0400 This morning we had our first ever white crowned sparrow at our feeder. Other visitors were rose breasted grosbeak, Baltimore oriel and a hummingbird. Ken Lidstone, Hampton Subject: White-faced Ibis, Newbury, MA 5/11 From: "Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift" <birdwsg AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 09:26:20 -0500 (CDT) Rick Heil called at 9:15am to report the WHITE-FACED IBIS on Scotland Rd in Newbury, along with 41 glossy ibis. Steve Grinley Bird Watcher's Supply & Gift and Nature Shop at Joppa Flats Newburyport, MA BirdWSG AT Verizon.net 978-462-0775 Subject: Re: Keene & Hinsdale (NH) and Brattleboro & Westminster (VT) birds today + 3 ... From: Wendychatel AT aol.com Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 06:28:05 EDT In a message dated 5/10/2008 7:54:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time, julie AT riverartsproject.com writes: http://juliesmagiclightshow.com/3363.php Could it be a Vesper Sparrow? or some other Savannah cousin ... Wendy Chatel **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001) Subject: Weird robin behavior From: "c-johnson AT hughes.net" <c-johnson@hughes.net> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 05:43:32 +0000 (UTC) I have heard of robins building multiple nests, but one pair in my yard started fourteen of them under the eaves of an outbuilding before finally settling in one! Also, I looked outside this morning and noticed a rose breasted grossbeak at the suet feeder, along with three black throated blue warblers! Cheryl Johnson Campton Subject: Tasker Property/Barnstead From: "sayoung" <sayoung AT metrocast.net> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 21:43:44 -0400 Part of the Blue Hills Foundation Lands. I got out for little over an hour AT 4 pm. When I approached the first beaver pond this tree swallow decided to keep me company. Three times it attempted to land on my scope. I think it was imitating a blackfly. And it certainly wasn't helpful as I was trying to steal up on a flock of 14 male Bobolinks bathing in the pond. Then they would fly up to a tree to preen and practice their song. Only to return to bathing again. That Tree Swallow was obnoxious. The Blandings Turtle was not. The other bigger pond had 6 Common Mergs, only one male, and a flock of 7 motley Hoodies I'm guessing to be 1st yr males. Great looks at both male and female Scarlet Tanagers. 3 active GB Heron nests and an immature Red-shouldered Hawk, spotted sandpipers and a bunch of warblers and stuff. Not bad for an hour in strong winds late in the day. Scott Young/Strafford Subject: American Bitterns, Brown Thrashers, Ruffed Grouse, & more in North Country From: tbbirds AT comcast.net (Terry Bronson) Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 01:05:25 +0000 I went north today to help celebrate International Migratory Bird Day at Airport Marsh in Whitefield and the Pondicherry Refuge/NH Audubon Sanctuary in Jefferson. I'll leave the complete report to Dave Govatski, our fearless leader, who organized a splendid day, with a little help from Mother Nature. My personal highlights: American Bittern--1 male and female at the airport in Whitefield out in plain sight in the last grassy area going east before the bogs and swamps. The female was in a breakfast mood, but the male had other things in mind. We were treated to the full display of puffed out chest and other displays of affections for his dearly beloved. About an hour or so later at Pondicherry, 2 Bitterns flew over--most likely the same pair? First of year. Brown Thrasher--4, at least, at Airport Marsh Ruffed Grouse--at least 7 drumming along the trail into Pondicherry from the south Bank Swallow--2 at Airport Marsh Northern Rough-winged Swallow--1 at Airport Marsh Eastern Wood-Pewee--1 at Pondicherry parking lot as we returned to our cars. Heard only by 3 people, but we all instantly came to the same conclusion. Nashville Warbler--5, at least, at Pondicherry with a couple giving great views Yellow-rumped Warbler--I listed 30 at Pondicherry, but there could have been double that Black-and-white Warbler--3 at Pondicherry Northern Waterthrush--1 at Pondicherry posing obligingly for several minutes while singing. My first sighting, though I had heard one a few days ago. Osprey--1 at Little Cherry Pond at Pondicherry Bald Eagle-1 at Cherry Pond at Pondicherry American Kestrel--1 male at Cherry Pond eating what may have been a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, though it seemed small. Or maybe a bird with blood on its head. And on the way home, in Landaff on the Wild Ammonoosuc River: Common Merganser--1 male and 1 female together sitting on rocks in the fast flowing white water, another male about a mile upstream. This seems a very odd location to me. Could they possibly be nesting there? And now the lowlights: Black-backed Woodpecker--none at Pondicherry Sandhill