Date: 4/2/26 12:53 pm From: '<bikenbird...>' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] *** NH Audubon Seacoast Chapter Wednesday April 8, 2026 7:30 PM Program: Ecology and Conservation of Grassland Birds***
New Hampshire Audubon Seacoast Chapter
Please note the following:
* Check the chapter website (http://www.seacoastchapter.org/programs) for any changes that may impact the in person program.
* There will be refreshments from 7-7:30 pm. Feel free to bring in refreshments for others to enjoy at the program. Thank you!
Wednesday April 8, 2026 7:30 pm Program: Ecology and Conservation of Grassland Birds
Grassland birds such as the Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark are declining throughout their ranges. In this talk, we review the history and ecology of these species, with a focus on New Hampshire and the Northeast US, then shift to the conservation challenges they face and some of the things people can do to overcome these threats.
Bio: Pam Hunt has been interested in birds since the tender age of 12, when an uncle took her to Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge in NJ. She went on to earn a B.S. in biology from Cornell University, M.A. in zoology from the University of Montana, and then a Ph.D. from Dartmouth College in 1995. Pam came to NH Audubon in 2000 after five years as adjunct faculty at Colby-Sawyer College in New London, NH. In her current position as Avian Conservation Biologist, she works closely with NH Fish and Game to coordinate and prioritize bird research and monitoring in the state, and also authored NH’s “State of the Birds” report. Specific areas of interest include habitat use by early successional birds (particularly whip-poor-wills), conservation of aerial insectivores (e.g., swifts and swallows), and the effects of events outside the breeding season on long-distance migrants. Pam also coordinated the “NH Dragonfly Survey,” a five-year project that mapped distributions of these insects throughout the state and remains active in the dragonfly field.
All are welcome to attend our Wednesday April 8, 2026 program which is free of charge at the Seacoast Science Center (wheelchair accessible), Odiorne Point State Park, 570 Ocean Boulevard, Rye NH (click here for Google maps, Seacoast Science Center) There will be refreshments starting at 7 pm. Meetings begin at 7:30 pm. Entrance doors will be locked at 7:45 pm. Cancellations will be announced on http://www.seacoastchapter.org/programs and this Google group.
Thank You! Dunkin’ of 14 Central Ave (exit 7 off of Rte 16), Dover, NH (603) 740-9649 donates hot coffee and more for our programs. When you visit the location mention a thank you!
Date: 4/2/26 10:36 am From: Jonathan Smith <jksmith69...> Subject: [NHBirds] Cranes?
While driving through Tuftonboro twice today, I saw a pair of large birds with long legs and necks outstretched unlike a heron. I didn't stop to get a great look, but they looked like sandhill cranes to me. Is that possible?
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg>
Date: 4/2/26 8:00 am From: Keith Chamberlin <kchamberlin07...> Subject: [NHBirds] FOY's Ashland
Today a female yellow bellied sapsucker was drilling for sap on our maple. We've had a couple song sparrows, one Phoebe and on March 31st in the rain we had a drop of about 75 + Black birds: Red wings, grackles and a couple cow birds. Keith and Kris Ashland
On 4/1/2026 10:55 AM, Patience Chamberlin wrote: > At fruit trees at UNH health center, but starting to move off towards downtown. 10:30am. > Patience Chamberlin > New Castle > Sent from my iPhone >
Date: 4/2/26 3:56 am From: 'Evelyn Nathan' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Shirley still here!
Again, after a few days of not spotting her, Shirley, the Baltimore oriole, visited my peanut butter feeder yesterday. She’s such a pretty spot of orange/gold against the still bare apple tree. Heard my first of year phoebe in our woods, too.
Evy Nathan
Kingston
Date: 4/1/26 3:59 pm From: Alfred Maley <alfredmaley...> Subject: [NHBirds] Barred Owls Survive a Tough Winter, But Are Reluctant to Nest
Last year was a poor mast year, with smaller numbers of mice and voles
going into the Fall. That plus the olde fashioned Winter has put stress on
Barred Owls. Typically this delays nesting, even putting it off to the next
year.
Last week when we returned from winter quarters we discovered that the nest
box in the yard was unoccupied, for the first time in 13 years. At first I
thought the owls were dead, a meal for the Great Horned Owls. But some
feeble calls from down in the ‘hood meant there were some owls still around.
Yesterday I tried calling “CHIPMUNK” to the English-savy Mr. Owl and
miraculously, in early morning, he showed up on the deck and was rewarded
with a couple of mice. This morning, both male and female owls were in
trees by the deck as soon as the kitchen light went on. A small rat and two
mice for each of them was sufficient to provoke Mr. Owl to burst into song.
Because female birds need to have a sufficient fat layer to withstand
starvation episodes while incubating, they don’t lay eggs until they have
the required fat levels. We hope that with enough rodents we can salvage
the 2026 nesting season, an experiment in manipulating Nature that I don’t
mind doing. Let the first person without a bird feeder cast the first stone.
Date: 4/1/26 11:39 am From: Roger Frieden <roger...> Subject: [NHBirds] Wood Ducks in Nottingham
This morning, after watching a juvenile Bald Eagle fly south over Pawtuckaway Lake, we saw four FOY Wood Ducks (two pairs) on the lake which is now free of ice.
Date: 4/1/26 5:29 am From: Martha Wilson <quilter.martha...> Subject: [NHBirds] Bohemian Waxwings
The Bohemian Waxwings continue in Durham. We just had them at the medical center area of UNH on Pettee Brook Drive. There was somewhere between 40 and 60 of them.
Date: 3/31/26 8:02 am From: Heidi Rogers <hrogers.gm...> Subject: [NHBirds] Eastern Phoebe, mourning dove hatch, turkeys
Yesterday, Eastern Phoebe. First of the year here in our yard, very vocal. Mourning dove has been sitting on two eggs for a few weeks. Only one hatched. Last year we had a pair nest 4 times in the same nest. 12 hen turkeys, 2 toms strutting their stuff, hens ignoring them. Also, a song sparrows under feeders for the past three days.
Date: 3/31/26 7:32 am From: 'Kurk Dorsey' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Bohemians in Durham
Birders
Sam Guiles found a nice flock of Bohemian Waxwings yesterday across the street from the football stadium, close to A- Lot. This morning I saw the flock, about 95 in number, most with tiny berets and hand-rolled cigarettes, high in a deciduous tree. As I left, they flew off to the horse barn, probably to read some beatnik poetry. The other likely spot for the flock would be in front of the UNH health center at 10 Pettee Brook, where there are tons of berries.
Date: 3/30/26 9:47 am From: Mark Suomala <suomalamark...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, March 30, 2026 UPDATE
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, March 30th,
2026.
A male KING EIDER continues to be seen at Four Tree Island and at Peirce
Island in Portsmouth and was last reported on March 28th.
A male EURASIAN WIGEON was seen at the north end of River Road in
Plainfield on March 24th.
A male REDHEAD was seen at the Wilder Reservoir in Lebanon on March 28th.
2 BLUE-WINGED TEAL were seen at Jackson’s Landing in Durham on March 25th,
and 2 were seen at the Hampton Salt Marsh Conservation Area on the 29th.
A GADWALL was seen at Airport Marsh in Whitefield on March 26th.
6 SNOW GEESE were seen at Sewell’s Falls Bridge in Concord on March 28th.
A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen at Lower Landing Road in Charlestown on March 23
rd.
2 SANDHILL CRANES were seen in cornfields located behind churches on Route
13 and Langley Parkway in Concord on March 29th, 2 were seen in the fields
at West Locke Road in Concord on the 27th (same 2?), and 3 were seen at
Bedell Bridge State Park in Haverhill on the 25th,
6 GREAT EGRETS were seen at Landing Road in Hampton on March 30th, 1 was
seen at Witch Island in Hampton on March 28th, and 1 was seen in Gilsum on
the 28th.
2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS were seen at Chapman’s Landing in Stratham on March 27
th, 1 was seen at Parson’s Creek Salt Marsh in Rye on the 29th, and 1 was
seen at Witch Island in Hampton on the 28th.
A CASPIAN TERN was seen at the Hinsdale Setbacks and later on at the
Connecticut River in Charlestown on March 27th.
A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen at Horseshoe Pond in Concord on March 26
th.
2 COMMON LOONS were seen on the Connecticut River in Hanover on March 30th.
A DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT was seen at Jackson’s Landing in Durham on March
29th.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen at Sip Pond in Fitzwilliam on March 28th.
A MERLIN was seen in Colebrook on March 24th.
3 BLACK VULTURES were seen in Goffstown, 3 were seen in Exeter, 1 was seen
in Durham, 1 was seen in Concord, and 1 was seen in Newington, all during
the past week.
5 OSPREYS were reported from southeast NH during the past week
21 EVENING GROSBEAKS were reported from Deerfield on March 26th.
A SNOW BUNTING was reported from West Locke Road in Concord on March 28th.
An EASTERN TOWHEE was seen at the north end of River Road in Plainfield on
March 24th.
A LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was heard in Hampstead on March 27th.
A PINE WARBLER was seen in Fitzwilliam and 1 was seen in Rochester both on
March 27th.
A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was seen again at Mechanic Street in Gorham on
March 28th.
4 AMERICAN PIPITS were seen in fields on Route 155A in Durham on March 27th.
A HERMIT THRUSH continues to be seen in Gilford, and was last reported on
March 24th. Made it through the winter!
AMERICAN WOODCOCKS were reported from numerous locations during the past
week. PEENT!
The warming weather should open-up bodies of water, which will attract
water birds of all sorts – so keep your eyes and ears alert and please
share your sightings!
An archive of rare bird alerts is available at nhaudubon.org/rba. If you
have seen any rare birds recently you can leave a voicemail at (603)
224-9909, following the prompts on how to report a rare bird. You can also
send your sightings via email to <birdsetc...> Please put “Rare
Bird” in the subject line and include the location of the sighting and your
phone number.
*What is the Rare Bird Alert?*
The New Hampshire Rare Bird Alert is a list of birds that is posted,
usually on a weekly basis on NH Audubon’s website, and several public
websites. The primary goal of the list is to help bird watchers find
uncommon or rare birds that occur within the geographical boundaries of NH.
*What makes a bird rare?*
A bird may be considered rare if it’s outside its usual range, present at
an unusual time of year, or found in an unexpected part of the state. For
example, a Red-bellied Woodpecker in southern NH is expected, but one in
Coos County would be unusual. A Black-throated Blue Warbler in summer is
normal but in winter it would be rare. While a Roseate Spoonbill would be
rare in any season. To learn more, read “So You Think You Found a Rare
Bird? A Quick Guide to What Counts and How to Report It”
<https://joyofbirding.nhaudubon.org/what-is-a-rare-bird-and-how-to-report-it/> on the *Joy of Birding.*
Thanks very much and good birding!
Available NOW!
Birding Northern New Hampshire By Robert A. Quinn. Boreal birds and
dramatic vistas await you most any time of the year in New Hampshire’s
North Country. Follow birder and naturalist Robert A. Quinn’s detailed new
guide, *Birding in Northern New Hampshire* to the best birding in northern
Coos County. All proceeds go to NH Audubon. For more info and to order a
copy, check out this link:
Date: 3/30/26 9:28 am From: Mark Suomala <suomalamark...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, March 30, 2026
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, March 30th,
2026.
A male KING EIDER continues to be seen at Four Tree Island and at Peirce
Island in Portsmouth and was last reported on March 28th.
A male EURASIAN WIGEON was seen at the north end of River Road in
Plainfield on March 24th.
A male REDHEAD was seen at the Wilder Reservoir in Lebanon on March 28th.
2 BLUE-WINGED TEAL were seen at Jackson’s Landing in Durham on March 25th,
and 2 were seen at the Hampton Salt Marsh Conservation Area on the 29th.
A GADWALL was seen at Airport Marsh in Whitefield on March 26th.
6 SNOW GEESE were seen at Sewell’s Falls Bridge in Concord on March 28th.
A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen at Lower Landing Road in Charlestown on March 23
rd.
2 COMMON LOONS were seen on the Connecticut River in Hanover on March 30th.
2 SANDHILL CRANES were seen in cornfields located behind churches on Route
13 and Langley Parkway in Concord on March 29th, 2 were seen in the fields
at West Locke Road in Concord on the 27th (same 2?), and 3 were seen at
Bedell Bridge State Park in Haverhill on the 25th,
6 GREAT EGRETS were seen at Landing Road in Hampton on March 30th, 1 was
seen at Witch Island in Hampton on March 28th, and 1 was seen in Gilsum on
the 28th.
2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS were seen at Chapman’s Landing in Stratham on March 27
th, 1 was seen at Parson’s Creek Salt Marsh in Rye on the 29th, and 1 was
seen at Witch Island in Hampton on the 28th.
A CASPIAN TERN was seen at the Hinsdale Setbacks and later on at the
Connecticut River in Charlestown on March 27th.
A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen at Horseshoe Pond in Concord on March 26
th.
A DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT was seen at Jackson’s Landing in Durham on March
29th.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen at Sip Pond in Fitzwilliam on March 28th.
A MERLIN was seen in Colebrook on March 24th.
3 BLACK VULTURES were seen in Goffstown, 3 were seen in Exeter, 1 was seen
in Durham, 1 was seen in Concord, and 1 was seen in Newington, all during
the past week.
5 OSPREYS were reported from southeast NH during the past week
21 EVENING GROSBEAKS were reported from Deerfield on March 26th.
A SNOW BUNTING was reported from West Locke Road in Concord on March 28th.
An EASTERN TOWHEE was seen at the north end of River Road in Plainfield on
March 24th.
A PINE WARBLER was seen in Fitzwilliam and 1 was seen in Rochester both on
March 27th.
A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was seen again at Mechanic Street in Gorham on
March 28th.
4 AMERICAN PIPITS were seen in fields on Route 155A in Durham on March 27th.
A HERMIT THRUSH continues to be seen in Gilford, and was last reported on
March 24th. Made it through the winter!
AMERICAN WOODCOCKS were reported from numerous locations during the past
week. PEENT!
The warming weather should open-up bodies of water, which will attract
water birds of all sorts – so keep your eyes and ears alert and please
share your sightings!
An archive of rare bird alerts is available at nhaudubon.org/rba. If you
have seen any rare birds recently you can leave a voicemail at (603)
224-9909, following the prompts on how to report a rare bird. You can also
send your sightings via email to <birdsetc...> Please put “Rare
Bird” in the subject line and include the location of the sighting and your
phone number.
*What is the Rare Bird Alert?*
The New Hampshire Rare Bird Alert is a list of birds that is posted,
usually on a weekly basis on NH Audubon’s website, and several public
websites. The primary goal of the list is to help bird watchers find
uncommon or rare birds that occur within the geographical boundaries of NH.
*What makes a bird rare?*
A bird may be considered rare if it’s outside its usual range, present at
an unusual time of year, or found in an unexpected part of the state. For
example, a Red-bellied Woodpecker in southern NH is expected, but one in
Coos County would be unusual. A Black-throated Blue Warbler in summer is
normal but in winter it would be rare. While a Roseate Spoonbill would be
rare in any season. To learn more, read “So You Think You Found a Rare
Bird? A Quick Guide to What Counts and How to Report It”
<https://joyofbirding.nhaudubon.org/what-is-a-rare-bird-and-how-to-report-it/> on the *Joy of Birding.*
Thanks very much and good birding!
Available NOW!
Birding Northern New Hampshire By Robert A. Quinn. Boreal birds and
dramatic vistas await you most any time of the year in New Hampshire’s
North Country. Follow birder and naturalist Robert A. Quinn’s detailed new
guide, *Birding in Northern New Hampshire* to the best birding in northern
Coos County. All proceeds go to NH Audubon. For more info and to order a
copy, check out this link:
Date: 3/30/26 7:14 am From: Roger Stephenson <rstephenson...> Subject: [NHBirds] We can choose to protect birds of prey
Posted with permission.