Crane--none in Monroe, either on Plains Road or Rt. 135 Purple Martin--none at the Funspot in Weirs Beach on the way home. Only a couple of Starlings at the Martin houses, and many of the holes were so stuffed with nest material that nothing could get in. -- Terry Bronson Hampton Falls, NH tbbirds AT comcast.net Subject: Relevant to Orioles on Suet From: d.skillman AT comcast.net Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 00:37:25 +0000 We were treated to this scene at home in East Kingston today: http://www.pbase.com/dennissk/image/96862961 Dennis Skillman Subject: Re: possible REDSHANK in Weare From: birdbrain05 AT comcast.net Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 00:23:10 +0000 Unfortunately, I had not been online yesterday and just saw this message at 3:30, but I did go out this afternoon from 4:20 - 5:40 to the Army Corps of Engineers land in Weare to the flood plain area with the pool of water described to look for sandpipers and the possible redshank with scope and camera, since I live fairly close to the area. I did not find any sandpipers/sandpiper-like birds at all. I ran into some people from the Soo-Nipi Chapter and they had just come back from the area and they did not see anything either. Maybe the morning will bring better luck, wish I could make it. This is what I did see there: (1) Broad-Winged Hawk (1) Belted Kingfisher (1) Song Sparrow (8) Am Goldfinches (10) Common Grackles (4) Common Mergansers (2) Mallards Sheri Pinkham Weare, NH -------------- Original message -------------- From: "Mark Suomala" > This morning, while scouting for my Birdsong Tune-up workshop (this Sunday) > on the Army Corps of Engineers land in Weare, I briefly watched a shorebird > with red legs walking in a wet grassy area next to a temporary water pool in > an area that, up until a few days ago, had been completely flooded. In the > pool of water were the red-legged shorebird, 2 Solitary Sandpipers and a > Spotted Sandpiper. The bird was foraging and then abruptly took off. It flew > a good distance away with one of the Solitary Sandpipers, and then returned > by itself. I was still too far away to see much detail, and I did not have > my scope or camera with me. The red legs were easy to again observe, as I > inched forward. It was quite nervous and took flight again, flying out > farther into the flooded area and did not return. I watched for about 20 > minutes and then went back home, got my camera and scope and spent the next > 3-hours searching for it, with no luck. There were however, about 6 or more > Solitary Sandpipers, about 10 Spotted Sandpipers, a Killdeer, and 3 Least > Sandpipers. > > My overall impression was of a sandpiper that was similar in shape and size > to a Lesser Yellowlegs, altough a bit stockier. The legs seemed red, and not > orange or yellow. While a Lesser Yellowlegs seemed like a possible > candidate, the legs still seemed too red. The back was a dark brown, and the > bill seemed about as long as the width of the head from bill-base to back of > head. I was not close enough to see any color on the bill. It vocalized once > in flight, which sounded a bit like a one-syllabled "tew" of a Lesser > Yellowlegs. It was slightly larger than the Solitary Sandpiper that stood > near it. I could see barring on the tail when it flew, but I was unable to > see the trailing wings, as it flew quite rapidly. > > It would be great if someone could get a picture of this bird. While a > Lesser Yellowlegs with reddish legs is cetainly possible, it would be a > shame to miss a Common Redshank! > > To get to where I saw the bird: > > Directions: > Take Route 89 to Exit 2 (Route 13). Go south on Route 13 and past Silk Farm > Road. Go 4 miles until you get to a flashing light at a 4-way intersection. > Continue straight through the intersection on Route 77 (Route 13 turns left > here). Follow Route 77 for 3 miles and watch for Sugar Hill Road South on > your left (look for the Sugar Hill Speedway sign). Take Sugar Hill Road > South to the end (2 miles). If the road is gated (near the end), you can > park there, but don't block the gate. If the gate is open, continue a short > distance to the end of the road to a "T"-intersection and park there. At the > "T" intersection, go left and walk about one-half mile until the road grade > starts to go up. You will see 2 concrete barriers on your right. Walk past > the barriers (slowly!) and you will see a pool of water below on the > floodplain. This is where I saw the "redshank". > > Good luck! > > Be sure to post the results of any effort (positive or negative). > > Mark Suomala > mrsuomala AT marksbirdtours.com > http://www.marksbirdtours.com Subject: Keene & Hinsdale (NH) and Brattleboro & Westminster (VT) birds today + 3 mystery birds From: Julie Waters <julie AT riverartsproject.com> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 19:50:47 -0400 Photos for many of the birds listed below