Owls and hawks are nesting now. When an adult owl is poisoned by eating rodents poisoned by rodenticides placed outside of buildings and trash cans, the entire owl brood will die ... and we've just lost a new generation.
Tomorrow (9:10 am room 103 State House) the NH Senate will hear a bill that limits the sale of certain rodenticides to ordinary consumers: those poisons that contain chemicals referred to as "SGARs" - Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides.
PLEASE voice your *support* of *HB1676* online today or by tomorrow evening latest. Voices COUNT and your background as an avid birder COUNTS
- When a rodent ingests SGARS it dies slowly, making it an easy target for a predator (owls, hawks, cats, dogs...) - Several NH Bald Eagles have been poisoned by SGARs in the past five years. - Veterinarians see SGARs in pet dogs and cats. - SGARS were developed because they are MORE lethal and toxic to rodents, and MORE lethal to birds of prey - *Licensed*, certified pest management companies with trained employees are the ONLY ones who should have access to SGARs, *ASSUMING these companies embrace an integrated system of pest management.*
It's easy:
1. go to https://gc.nh.gov/remotecommittee/senate.aspx 2. Select March 31 3. Select the "Energy and Natural Resources Committee" 4. Select HB1676 5. Follow the next prompts, and there you go! You can even prepare a short paragraph, like I will, and submit.
Of course, you can attend the hearing and eyeball the committee members! (look at them from across the room using binoculars LOL)
Date: 3/29/26 7:16 am From: Alfred Maley <alfredmaley...> Subject: [NHBirds] La Waterthrush in Hampstead
Linda and co-hiker Kathe Cussen had a singing Louisiana Waterthrush
(“confirmed” by Merlin) in the Hampstead Conservation Area on West Road at 7:30
AM this morning, a bit early. There are several pairs in this area but the
arrival was surprising. But yesterday, after a warm Thursday, a very hungry
Pine Warbler was all over our feeders, eating like crazy, as if he too had
just arrived the night before.
Date: 3/29/26 3:19 am From: Bill Chaisson <wpchaisson...> Subject: [NHBirds] woodcock in Danbury
One arrived on March 26 and by the next day there were two. Both peenting. The one is doing courtship flights over field at the corner of Wiggin Road and Rt. 4.
Date: 3/28/26 7:09 pm From: Jon Woolf <jsw...> Subject: [NHBirds] tree swallows on Lake Massabesic?
I stopped by Front Park on Massabesic Lake for a few minutes this
morning, to see if there were any ducks on the lake. No ducks, but
there were four small, quick birds darting around above the water and
remaining ice. They certainly flew like swallows, and had the shape and
coloring of Tree Swallows. But it seems extremely early for swallows.
-- Jon Woolf
Manchester, NH
Date: 3/26/26 7:15 pm From: Sylvia Miskoe <sylviasmiskoe...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Digest for - 4 updates in 4 topics
On Thu, Mar 26, 2026 at 10:13 PM Sylvia Miskoe <sylviasmiskoe...>
wrote:
> I listened about 6:45 and heard nothing. Try again Sat evening.
> Sylvia
>
> On Thu, Mar 26, 2026 at 6:39 PM <nhbirds...> wrote:
>
>> <nhbirds...>
>> <https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email#!forum/nhbirds/topics> [image:
>> Google Groups Logo]
>> <https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email/#!overview> Google
>> Groups
>> <https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email/#!overview> >> Topic digest
>> View all topics
>> <https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email#!forum/nhbirds/topics> >>
>> - Spring at Chapmans Landing
>> <#m_2041332419077658435_m_-7693508991060415995_group_thread_0> - 1
>> Update
>> - Pine warbler, nuthatches courtship feeding, Lee
>> <#m_2041332419077658435_m_-7693508991060415995_group_thread_1> - 1
>> Update
>> - Eastern Phoebe, Winding Brook Rd., Newbury, NH 3/26/26
>> <#m_2041332419077658435_m_-7693508991060415995_group_thread_2> - 1
>> Update
>> - Woodcock in Concord
>> <#m_2041332419077658435_m_-7693508991060415995_group_thread_3> - 1
>> Update
>>
>> Spring at Chapmans Landing
>> <http://groups.google.com/group/nhbirds/t/46130ce4e72f0b36?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email> >> Roger Stephenson <rstephenson...>: Mar 26 04:51PM -0400
>>
>> Possible osprey sitting on the platform; did not have bins in the
>> morning. Three hours later at 11 had the following:
>> 19 Canada Goose
>> 3 Mallard
>> 4 American Black Duck
>> 8 Common Merganser
>> 3 Killdeer. FOY
>> 1 Double-crested Cormorant
>> 1 Bald Eagle
>> 1 Red-tailed Hawk
>> 2 Tree Swallow FOY
>> 1 Carolina Wren
>> 1 Song Sparrow
>> 2 Red-winged Blackbird
>> 1 Rusty Blackbird
>> 1 Northern Cardinal
>> Back to top <#m_2041332419077658435_m_-7693508991060415995_digest_top>
>> Pine warbler, nuthatches courtship feeding, Lee
>> <http://groups.google.com/group/nhbirds/t/80b9ab5a8cab0867?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email> >> Catherine Fisher <catherineckx...>: Mar 26 02:31PM -0500
>>
>> Brilliant male pine warbler at the worm feeder this afternoon.
>>
>> During the past week we’ve observed a male white breasted nuthatch has
>> been
>> occasionally allofeeding female.
>> Back to top <#m_2041332419077658435_m_-7693508991060415995_digest_top>
>> Eastern Phoebe, Winding Brook Rd., Newbury, NH 3/26/26
>> <http://groups.google.com/group/nhbirds/t/cb64935ff90b20cc?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email> >> Jay Pitocchelli <jpitocch...>: Mar 26 11:56AM -0700
>>
>> Eastern Phoebe, calling in the back yard this afternoon, Winding Brook
>> Rd.,
>> Newbury, NH 3/26/26
>>
>> Dr. Jay Pitocchelli, Professor Emeritus
>> Biology Department
>> Saint Anselm College
>> Manchester, NH 03102
>>
>> Blog: http://mourningwarbler.blogspot.com/ >> Back to top <#m_2041332419077658435_m_-7693508991060415995_digest_top>
>> Woodcock in Concord
>> <http://groups.google.com/group/nhbirds/t/73b3c9aef5354f7d?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email> >> Anne Ryc <annehadshi...>: Mar 25 07:42PM -0400
>>
>> Heard 4 or 5 woodcock "peents" near Little Pond in Concord around 7:20 pm
>> today.
>>
>> Anne H.
>> Back to top <#m_2041332419077658435_m_-7693508991060415995_digest_top>
>> You received this digest because you're subscribed to updates for this
>> group. You can change your settings on the group membership page
>> <https://groups.google.com/forum/?utm_source=digest&utm_medium=email#!forum/nhbirds/join> >> .
>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it send an
>> email to nhbirds+<unsubscribe...>
>>
>
Date: 3/26/26 3:54 pm From: '<cga......>' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Connecticut River - Wigeon / redhead???
With all the attention on the Connecticut River lately I thought it would be a good time to make my first trip out to that part of the state. Here's how I did.
North End River Rd - Plainfield Eurasian Wigeon found across from house number 449. The bird was sleeping on the west side of the river with a group of mallards and wood ducks. A bald eagle spooked the birds and they flew up stream. Eventually they made their way back to the same spot so I got some views of the bird swimming.
From river road I went to Wilder Dam on the advice of a fellow birder to find a female redhead. When I arrived I found a good sized group of ring necked ducks and the redhead was mixed in. Had I not known the redhead was in there I would have missed it. It fit in well with the ring necked, but I think I got the right one. A confirmation from an experienced birder would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I stopped at Ferry Landing and Lower Landing road on my way to Sawyer's Farm in Walpole. At Landing Road trail I saw FOY tree swallows but not much of anything else. Nothing out of the ordinary.
At Sawyer's Farm there were a nice selection of ducks. Black ducks, mallards and green winged teal. About 100 canada geese and 4 snow geese with a variety of plumage. And a FOY killdeer.
About 10 years ago Steve Mirick pointed out a red head and a eurasian wigeon to me on great bay. The birds were buried in a sea of scaup and other birds. I was new to birding, I was overwhelmed and I didn't really even see what he was looking at but at some point I just said, yup I see them, but I never really counted them for myself. Today I got both of them so they are both life birds for me - officially. However, it would be great if someone could confirm that redhead!
Date: 3/26/26 1:52 pm From: Roger Stephenson <rstephenson...> Subject: [NHBirds] Spring at Chapmans Landing
Possible osprey sitting on the platform; did not have bins in the morning. Three hours later at 11 had the following: 19 Canada Goose 3 Mallard 4 American Black Duck 8 Common Merganser 3 Killdeer. FOY 1 Double-crested Cormorant 1 Bald Eagle 1 Red-tailed Hawk 2 Tree Swallow FOY 1 Carolina Wren 1 Song Sparrow 2 Red-winged Blackbird 1 Rusty Blackbird 1 Northern Cardinal
Date: 3/23/26 11:09 am From: Mark Suomala <suomalamark...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, March 23, 2026.
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, March 23rd,
2026.
A male KING EIDER was seen at Four Tree Island and at Peirce Island in
Portsmouth on March 15th-21st.
A BARNACLE GOOSE was seen at Sawyer’s Farm on River Road in Walpole on
March 17th and 18th.
3-4 ROSS’S GEESE were seen at Sawyer’s Farm on River Road in Walpole on
March 16th and 17th.
A CACKLING GOOSE was seen at the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Charlestown
on March 17th and again on the 19th, and 2 were seen on River Road at
Sawyer’s Farm in Walpole on the 19th.
25 SNOW GEESE were seen at Great Meadow–Trail South from the boat launch
in Charlestown on March 18th.
A male EURASIAN WIGEON was seen at the north end of River Road in
Plainfield on March 18th-22nd.
A male REDHEAD was seen at Great Meadow–Trail South from the boat launch,
and at the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Charleston on March 17th-21st.
A BLUE-WINGED TEAL was seen on the Connecticut River from the Ferry Road
Boat Launch in Claremont on March 20th, and 2 were seen at the Hampton Salt
Marsh Conservation Area on the 19th.
A male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was seen from Stark Landing on the Merrimack
River in Manchester on March 18th.
A PIED-BILLED GREBE was seen on the Connecticut River in Charlestown on
March 21st, and 1 was seen at Lake Opechee Bay in Laconia on the 16th.
5 SANDHILL CRANES were seen flying over Mountain Road in Concord on March 19
th.
A GREAT EGRET was seen at Witch Island in Hampton on March 22nd.
A MERLIN was seen along Route 3 in Lancaster on March 21st.
A BLACK VULTURE was seen at Bullard Drive in Lyndeborough on March 17th, 1
was seen on Newmarket Road in Durham on the 17th, and 1 was seen at Great
Meadow in Charlestown on the 20th.
An OSPREY was reported from the Merrimack River in Concord, and 1 was
reported from Powder House Pond in Exeter, both on March 21st,
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen again at the Ines and Fredrick Yeatts Wildlife
Sanctuary in Warren on March 18th.
A BALTIMORE ORIOLE continues to be seen in Kingston and was last reported
on March 21st.
A flock of 30 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS was seen at the Attitash Resort in Bartlett
on March 21st.
128 EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen at a bird-feeding station in Jefferson on
March 21st, and smaller scattered flocks were seen throughout the state.
A DICKCISSEL continues to be seen in Wolfeboro and was last reported on
March 20th.
A flock of 6 REDPOLLS was seen in Berlin on March 21st.
A BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was reported from Mud Pond in Jefferson on March
20th.
A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS was seen at Mechanic Street in Gorham and 1 was
seen on Summer Street in Lancaster, both on March 22nd.
An AMERICAN PIPIT was seen in Durham on the 22nd.
A HERMIT THRUSH continues to be seen in Gilford, and was last reported on
March 22nd. A HERMIT THRUSH was also reported from Sandwich on the 22nd.
AMERICAN WOODCOCKS were reported from several locations during the past
week. PEENT!
A GREAT BLUE HERON was seen in Lyme on March 21st, and 2 were seen in
Hopkinton on the 22nd.
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and COMMON GRACKLES have been reported from many
locations.
The warming weather should open-up bodies of water, which will attract
water birds of all sorts – so keep your eyes and ears alert and please
share your sightings!
An archive of rare bird alerts is available at nhaudubon.org/rba. If you
have seen any rare birds recently you can leave a voicemail at (603)
224-9909, following the prompts on how to report a rare bird. You can also
send your sightings via email to <birdsetc...> Please put “Rare
Bird” in the subject line and include the location of the sighting and your
phone number.
*What is the Rare Bird Alert?*
The New Hampshire Rare Bird Alert is a list of birds that is posted,
usually on a weekly basis on NH Audubon’s website, and several public
websites. The primary goal of the list is to help bird watchers find
uncommon or rare birds that occur within the geographical boundaries of NH.
*What makes a bird rare?*
A bird may be considered rare if it’s outside its usual range, present at
an unusual time of year, or found in an unexpected part of the state. For
example, a Red-bellied Woodpecker in southern NH is expected, but one in
Coos County would be unusual. A Black-throated Blue Warbler in summer is
normal but in winter it would be rare. While a Roseate Spoonbill would be
rare in any season. To learn more, read “So You Think You Found a Rare
Bird? A Quick Guide to What Counts and How to Report It”
<https://joyofbirding.nhaudubon.org/what-is-a-rare-bird-and-how-to-report-it/> on the *Joy of Birding.*
Thanks very much and good birding!
Available NOW!
Birding Northern New Hampshire By Robert A. Quinn. Boreal birds and
dramatic vistas await you most any time of the year in New Hampshire’s
North Country. Follow birder and naturalist Robert A. Quinn’s detailed new
guide, *Birding in Northern New Hampshire* to the best birding in northern
Coos County. All proceeds go to NH Audubon. For more info and to order a
copy, check out this link:
Date: 3/22/26 4:14 pm From: 'Blake Allison' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Lyme Wild Turkeys on the 22nd
A flock of 40+/- individuals was seen at the forest's edge at the back of the Bailey Turkey Farm (that's domestic, Thanksgiving turkeys) property. This is the only wild turkey flock I've seen since last fall. Blake Allison Lyme, NH 03768-3400
Date: 3/22/26 10:49 am From: jeepinmoabgirl <jeepingmoabgirl...> Subject: [NHBirds] Pine siskins in Croydon
Have five siskins mixed in with over 39 goldfinches. I went away for 2 weeks and lost all my evening gross beaks until yesterday when three showed up which was lovely and I hope they continue.
Date: 3/21/26 4:38 pm From: David Govatski <david.govatski...> Subject: [NHBirds] Jefferson Evening Grosbeaks
Saturday’s snow at our feeders in Jefferson brought out 128 evening grosbeaks that I counted in trees waiting for their breakfast. The leucistic bird is also showing up daily. The number of pine siskins is increasing and now up to at least 17 are seen at one time. Had the first red-tailed hawk of the year also visit making the grosbeaks wary. I think he was more interested in the red squirrels.
On Friday I heard a black-backed woodpecker drumming while I was clearing a couple blowdowns on the Mud Pond Trail in Jefferson.
Date: 3/21/26 9:54 am From: Linda Charron <lindacharron071...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] American Whip-poor-will
Are Whippoorwills here this early? I thought they didn't arrive until May.
One time I was out walking my favorite country roads and I heard a
Whippoorwill very late in the fall. Further on in my walk I heard and saw
the bird that was clearly calling like a whippoorwill but it was a Northern
Mockingbird! Faker!