at: http://juliesmagiclightshow.com/_2008-05-10.php This morning, I birded the Hinsdale setback and had some nice sightings: two kinds of flycatchers (not sure which kind yet, but I got photos) blue-gray gnatcatchers, a scarlet tanager, common yellowthroats, yellow warblers, yellow-rumped warblers, one great blue heron, many red-winged blackbirds and grackles, multiple orioles, several canada geese and one eastern kingbird. The kingbird photo, by the way, is a real treat: I got it just as it was swallowing a bug: http://juliesmagiclightshow.com/3357.php Later, in Brattleboro, there were -many- chipping sparrows chasing one another around, as well as a savannah sparrow and FOY bobolinks. Again, multiple grackles & red-winged blackbirds, plus many starlings and house sparrows. In that group, I got a very nice photo of one chipping sparrow flying towards another: http://juliesmagiclightshow.com/3359.php We then checked out Krif Road in Keene in search of pipits. No luck with the pipits but we got a sparrow I can't seem to figure out. White eye ring and pink legs, streaking on chest and sides under wings, (but not stomach), mostly white throat with two dark streaks coming from the beak down and outwards. Got two very clear photos of the bird, and after looking through my books, I decided it was best to consult a panel of experts (that's where all of you come in): http://juliesmagiclightshow.com/3363.php http://juliesmagiclightshow.com/3362.php Finally, at home, some nice feeder birds. Orioles, pine siskins, american goldfinches, hairy woodpecker, a -huge- flock of tree sparrows flying all over the neighborhood, a red-tailed hawk flyover, a cooper's hawk flyover, grackles, red-winged blackbirds, mourning doves, cardinals, rose-breasted grosbeaks, a ruby-throated hummingbird, black-capped chickadees, blue jays. Also, at Allen Brothers Marsh, there was an Eastern Kingbird which couldn't be budged standing in the same tree where they nested last year, so I suspect there will be another nest, plus the Sora is still calling, though from further away than yesterday and still not visible. If anyone can help me out with the mystery flycatchers and sparrow, I'd appreciate it. The sparrow did not vocalize. --julie -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- julie AT riverartsproject.com http://juliewaters.com/ We've heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the Complete Works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know this is not true. --Robert Wilensky Subject: White and Seavey, Isles of Shoals From: Dan Hayward <d_hayward AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 16:15:13 -0700 (PDT) This morning there were small groups of common terns coming in from the south, ranging in number from 3 to 65, totaling around 150. They came in from over the water and circled Seavey Island a few times and then head towards the coast. There has been some debate as to what species of bird, raven or barred owl, may have spent the winter using one of the porches on Appledore Island. There are pellets, whitewash and an attempt at a nest. With all the activity on Appledore, now that the Lab is now up and running for the season, it looks like the birds in question came over here. This morning there was a pair of ravens and a barred owl on White and Seavey Islands . I have not seen them since. Dan "For all at last return to the seato Oceanus, the ocean river, like the ever-flowing stream of time, the beginning and the end." Rachel Carson Subject: Danville/Kingston From: "Schotts" <ctschott AT verizon.net> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 19:10:33 -0400 I had a female Rose Breasted Grosbeak at the feeder today as well as a Red Bellied Woodpecker. I also saw an Orchard Oriole in a quince bush off Rte 111 in Kingston. Chris - Danville Subject: Southeastern NH (Little Blue Heron, Rusty Blackbirds) From: Steve Mirick <smirick AT comcast.net> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 17:59:03 -0400 Jane and I poked around today, hoping to run into some of the flocks of warblers that others have had over the last few days. We had mixed luck. The coast was DEAD for landbirds. The church parking lot had nothing and there was very little at Odiorne. Perhaps not surprising with the northeast winds. Inland, we did OK, but not great. Decent variety of warblers and lots of new year birds, but not large numbers and nothing terribly unusual. We covered the coast rather quickly and walked for about 1/2 hour around Odiorne, and then worked inland around part of Great Bay, northward to Pickering Ponds in Rochester (where we ran into Pat & Theresa Redmond) and then southward along Rt. 125 toward Kensington and Kingston. Best concentrations of warblers were at Pickering Ponds, but not as many as Chet had yesterday. We eked out 101 species for the day including 14 warblers and about 21 new year birds (FOY): 7:00 AM - 4:30 PM NE Winds - 10-20 mph Cloudy to clearing 50F - 65F Canada Goose Mute Swan Wood Duck American Black Duck Mallard GREEN-WINGED TEAL - 10 birds lingering on Great Bay Common Eider Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter - Good numbers of scoters still along the coast. Long-tailed Duck - Still unusually high (for NH) numbers lingering from Great Boar's Head. COMMON MERGANSER - 1 female still at Pickering Ponds. Unusual in May in this part of state. Red-breasted Merganser Common Loon NORTHERN GANNET - 10+ in Seabrook/Hampton area. All appeared to be sub-adults. Double-crested Cormorant Great Cormorant - At least one immature on Hampton Harbor jetty. Great Blue Heron Snowy Egret - 12 total along coast. No Great Egrets. LITTLE BLUE HERON - 1 adult in Little River saltmarsh in North Hampton with Snowys. Green Heron (FOY) - 2 at Pickering ponds. Turkey Vulture Osprey BALD EAGLE - 1 immature at Pickering Ponds. Put up all the gulls. NORTHERN HARRIER - 1 female at Pickering Ponds. Unusual sighting for May. RED-SHOULDERED HAWK - 1 at Chapman's Landing calling and seen. Unusual location. Red-tailed Hawk Black-bellied Plover - 12 in Hampton Harbor Semipalmated Plover (FOY) - 61 in Hampton Harbor Killdeer Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs - 1 at Chapman's Landing Solitary Sandpiper (FOY) - 2 at Chapman's Landing. Willet Least Sandpiper (FOY) - 30 along coast Purple Sandpiper - 80 on Hampton Beach rocks Dunlin - 19 in Hampton Harbor Ring-billed Gull Herring Gull Great Black-backed Gull Common Tern (FOY) - 4 over Hampton marsh. Rock Pigeon Mourning Dove Red-bellied Woodpecker - 1 off Bay Road in Newmarket. Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Eastern Phoebe Great Crested Flycatcher (FOY) - 1 along Bay Road in Durham. Eastern Kingbird (FOY) - Several Yellow-throated Vireo (FOY) - At least 3 for the day including 2 or 3 at Pickering Ponds and 1 off Bartlett Road in Kensington. Blue-headed Vireo (FOY) - A couple singing Warbling Vireo - Several at Pickering Ponds Blue Jay American Crow Common Raven - 1 being attacked by 3 American Crows at Lee Traffic Circle. Tree Swallow - Very few swallows for the day. And only 2 species! Didn't search too much for them, however. Barn Swallow - 15 at Eel Pond. Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren (FOY) - Several Marsh Wren (FOY) - 1 or 2 at marsh at Odiorne. Eastern Bluebird American Robin Gray Catbird (FOY) -Lots everywhere. Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher - 1 at Odiorne and 1 at Pickering Ponds. European Starling Blue-winged Warbler (FOY) - 4 total for the day. Male and female at Pickering Ponds. Male off Bartlett Road in Kensington. Northern Parula - (FOY) - A few Yellow Warbler (FOY) - Lots Chestnut-sided Warbler (FOY) - At least 3 Magnolia Warbler - At least 3 Black-throated Blue Warbler (FOY) - 2 males and 1 female. Yellow-rumped Warbler - Not too many. Perhaps 12 for the day. Black-throated Green Warbler - A couple Pine Warbler Black-and-white Warbler - LOTS. American Redstart (FOY) - At least 3 at Pickering Ponds Ovenbird - 1 only for the day. Common Yellowthroat (FOY) - Lots Wilson's Warbler (FOY) - 1 at Pickering Ponds Eastern Towhee Chipping Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Northern Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Lots Bobolink - A couple off Bay Road in Newmarket Red-winged Blackbird Eastern Meadowlark - One off Bay Road. RUSTY BLACKBIRD - 5. 2 females and 3 males at least. Very vocal with males singing and females giving some gurgling notes. With Grackles and Red-wings in wooded swamp off Bartlett Road in Kensington. Foraging in leaflitter along edge of swamp. Late date. Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Baltimore Oriole (FOY) - Lots House Finch American Goldfinch House Sparrow Otter - 1 in Little River Saltmarsh Eastern Garter Snake - 3 Eastern Ribbon Snake - 1 (caught and released) Small snake sp. - 1 (possible Brown Snake) Damsel fly sp. - 2 (first odonates of the year for me) Spring Azure - 1 Eastern Comma, or perhaps Question Mark? - 2 Steve & Jane Mirick Bradford, MA Subject: rose breasted grosbeak From: "Muffie" <MH AT Hendricks.mv.com> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 17:40:49 -0400 My husband saw a male Rose Breasted grosbeak at our feeders this morning, but I guess I got up too late to see it. This afternoon we had: 1 Hummingbird 2 mourning doves 7 or 8 common grackles 2 common loons Starling pair Red winged blackbird pair Baltimore Oriole pair. Got some good snaps of them at the orange: http://www.flickr.com/photos/88555333 AT N00/ Heard: blue jay We peeked at the green heron nest, saw only 1 heron sitting. We just don't want to disturb them, although the cedar tree the nest is in is right on the street. Muffie Dover Point Subject: Windham/Derry From: Byrder101 AT aol.com Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 17:39:54 EDT Hi Took a walk along a