Linda Charron
On Sat, Mar 21, 2026 at 12:34 PM egrc43 <egrc43...> wrote:
Date: 3/21/26 9:34 am From: egrc43 <egrc43...> Subject: [NHBirds] American Whip-poor-will
I was out early Friday morning (5:45) and heard the call of a Whip-poor-will. I have never heard one in my neighborhood so delighted to have one now. N Shore Rd Hampton NH.
My friend and I actually saw that exact individual goose in Turner's falls
Massachusetts last week.So it seems like it has made its way several dozen
miles north up the river over the course of the past eight days
On Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 4:31 PM Ducky Darrick <dadams...> wrote:
My friend and I actually saw that individual goose in Turner's falls
Massachusetts last week.It's definitely on the move.It seems to have made
its way north by several dozen miles so far
On Fri, Mar 20, 2026, 2:16 PM <pkursewicz...> wrote:
Date: 3/19/26 8:39 am From: Aaronian, Rich <raaronian...> Subject: [NHBirds] Portsmouth, Piscataqua River
Pierce Island, 9 AM King Eider 1 adult drake continues Common Eider x (2-3 large groups, 200 +?) Surf Scoter x Black Scoter 2 Bufflehead 2 Red-breasted Merganser 7 Common Loon 4
Rich Aaronian, Jim Nealon, Chris Matlack Exeter Sent from my iPad
Date: 3/19/26 7:31 am From: Anne Ryc <annehadshi...> Subject: [NHBirds] Horseshoe pond in Concord
1 immature bald eagle, first on the ice, then on the field. At least 8 male hooded mergansers and two females. One pair of wood ducks. And 15 or more ring billed gulls on the ice .
Date: 3/18/26 7:48 am From: eric masterson <erictheirish...> Subject: [NHBirds] cackling goose ID
I'm sending this out in my capacity as NH eBird reviewer for spring. I ask people to be conservative when reporting Cackling Goose. Extremes of Cackling Goose (upper limit of body size/mass and bill shape) make some individuals inseparable from smaller Canada Geese, the taxonomy of which is muddy to put it mildly. In my experience, if you think you might have a Cackling Goose, you are most likely looking at a Canada Goose. A clearly identifiable Cackling Goose is usually immediately obvious based on size (mallard adjacent), small bill with short culmen, and short neck. Even in this lousy photo from yesterday, the bird in the center is immediately obvious as a Cackling Goose. I suspect many of the reports of Cackling are actually Canada Geese. In any event, enjoy spring birding. It's the best.
Date: 3/18/26 6:33 am From: '<raqbirds...>' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] waterfowl in Boscawen
Late yesterday, March 17, I walked the somewhat icy rail trail (spikes suggested) from the Depot Road, Boscawen end south to the "Big Bend" in the Merrimack River and back. No scope today . 95% of the birds were in the cornfields north of the Bend. Canada Goose- 630Wood Duck- 38 (all in the fields)Black Duck- 20Mallard- 25Common Goldeneye- 7, at the Bend.Common Merganser- 11, at the Bend. Bob QuinnWebster, NH "Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of the earth." Chief Seattle
Date: 3/16/26 4:17 pm From: Daniel M. Keefe <daniel.keefe...> Subject: [NHBirds] Woodcock /Durham
Beautiful warm rainy night and Woodcock have attained Air Supremacy here at our place. In flight displays and calling everywhere. Really a lovely return.
Date: 3/16/26 12:46 pm From: Bill Chaisson <wpchaisson...> Subject: [NHBirds] busy day in the rain in Danbury
At juncture of Beaver and Frazier brooks:
Black-capped chickadee Blue jay Tufted titmouse Golden-crowned kinglet Common raven Mourning dove Pileated woodpecker Pine siskin American goldfinch (molting into yellow plumage)
Date: 3/16/26 10:32 am From: Mark Suomala <suomalamark...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, March 16, 2026.
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, March 16th,
2026.
A male KING `EIDER was seen at Four Tree Island and at Peirce Island in
Portsmouth on March 15th.
A BARNACLE GOOSE and a CACKLING GOOSE were seen at Sawyer’s Farm on River
Road in Walpole on March 14th and 15th.
A ROSS’S GOOSE was seen at the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Charlestown on
March 15th, and 2 SNOW GEESE were seen at the Malnati Farm in Walpole on
the 13th.
12 BRANT were seen at Hampton Beach State Park on March 12th.
A female CANVASBACK was seen at Jackson’s Landing and a few times at the
nearby Durham Town Landing on the Oyster River on March 11-15.
4 RED-THROATED LOONS were seen at Adams Point Wildlife Management Area in
Great Bay in Durham on March 11th.
A PIED-BILLED GREBE was seen at Jackson’s Landing in Durham on March 13th,
and 1 was seen on the Ossipee River from NH Audubon’s Watts Wildlife
Sanctuary in Effingham on the 14th.
A male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was seen on the coast south of Odiorne Point
State Park in Rye on March 12th.
A GREAT EGRET was seen at South Mill Pond in Portsmouth on March 12th.
A SNOWY OWL was seen on the coast on March 14th.
A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen in West Lebanon on March 13th.
There was an unconfirmed report of a GOLDEN EAGLE seen at the Storrs Pond
Recreation Area in Hanover on March 14th.
Single NORTHERN HARRIERS were seen in Warner, Litchfield, Concord, Durham,
Dover, Hillsborough, and Orford during the past week.
An AMERICAN KESTREL was seen in Monroe, and 1 was seen in Newfields, both
during the past week.
A MERLIN was seen in Colebrook, 1 was seen in Twin Mountain, 1 was seen in
Errol, 1 was seen in Henniker, 1 was seen in Concord, and 1 was seen in
Northfield, all during the past week.
5 BLACK VULTURES were seen in Newmarket on March 14th, 3 were seen in
Sullivan on the 11th, 1 was seen in Grafton on the 10th, and 1 was seen in
Durham on the 9th.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen on Route 10 in Orford on March 13th.
A BALTIMORE ORIOLE continues to be seen in Kingston and was last reported
on March 15th.
A flock of 80 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS was seen on Chellis Road in Plainfield on
March 14th, and a flock of 60+ was seen in Sullivan on the 15th.
86 EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen at a bird-feeding station in Jefferson on
March 13th, and smaller scattered flocks were seen throughout the state.
A flock of 9 REDPOLLS was seen on Route 16 in Dummer on March 14th.
A WINTER WREN was reported from Nashua on March 9th, and an unconfirmed
report of a NORTHERN HOUSE WREN came from Durham on March 12th.
A BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER and a PINE GROSBEAK were seen at Mud Pond in
Jefferson on March 10th.
A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was seen in Lyme on March 10th, and 1 was seen
in Madbury on the 14th.
2 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS were seen at Mechanic Street in Gorham on March 14
th, and a NORTHERN FLICKER was seen in Keene on the 13th.
Early-arrival EASTERN PHOEBES were reported from Hollis, Epping,
Peterborough, Jaffrey, Durham, and Atkinson all during the past week.
3 TREE SWALLOWS were seen in Hinsdale on March 10th.
2 AMERICAN PIPITS were seen in Salem on March 14th, and 1 was seen in
Durham on the 15th.
A HERMIT THRUSH continues to be seen in Gilford, and was last reported on
March 11th. A HERMIT THRUSH was also reported from Madbury on the 14th.
AMERICAN WOODCOCKS were reported from several locations during the past
week. PEENT!
A WILSON’S SNIPE was seen in Portsmouth on March 11th.
A GREATER YELLOWLEGS was seen in farm fields along Route 155A in Durham on
March 15th.
The warming weather should open-up bodies of water, which will attract
water birds of all sorts – so keep your eyes and ears alert and please
share your sightings!
An archive of rare bird alerts is available at nhaudubon.org/rba. If you
have seen any rare birds recently you can leave a voicemail at (603)
224-9909, following the prompts on how to report a rare bird. You can also
send your sightings via email to <birdsetc...> Please put “Rare
Bird” in the subject line and include the location of the sighting and your
phone number.
*What is the Rare Bird Alert?*
The New Hampshire Rare Bird Alert is a list of birds that is posted,
usually on a weekly basis on NH Audubon’s website, and several public
websites. The primary goal of the list is to help bird watchers find
uncommon or rare birds that occur within the geographical boundaries of NH.
*What makes a bird rare?*
A bird may be considered rare if it’s outside its usual range, present at
an unusual time of year, or found in an unexpected part of the state. For
example, a Red-bellied Woodpecker in southern NH is expected, but one in
Coos County would be unusual. A Black-throated Blue Warbler in summer is
normal but in winter it would be rare. While a Roseate Spoonbill would be
rare in any season. To learn more, read “So You Think You Found a Rare
Bird? A Quick Guide to What Counts and How to Report It”
<https://joyofbirding.nhaudubon.org/what-is-a-rare-bird-and-how-to-report-it/> on the *Joy of Birding.*
Thanks very much and good birding!
Available NOW!
Birding Northern New Hampshire By Robert A. Quinn. Boreal birds and
dramatic vistas await you most any time of the year in New Hampshire’s
North Country. Follow birder and naturalist Robert A. Quinn’s detailed new
guide, *Birding in Northern New Hampshire* to the best birding in northern
Coos County. All proceeds go to NH Audubon. For more info and to order a
copy, check out this link:
Date: 3/16/26 4:23 am From: Donna Keller <dkellerphotography...> Subject: [NHBirds] Re: Potential 5 Goose Day
Great info on the river valley geese, Dylan. I was very happy that so many
people were able to see the Barnacle Goose this weekend :} I love sharing
the rarities that are found in my home county of Cheshire! Can we be
hopeful that someday a Tundra or Taiga Bean-Goose will make it's way into
NH? I know that both species have been spotted in NY, so why not? I'll be
out there scouring the fields and seeing what else shows up!
Happy birding!
Donna Keller
Keene
On Monday, March 16, 2026 at 12:42:51 AM UTC-4 Dylan Jackson wrote:
> Whether it feels like it or not, spring is finally here. The change in
> seasons brings birds and in the Connecticut River Valley it brings lots of
> them. Since the beginning of the month, species that have been absent for
> the winter have been roaring back. Vultures, Snipe, Woodcock, Blackbirds,
> Killdeer and Kestrel just to name a few, but as is customary in the valley,
> waterfowl bring the real show. This weekend there were scores of geese and
> ducks in the cornfields and other flat areas along the river. With so many
> geese, there are bound to be unusual species amongst them and this weekend
> was no exception. This migration event brings birders from all over NH and
> VT to valley and it's thanks to them that many of us were able to see such
> a great diversity of this taxa, so first off, thank you all. In the end 5
> species of geese were seen in the valley just this weekend alone.
>
> Canada Goose - The expected species of goose in the state made up the
> vast majority of the numbers seen. They fill the fields in such numbers
> that it makes counting a daunting task and estimating not much less
> unsettling. It doesn't help that small groups are always flying in and out
> of a given spot and skeins of birds almost constantly are passing overhead.
> Most fields where they congregate have well over 100 birds. I've had
> personal estimates of 500, 900, and up to 3000 birds in different spots
> over the weekend. While we're spoiled by (or tortured by, depending who you
> ask) by this species, it still is incredible to see them occur in such
> staggering numbers during migration.
>
> Snow Goose - For certain, I know there were a couple birds seen along the
> valley this weekend. There was one immature bird seen in the cornfields at
> Sawyer Farm in Walpole and another immature bird seen in the cornfields
> surrounding the Charlestown WTP. This species is infrequent in the state
> overall but definitely an annual find in small numbers.
>
> Cackling Goose - The Canada's diminutive cousin. There were a couple
> reports of these geese in Walpole at Sawyer Farm this weekend. Wendy Ward
> had one there on Friday and Nate Marchessault had one there on Saturday. I
> thought I may have seen one at this same spot this morning while in flight,
> but it landed in an area I couldn't see so I couldn't confirm. There was a
> report of two in the river just beyond the cornfields later on Sunday
> morning as well, but I haven't seen an eBird report or anything else to
> substantiate it.
>
> Ross's Goose - A great bird initially found by Don Clark in the cornfields
> around the Charlestown WTP. This was an adult bird keeping company with one
> immature Snow Goose in a flock of around 900 Canada Geese. According to
> eBird, it's the second record for Sullivan County with the last one
> occurring in the same location 12 years ago in 2014. This pair of white
> gooses have been reported earlier this spring bouncing between fields in
> Vermont and New Hampshire.
>
> Barnacle Goose - The star of the weekend found on Saturday at Sawyer Farm
> by Donna Keller. This striking little goose was initially found close to
> River Road in the cornfields, but later moved further towards the river but
> could be seen by walking down a small field access road. This is one of
> only a handful of records for the state and from talking to a few different
> people viewing it, it was their first view of a long-awaited nemesis bird
> for them (including me). This bird hung around for the whole morning before
> it finally took off with the goose flock disappearing moving north.
>
> While a great day for geese there still could come more. The one species
> lacking so far this season is Greater White-fronted Goose. While rare in
> the state, historically they're essentially annual in occurrence,
> especially in valley. While lots of birds have already moved through, there
> are surely many more to come so we're not out of time to find our 6th goose
> species in the valley. Much more unlikely, but Pink-footed Goose isn't out
> of the question either with past records in the valley in 2011, 2022 and
> nearby in Keene in 2025. And let's also not sleep on Brant which made a
> surprising inland appearance in large numbers last spring. Happy goosing
> everyone,
>
> -Dylan Jackson
> Wilmot
>
>
Date: 3/15/26 9:42 pm From: Dylan Jackson <jacksonwrxt89...> Subject: [NHBirds] Potential 5 Goose Day
Whether it feels like it or not, spring is finally here. The change in seasons brings birds and in the Connecticut River Valley it brings lots of them. Since the beginning of the month, species that have been absent for the winter have been roaring back. Vultures, Snipe, Woodcock, Blackbirds, Killdeer and Kestrel just to name a few, but as is customary in the valley, waterfowl bring the real show. This weekend there were scores of geese and ducks in the cornfields and other flat areas along the river. With so many geese, there are bound to be unusual species amongst them and this weekend was no exception. This migration event brings birders from all over NH and VT to valley and it's thanks to them that many of us were able to see such a great diversity of this taxa, so first off, thank you all. In the end 5 species of geese were seen in the valley just this weekend alone.
Canada Goose - The expected species of goose in the state made up the vast majority of the numbers seen. They fill the fields in such numbers that it makes counting a daunting task and estimating not much less unsettling. It doesn't help that small groups are always flying in and out of a given spot and skeins of birds almost constantly are passing overhead. Most fields where they congregate have well over 100 birds. I've had personal estimates of 500, 900, and up to 3000 birds in different spots over the weekend. While we're spoiled by (or tortured by, depending who you ask) by this species, it still is incredible to see them occur in such staggering numbers during migration.
Snow Goose - For certain, I know there were a couple birds seen along the valley this weekend. There was one immature bird seen in the cornfields at Sawyer Farm in Walpole and another immature bird seen in the cornfields surrounding the Charlestown WTP. This species is infrequent in the state overall but definitely an annual find in small numbers.
Cackling Goose - The Canada's diminutive cousin. There were a couple reports of these geese in Walpole at Sawyer Farm this weekend. Wendy Ward had one there on Friday and Nate Marchessault had one there on Saturday. I thought I may have seen one at this same spot this morning while in flight, but it landed in an area I couldn't see so I couldn't confirm. There was a report of two in the river just beyond the cornfields later on Sunday morning as well, but I haven't seen an eBird report or anything else to substantiate it.