section of the Windham rail trail. Took my shortcut and started at Mitchell pond. Besides the usual suspects I saw the following: baltimore orioles kingfisher great blue heron turkey vulture blue gray gnatcatchers yellow rumped warblers yellow warbler common yellow throats black throated green warblers black throated blue warbler nashville warbler black and white warblers tree swallows yellow throated vireo warbling vireos scarlet tanager heard only: blue headed vireo northern parula great crested flycatchers oven birds In my yard the following birds arrived this past week: rose breasted grosbeak - M and F, hummingbird, baltimore oriole - M and F, kingbird, common yellow throat, yellow rumped warbler and a blue winged warbler last night. Been pretty slow here for warblers. The red bellied woodpeckers continue to come to the suet feeder. Had a pair of house finches nest in a glass globe in my breezeway and the babies fledged 3 days ago. The bluebird babies must have hatched on May 2nd. That is when the parents started grabbing as many meal worms as they could handle and flying to the box, usually dropping a few and having to land and rearrange the load and take off again. Had a pair of wood duck on my pond again this morning. 3rd. visit. Barb Horton Derry **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001) Subject: Goose replaced by Turtle From: "Sandy" <slmolloy AT comcast.net> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 17:15:12 -0400 I checked out the beaver lodge where the goose has been nesting and found that the goose had been replaced by a large turtle. What does this mean? Has the snapper eaten the goslings? Would a snapper lay its eggs on the lodge? The two geese were on the edge of the pond. I didn't see any evidence of young but they could have been hidden. The only FOY seen today in Century Village was a common yellowthroat. Sandy Londonderry Subject: No Subject From: split52 AT aol.com Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 16:39:13 -0400 My bobolink returned today on schedule to wish me a happy mother's day.? He is very dependable and arrives the same weekend each year. Anna Pike North Hampton Subject: Re: My FOY orioles - Chester From: LadyMacro <LadyMacro AT metrocast.net> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 16:29:50 -0400 I always see them eat suet when they first arrive for the season, after their migration trip as though they are trying to put back lost weight from the trip. Debbie Stahre W. Nottingham . At 04:21 PM 5/10/2008, you wrote: >Just had a pair of Baltimore orioles visit both oranges and suet feeders. >I've not noticed them eating suet in previous years. Is this common? > >Maureen Lein > >Chester Subject: My FOY orioles - Chester From: "Maureen Lein" <mmleinnh AT comcast.net> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 16:21:10 -0400 Just had a pair of Baltimore orioles visit both oranges and suet feeders. I've not noticed them eating suet in previous years. Is this common? Maureen Lein Chester Subject: Cerulean Warblers at Pawtuckaway From: "Mark Suomala" <mrsuomala AT marksbirdtours.com> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 15:07:51 -0400 At the Birdsong Tune-up Workshop that I taught at Pawtuckaway State Park in Nottingham this morning, besides the usual birds, we heard and saw 2 singing CERULEAN WARBLERS. One warbler was alternating between 2 different songs, one song a bit like like a fast Black-throated Blue Warbler, and one song a bit like a Magnolia Warbler The other Cerulean sang only one song, a bit like like a fast Black-throated Blue Warbler. Both birds were near the start of the Middle Mountain Trail, but about 200 yards apart. They were foraging mainly in trees with the leaves not fully out, so other than being high up, causing "warbler-neck", they were relatively easy to view. Mark Suomala mrsuomala AT marksbirdtours.com http://www.marksbirdtours.com Subject: solitary sandpipers, Keene From: hbreder AT comcast.net Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 14:00:40 -0400 Today I saw a couple of solitary sandpipers in the marsh bordering the road to the Keene State College Athletic Complex, on the right side just past the gate at Krif Rd. There were also a couple of yellow warblers. Here are some photos of the sandpipers: http://www.onejackdaw.com/My%20NA%20Birds%20Gallery/Solitary_Sandpipers.html Hilke Breder Brattleboro, VT Subject: Foss Farm, Durham From: napap AT comcast.net Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 17:03:47 +0000 Our Seacoast Chapter walk at Foss Farm this morning didn't yield anything rare or unusual but we did have nice looks at some of the warblers. Great Blue Heron Red-tailed Hawk Canada Goose Morning Dove Kingbird Blue Jay Crow Phoebe Tree Swallow Titmouse Chickadee Northern Parula Blue-winged Yellow Chestnut-sided Black-throated Green (H) Black-and-white American Redstart Ovenbird(H) Common