Ross's Goose - A great bird initially found by Don Clark in the cornfields around the Charlestown WTP. This was an adult bird keeping company with one immature Snow Goose in a flock of around 900 Canada Geese. According to eBird, it's the second record for Sullivan County with the last one occurring in the same location 12 years ago in 2014. This pair of white gooses have been reported earlier this spring bouncing between fields in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Barnacle Goose - The star of the weekend found on Saturday at Sawyer Farm by Donna Keller. This striking little goose was initially found close to River Road in the cornfields, but later moved further towards the river but could be seen by walking down a small field access road. This is one of only a handful of records for the state and from talking to a few different people viewing it, it was their first view of a long-awaited nemesis bird for them (including me). This bird hung around for the whole morning before it finally took off with the goose flock disappearing moving north.
While a great day for geese there still could come more. The one species lacking so far this season is Greater White-fronted Goose. While rare in the state, historically they're essentially annual in occurrence, especially in valley. While lots of birds have already moved through, there are surely many more to come so we're not out of time to find our 6th goose species in the valley. Much more unlikely, but Pink-footed Goose isn't out of the question either with past records in the valley in 2011, 2022 and nearby in Keene in 2025. And let's also not sleep on Brant which made a surprising inland appearance in large numbers last spring. Happy goosing everyone,
Date: 3/15/26 10:21 am From: 'Susan' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] spring arrivals
As I walked around my Bedford neighborhood, I saw and heard Red Shouldered Hawk, Song Sparrow, Robbins, Red Winged Black Birds and Grackles. The many Gold Finches that have spent the winter here are twittering loudly in the trees…. are they getting ready to head north ?
Blue Birds checking out the nesting boxes.
Light at the end of the tunnel !!
Any Bear sightings ??
Susan Hunter
Date: 3/15/26 9:17 am From: <nha......> <nhanke...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Location in eBird - please choose correct hotspot
eBird exists to serve generate data but is designed to appeal to users, and
there can be a tension between these two aspects. The integrity of data
collection matters for the science values, and being considerate of other
eBirders factors into accuracy of location, species ID etc.
Personal locations and hotspots are points on the map, which
represent areas rather than that point alone (except that a personal
location for a stationary checklist might be where you really stood). Some
points represent a well-defined area - conservation parcels, esp. if it has
only 1 hotspot - but many have fuzzy outlines - contiguous hotspots within
a named conservation parcel or a general area without a focal birding
feature - which are defined in subjective ways. Some areas that have
multiple hotspots also have a general hotspot that could represent birding
across the real or imaginary boundaries - for example, the hotspot Great
Bay - which in the latter instance could also represent aquatic-based
birding (or not!). You could use the checklists's Comments section to
specify.
Water bodies are common bird magnets. Eel Pond and other water body-based
hotspots may have their pins (location markers) in the middle of the
waterway, especially when the water can be viewed from multiple locations
and/or parking and pedestrian access may occur from different locations. In
these cases, the marker does not represent that the eBirder has to be in
the water. But, sometimes the context of a hotspot indicates the hotspot
does represent the eBirder being in the water. These include pins off the
NH coast, and Lake Wantastiquet at Hinsdale. Hinsdale has multiple adjacent
hotspots, with 3 representing being on land (Setbacks, Fort Hill Rail
Trail, Bluffs), and the separate one called Lake Wantastiquet, with the
latter located in the middle of the river. Lake Wantastiquet is visible
from all three land hotspots, so its existence implies it represents
aquatic-based birding, and presumably mostly waterfowl right there, as
opposed to the predominance of land birds on a checklist generated from the
other Hinsdale hotspots.
On Friday, March 13, 2026 at 9:38:25 AM UTC-4 <gregt......> wrote:
> The difference of a few hundred yards between where you are and where the
> bird is seems pretty insignificant from a data collection point of view. In
> addition, many hotspots are clearly designed to report where the bird is
> and not the birder, as for example Eel Pond vs. Jenness Beach. If hotspots
> were designed with “boundaries” in mind, this would be just one hotspot
> centered on 1A. The confusion is exacerbated by the opposite recent trend
> of marking hotspots at a parking lot entrance, which is great for people
> trying to find a location, less great for recording habitat and birding
> site.
>
> And clustered hotspots further increase confusion. Recording sightings in
> separate hotspots is a great idea — where it makes sense. If there are a
> bunch of hotspots a hundred yards apart then separate checklists for each
> spot is less tenable, and I’m not going to start a new checklist every two
> minutes. Where there are no hotspots, in the Whites for ex, ebird’s
> guidance is to start a new checklist every 5 miles or so; by comparison,
> hotspots are striving for kind of excessive accuracy.
>
> Ebird would rather have the data collected than to not have people use
> ebird at all because it is too cumbersome.
>
> On Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 1:37:25 PM UTC-4 Bruce Conti wrote:
>
>> Interesting because a few months ago one of the people at eBird
>> instructed the opposite. I had been hiking around Spatterdock Pond in the
>> Beaver Brook Reservation in Hollis, starting and finishing at the Whiting
>> Trail, and placed my location at Spatterdock Pond. I received an email
>> from eBird instructing me to relocate to the nearby Maple Hill hotspot even
>> though I hadn't been hiking through that spot, indicating that they
>> preferred using a hotspot for data rather than a custom location outside
>> the hotspot. So I changed the location in my checklist. I wish I still
>> had the email.
>>
>> On Thu, Mar 12, 2026 at 3:54 PM <nha......> <nha......>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> This is a reminder that location for an eBird checklist is meant to
>>> represent *where the birder was located throughout the time of that
>>> checklist*, not where they were looking towards. If you are standing
>>> outside a hotspot or in hotspot B rather than hotspot A, then do not assign
>>> the list to hotspot A.
>>> When multiple hotspots are close together, for example in Hinsdale
>>> (Hinsdale Setbacks, Hinsdale Bluffs, Fort Hill Rail Trail, Lake
>>> Wantastiquet), if you bird across more than one location, then either stop
>>> one list at the boundary and then start another, or use a personal location
>>> with a descriptive name. If you were on the bluffs and not actually in Lake
>>> Wantastiquet, do not use the pin of Lake Wantastiquet. Otherwise, data will
>>> be wrong, implying open water habitat when multiple waterfowl are reported
>>> when in fact the water is fully frozen-over. Also, birders will be misled
>>> as to where birds are located, wasting their time and energy in the wrong
>>> location.
>>>
>>>
>> --
>> Bruce Conti
>> *B.A.Conti Photography* www.baconti.com/birding.htm
>> *¡BAMLog!* www.bamlog.com
>>
>
Date: 3/15/26 7:26 am From: Milton Trimitsis <trimitsis...> Subject: [NHBirds] Bohemian waxwings in Sullivan
I just observed a large flock of bohemian waxwings in a brushy field edge adjacent to a power-line right-of-way on my farm in Sullivan. They seemed to be feeding primarily on crabapples, multiflora rose hips, and bittersweet. They were moving very actively, so hard to get an exact count. I counted at least 60 birds, and I suspect there were 10 or 20 more. There didn't appear to be any cedar waxwings among them.
Date: 3/13/26 6:38 am From: '<gregt......>' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Location in eBird - please choose correct hotspot
The difference of a few hundred yards between where you are and where the
bird is seems pretty insignificant from a data collection point of view. In
addition, many hotspots are clearly designed to report where the bird is
and not the birder, as for example Eel Pond vs. Jenness Beach. If hotspots
were designed with “boundaries” in mind, this would be just one hotspot
centered on 1A. The confusion is exacerbated by the opposite recent trend
of marking hotspots at a parking lot entrance, which is great for people
trying to find a location, less great for recording habitat and birding
site.
And clustered hotspots further increase confusion. Recording sightings in
separate hotspots is a great idea — where it makes sense. If there are a
bunch of hotspots a hundred yards apart then separate checklists for each
spot is less tenable, and I’m not going to start a new checklist every two
minutes. Where there are no hotspots, in the Whites for ex, ebird’s
guidance is to start a new checklist every 5 miles or so; by comparison,
hotspots are striving for kind of excessive accuracy.