Yellowthroat Cardinal Rose-breasted Grosbeak Towhee Chipping Sparrow White-throated Sparow White-crowned Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Goldfinch We saw lots of my favorite birds and, even though it was quite cool, we had a good time. Ann Ablowich Subject: Re: Worm-eating Warbler From: "Eric Masterson" <EMasterson AT NHAudubon.org> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 12:39:56 -0400 New Hampshire Audubon's store in Concord has Monarchs 8x42 for sale AT 358.99 and 10x42 AT 389.99. All optics are on sale for the month of May at 15% off for members and 10% for non-members. Eric Masterson Vice President, Development New Hampshire Audubon 3 Silk Farm Road Concord, NH 03301 Phone 224-9909 ext. 307 New Hampshire Audubon Protecting New Hampshire's natural environment for wildlife and for people >>> Melissa Miller 05/09/08 9:42 AM >>> In Concord, yesterday morning (thursday, 5/8) I first heard, then saw a Worm-eating Warbler (awful name for a wonderful bird). He was singing his distinctive song from near the top of a tree in my backyard. No sign of him this morning... It was only two years ago that I discovered warblers pass through here in the spring, so I am keeping my eyes and ears open, especially now as the crabapple begins to blossom, and last year there were a couple warblers there for a couple of weeks - a Yellow warbler, a Common Yellow-throat, and a Yellow-rumped. Wednesday morning saw a male Baltimore Oriole. Several Chimney Swifts were flying around wednesday evening. I need a better pair of binoculars. Any suggestions? Thanks! Subject: Injured Herring Gull, Wallis Sands. From: Miedin <miedin AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 11:31:19 -0400 There was a Gull with an injured wing walking around in the street just outside of and about 100ft south of the gate at Wallis Sands in Rye Thursday. I meant to report it right away but by the time I got home I had completely forgotten about it until just now. It appeared otherwise healthy but was dragging a wing and walking carelessly in the middle of the road. Hopefully somebody else saw it and got it some help but just in case if you're in the area keep an eye out. Mike North Hampton Subject: A few more yard birds From: <dot7e AT habi-scapes.com> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 09:04:55 -0400 I forgot a few on my yard list - Wood Thrush White Eyed Vireo Ovenbirds Red Tailed Hawk American Kestrel Sharp Shinned Hawk Many Robins Dot Sevigny So. Hampton Subject: Indigo Bunting From: <dot7e AT habi-scapes.com> Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 08:57:21 -0400 I have an Indigo Bunting at my feeders this morning - means that the lilacs are about to explode! Other yard birds: Many Baltimore Orioles RT Hummingbird White Crowned Sparrow White Throated Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Song Sparrow Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Bluebirds Cardinals Blue Jays Goldfinches House Finches Purple Finches Black Throated Green Warbler Black & White Warbler Common Yellowthroat Grackles Red Winged Blackbirds Titmice Pileated Woodpeckers Red Bellies Woodpeckers Hairy Woodpeckers Downy Woodpeckers Flickers White Breasted Nuthatch GBH Flyovers going to Brookside Happy Spring! Dot Sevigny So. Hampton Subject: FOY male hummer From: paintedman AT webtv.net (painted man) Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 08:32:22 -0400 Decided to show up at our feeder yesterday (may 9th) Frank & Lisa Errol NH Subject: Pawtuckaway State Park and East Kingston From: d.skillman AT comcast.net Date: Sat, 10 May 2008 01:12:23 +0000 Birders: Drew Trested, Warren Trested and Dennis Skillman A few add-ons for Pawtuckaway in addition to Terry's list (along Tower Road). Northern Waterthrush, Louisiana Waterthrush and Yellow-throated Vireo (the Waterthushes were in the same area, and first spotted by Scott Young). Plus several Yellow Warblers at the small pond at the powerline on the north side of the road. A few of the many species were photographed, (I couldn't resist posting the Robin, he was so photogenic!): Start at: http://www.pbase.com/dennissk/image/96814576 and click next until the photos (or you) are exhausted. If you are interested, the previous half dozen or so photos from this starting point are from Tuesday this week at Plum Island where there was a migration wave that was just amazing to witness. Also, we had three species of hawks over our house in East Kingston yesterday (Red-shouldered, Cooper's and Broad-winged). They were present at the same time with a few crows, and no one was happy! Also FOY's in the yard included Baltimore Orioles and a male Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Dennis Skillman Subject: More FOYs: SCTA, BTGN; seasonal odds and ends From: Hank Chary <hankchary AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 20:53:47 -0400 My yard produced two more FOYs today: Scarlet Tanager and Black-throated Green Warbler. My summer color palette is almost complete (Oriole, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Scarlet Tanager); all I need now is an Indigo Bunting. The orioles are busy courting and chasing. I have at least 2 males and 1 female routinely at the feeders. Yesterday I had 3 male rose-breadted Grosbeaks on the feeder at once. No females yet. My nesting chickadees are starting to move in nesting materials. One bird (probably the female) waited patiently yesterday for at least 5 minutes until a Blue Jay flew off from a perch just in front of her nest cavity. Then, in she went with a bill full of nesting fluff. I thought I heard a catbird today, but two "meows" don't a cat bird make. Also, I saw a wren very briefly in one of the front shrubs this morning, but which one (House or Winter) I could not tell. Hank Chary Newmarket _________________________________________________________________ Make Windows Vista more reliable and secure with Windows Vista Service Pack 1. http://www.windowsvista.com/SP1?WT.mc_id=hotmailvistasp1banner Subject: tree swallows Hampton From: joseagle AT aol.com Date: Fri, 09 May 2008 19:24:31 -0400 I forgot to mention a wave of tree swallows numbering +-300 off Cross Beach Rd. Subject: Worm-eating Warbler on a mission From: Byard Miller <byard AT virtualflybox.com> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 19:08:06 -0400 Fantastic new yard bird today in Marlborough. A Worm-eating Warbler swooped in from the hillside to the yard this morning landing in an apple tree. He sat for a few minutes before scooting to the other side of the tree to sit for a few minutes more. Then it was on across the road northbound. Had spectacular looks! No vocals... no foraging... he was obviously on a migrating mission. Other never before seen yard birds today were a single White-crowned Sparrow, a pair of Chimney Swifts and a single Eastern Kingbird. It sure does pay to lounge about the porch for a bit. That catapults my yard bird list to 62 species. Not too bad fro a small footprint on a major road. Byard Miller Marlborough NH Bird Photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/9534802 AT N02/ Subject: Oops--wrong Waterthrush From: "Jane Hills" <jhbird AT verizon.net> Date: Fri, 09 May 2008 19:06:31 -0400 After listing to some bird song CDs this evening, I'm sure that the Waterthrush I heard at the Manchester Cedar Swamp today was a Louisiana, not a Northern. There is an Ovenbird singing outside my window in Manchester as I write this. Jane Jane Hills Manchester, NH jhbird(at)verizon(dot)net "We are all environmentalists now, but we are not all planetists. An environmentalist realizes that nature has its pleasures and deserves respect. A planetist puts the earth ahead of the earthlings." --William Safire Subject: No Subject From: joseagle AT aol.com Date: Fri, 09 May 2008 19:04:14 -0400 Hampton Harbor 2?common terns (he was bringing her food)? FOY willet grtr & lssr yellow legs 17 great egrets 1 green heron (fly by) ? Church Parking lot yellow rumped warbler c. yellowthroat n. parula Nashville magnolia rc kinglets blk. throated blue black and white pewee savannah sparrows white throated sparrows white crowned sparrows cat birds Depot Rd. 1 dead osprey (broken neck probably hit the high tension line) (both nest had 2 osprey present so it wasn't a nesting bird Brimmers Lane, Hampton Falls (south of Depot on your left) blackburnia beautiful male redstart bt blue bt green magnolia yellow warbler c. yellow throat black and white prarie ovenbird cat birds cat birds everywhere!! Still close to 200 longtailed ducks from Boars Head I will talk to the Condo Association President the next time I see him. Mike and I joke abouth the Condo Police all the time. What a grouch! Please feel free to grab your scope and bird from my front yard. 5 Great Boars Head Ave.? for the time being. I'll use my charm (hahah) to see if we can straighten this out. I believe the school bus was a field trip with Philips Eexter students. JoAnn O'Shaughnessy Subject: FOY hummer Dover Point From: "Muffie" <MH AT Hendricks.mv.com> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 17:52:04 -0400 Finally! Our first hummingbird at the feeder. The 2 green herons are still skulking in the same spot in the cedar tree. Oriole pair Purple finch pair Pair red wing blackbirds, him puffing his epaulets at her 1 Downy woodpecker at suet and drumming up a storm 2 black capped chickadees 1 chipping sparrow 1 white breasted nut hatch 2 mourning doves 1 mallard duck, female 5 grackles 3 goldfinches, 2 male 1 common loon, juvenile plumage 1 kingfisher 1 cowbird, female Heard: 1 northern flicker, a blue jay and a common crow Many seagulls, I really don't know which is which Muffie Dover Point Subject: New at the feeder--Orange House Finch From: cmsbirds AT comcast.net (Chris Sheridan) Date: Fri, 09 May 2008 21:33:26 +0000 First one ever at the feeder--must be a recent fly-in--www.pbase.com/cmsbirds/image/96818256 (Hope to get a better picture...) Chris Sheridan Nashua cmsbirds AT comcast.net Subject: Massabesic birding 05/09 From: Jon Woolf <jsw AT jwoolfden.com> Date: Fri, 09 May 2008 17:22:45 -0400 A short walk at Massabesic Audubon Center today produced 23 species including one first-of-year: Red-winged Blackbird Gray Catbird Northern Cardinal Black-capped Chickadee Brown-headed Cowbird American Crow Goldfinch Common Grackle Great Blue Heron Blue Jay Mallard White-breasted Nuthatch Red-breasted Nuthatch Baltimore Oriole (out in force -- at least three males and one female) Tree Swallow Song Sparrow White-throated Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Tufted Titmouse Black-and-white Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Downy Woodpecker Common Yellowthroat (FOY) Also a couple of unidents, which were too high in the canopy for me to get a good look. Not bad for midafternoon on such a chilly day. -- Jon Woolf Manchester, NH Subject: 9 warbler day, Pickering Ponds From: Michael <nhsun100 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 14:15:01 -0700 (PDT) Pickering Ponds in Rochester, NH was fantastic yielding at least 150-200 warblers just along the stretch of the first pond on the right. This the most warblers I've seen in one area. Warblers included redstarts, yellow warblers, palm warblers, common yellowthroats, black and white warblers, blue-winged warblers, Nashville warblers, black-throated blue warblers, and yellow rumps. Other birds included titmice, Baltimore oreoles, red-winged blackbirds, a raven, crows, mourning doves, cardinals, grackles, a kingbird, catbird, song sparrows with little ones, robins, a bluejay, double-crested cormorant, tree swallows, a barnswallow, warbling vireos, mallard, savannah sparrows, a goldfinch, chickadee, heron gulls and great black-backed gulls. The walk was only arounnd the two ponds and did not include the back trails on account of impending weather. Conditions were overcast, chilly, and windy. species = 32 Michael Pachomski Rochester, NH --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. Subject: Pawtuckaway, Reservation Road, Brentwood County Farm--10 FOYs From: tbbirds AT comcast.net (Terry Bronson) Date: Fri, 09 May 2008 20:56:13 +0000 Today I went to Pawtuckaway State Park in Nottingham from 6:15 am to 11:15 am, followed by the Reservation Road powerline in Deerfield from 11:20 am to 12:55 pm, followed by about 20 minutes at the Rockingham County Farm in Brentwood on the way home. 10 first of year (FOY) species today. Now at 186 for the year. Pawtuckaway, where several other birders were present, all looking for the Cerulean Warbler, and all failing to find it the last I heard. Some of these birds were seen by some of these other people. One of the Tower Road gates was open when I arrived but closed when I left; the other was closed all morning, so I didn't get up to the Round Pond area. 41 species total. Highlights: Ruffed Grouse--3 drumming Wild Turkey--1 heard, also another large dark bird flushed out of a tree behind me may have been a Turkey Solitary Sandpiper--1 Least Flycatcher--1, several others heard (FOY) Great Crested Flycatcher--2 heard Eastern Kingbird--1 Blue-headed Vireo--2 Red-eyed Vireo--3 heard (FOY) Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher--1 (FOY) Red-breasted Nuthatch--1 heard Veery--5 Wood Thrush--3 heard (FOY) Gray Catbird--5 Yellow Warbler--1 Chestnut-sided Warbler--2 Yellow-rumped Warbler--19 Palm Warbler--1 Blackburnian Warbler--1 male Black-throated Blue Warbler--2 males Black-throated Green Warbler--5 American Redstart--6 males, 1 female Ovenbird--5 heard Common Yellowthroat--12 Chipping Sparrow--7 Swamp Sparrow--3 Evening Grosbeak--4 Reservation Road powerline. I walked south all the way to the flooded area at the bottom of the hill--maybe a mile. Those who do not venture that far miss a lot. 24 species total. Highlights: Wild Turkey--1 heard Broad-winged Hawk--1 Red-tailed Hawk--1 Great Crested Flycatcher--2, with 1 seen Eastern Kingbird--1 Bank Swallow--1 Gray Catbird--3 Nashville Warbler--1 (FOY) Chestnut-sided Warbler--3 Black-and-white Warbler--1 Prairie Warbler--14 (FOY), one of my favorite birds-- can't get enough of its song Ovenbird--4 heard Common Yellowthroat--9 Eastern Towhee--8 Notable by their complete absence were Yellow Warbler and Field Sparrow. Rockingham County Farm, 11 species: American Kestrel--1 Red-bellied Woodpecker--1 heard Eastern Phoebe--1 Eastern Kingbird--1 Veery--1 Yellow-rumped Warbler--1 Black-and-white Warbler--1 American Redstart--1 male Song Sparrow--2 Bobolink--6 males (FOY), way, way in the furthest back corner, scope needed Eastern Meadowlark--1 Mammals of the day: Porcupine--1 at Pawtuckaway Woodchuck--5 at Rockingham County Farm, perched up like Prairie Dogs -- Terry Bronson Hampton Falls, NH tbbirds AT comcast.net