Ebird would rather have the data collected than to not have people use
ebird at all because it is too cumbersome.
On Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 1:37:25 PM UTC-4 Bruce Conti wrote:
> Interesting because a few months ago one of the people at eBird instructed
> the opposite. I had been hiking around Spatterdock Pond in the Beaver
> Brook Reservation in Hollis, starting and finishing at the Whiting Trail,
> and placed my location at Spatterdock Pond. I received an email from eBird
> instructing me to relocate to the nearby Maple Hill hotspot even though I
> hadn't been hiking through that spot, indicating that they preferred using
> a hotspot for data rather than a custom location outside the hotspot. So I
> changed the location in my checklist. I wish I still had the email.
>
> On Thu, Mar 12, 2026 at 3:54 PM <nha......> <nha......>
> wrote:
>
>> This is a reminder that location for an eBird checklist is meant to
>> represent *where the birder was located throughout the time of that
>> checklist*, not where they were looking towards. If you are standing
>> outside a hotspot or in hotspot B rather than hotspot A, then do not assign
>> the list to hotspot A.
>> When multiple hotspots are close together, for example in Hinsdale
>> (Hinsdale Setbacks, Hinsdale Bluffs, Fort Hill Rail Trail, Lake
>> Wantastiquet), if you bird across more than one location, then either stop
>> one list at the boundary and then start another, or use a personal location
>> with a descriptive name. If you were on the bluffs and not actually in Lake
>> Wantastiquet, do not use the pin of Lake Wantastiquet. Otherwise, data will
>> be wrong, implying open water habitat when multiple waterfowl are reported
>> when in fact the water is fully frozen-over. Also, birders will be misled
>> as to where birds are located, wasting their time and energy in the wrong
>> location.
>>
>>
> --
> Bruce Conti
> *B.A.Conti Photography* www.baconti.com/birding.htm
> *¡BAMLog!* www.bamlog.com
>
Date: 3/13/26 4:59 am From: David Govatski <david.govatski...> Subject: [NHBirds] Jefferson Evening Grosbeaks
I counted 86 Evening Grosbeaks at our feeders in Jefferson on Thursday morning and we had a similar sized flock on Friday morning. The cooler weather and snow flurries bring them out. A friend in northern Vermont sent me a video of at least 200 in his yard. American robins, red-winged blackbirds, and grackles arrived on Monday morning. Trails are icy and I suggest you have microspikes and snowshoes if you are heading out on trails in the mountains.
Date: 3/12/26 2:06 pm From: '<raqbirds...>' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] finches and ducks in Coos County
On March 11 several of us birded the Jefferson region with some pleasant sightings:
Green-winged Teal- at least 13 at Hazen's Pond in Whitefield. Hazen's is just north of Airport Marsh and is more of a wetland than a pond. A good spot though a little harder to access. Green-winged Teal probably nested there in 1997 (when I was conducting a survey of the area). It's a good spot for rails and Northern Harrier's too. An early date for the county.
Hooded Merganser- four pairs at Hazen's were attractively squabbling over pair-bonding, with much flaring of crests (including the females) and chases. Meanwhile, the teal ignored them.
Finches- Evening Grosbeaks and Pine Siskins at a couple of feeders, but many folks are taking feeders down due to the concern over black bears.
American Tree Sparrow- five in one yard.
Turkey Vulture- one flying toward Whitefield, another early date for Coos.
Other migrants- robins, crows, starlings, grackles, and red-wingeds all noticeable.
Spring was truly in the air!
Bob QuinnWebster, NH
"Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons and daughters of the earth." Chief Seattle
Date: 3/12/26 10:56 am From: Nora Hanke <nhanke...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Location in eBird - please choose correct hotspot
Hi Bruce,
That advice makes sense to me. NH Audubon eBird policy that applies in the
Beaver Brook Association (BBA) situation is to try to locate hotspot pins
at the most likely parking area for a trail system. This amalgamates
checklists for excursions that may have started/finished at entirely
different access points that serve the same area. Maple Hill barn has a
large parking area from which people may walk down Cow Lane and eventually
over to Spatterdock Pond, or trails to the West of the pond. People wishing
to access the Whiting Trail, which has no real parking space, will probably
park at Maple Hill barn. A walk along Whiting Trail to and around
Spatterdock Pond and back "belongs to" the Maple Hill hotspot, rather than
to Beaver Brook Association--Brown Lane hotspot. Beaver Brook trails
connect to each other and it is a judgement call as to whether a walk/ski
in one area is more associated with Maple Hill or Brown Lane. If a
checklist included areas represented by more than one hotspot pin, ie you
were on trails served by Brown Lane parking AND by Maple Hill's parking,
the checklist location choices include: end one checklist and start another
when you cross an imaginary boundary (ideal); use a separate, personal
location with a descriptive name (less helpful because it does not
amalgamate your observations with others'). eBird central guidance on
choosing location when there is more than one hotspot in an area is here
<https://support.ebird.org/en/support/solutions/articles/48001009443-ebird-hotspot-faqs#anchorChoosingAHotspot> .
-Nora
On Thu, Mar 12, 2026 at 1:23 PM Bruce Conti <contiba...> wrote:
> Interesting because a few months ago one of the people at eBird instructed
> the opposite. I had been hiking around Spatterdock Pond in the Beaver
> Brook Reservation in Hollis, starting and finishing at the Whiting Trail,
> and placed my location at Spatterdock Pond. I received an email from eBird
> instructing me to relocate to the nearby Maple Hill hotspot even though I
> hadn't been hiking through that spot, indicating that they preferred using
> a hotspot for data rather than a custom location outside the hotspot. So I
> changed the location in my checklist. I wish I still had the email.
>
> On Thu, Mar 12, 2026 at 3:54 PM <nha......> <nhanke...>
> wrote:
>
>> This is a reminder that location for an eBird checklist is meant to
>> represent *where the birder was located throughout the time of that
>> checklist*, not where they were looking towards. If you are standing
>> outside a hotspot or in hotspot B rather than hotspot A, then do not assign
>> the list to hotspot A.
>> When multiple hotspots are close together, for example in Hinsdale
>> (Hinsdale Setbacks, Hinsdale Bluffs, Fort Hill Rail Trail, Lake
>> Wantastiquet), if you bird across more than one location, then either stop
>> one list at the boundary and then start another, or use a personal location
>> with a descriptive name. If you were on the bluffs and not actually in Lake
>> Wantastiquet, do not use the pin of Lake Wantastiquet. Otherwise, data will
>> be wrong, implying open water habitat when multiple waterfowl are reported
>> when in fact the water is fully frozen-over. Also, birders will be misled
>> as to where birds are located, wasting their time and energy in the wrong
>> location.
>>
>>
> --
> Bruce Conti
> *B.A.Conti Photography* www.baconti.com/birding.htm
> *¡BAMLog!* www.bamlog.com
>
--
Nora E. Hanke
MB,ChB, MS
email <nhanke...>
tel. 603-484-1294
Date: 3/12/26 10:37 am From: Bruce Conti <contiba...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Location in eBird - please choose correct hotspot
Interesting because a few months ago one of the people at eBird instructed
the opposite. I had been hiking around Spatterdock Pond in the Beaver
Brook Reservation in Hollis, starting and finishing at the Whiting Trail,
and placed my location at Spatterdock Pond. I received an email from eBird
instructing me to relocate to the nearby Maple Hill hotspot even though I
hadn't been hiking through that spot, indicating that they preferred using
a hotspot for data rather than a custom location outside the hotspot. So I
changed the location in my checklist. I wish I still had the email.
On Thu, Mar 12, 2026 at 3:54 PM <nha......> <nhanke...>
wrote:
> This is a reminder that location for an eBird checklist is meant to
> represent *where the birder was located throughout the time of that
> checklist*, not where they were looking towards. If you are standing
> outside a hotspot or in hotspot B rather than hotspot A, then do not assign
> the list to hotspot A.
> When multiple hotspots are close together, for example in Hinsdale
> (Hinsdale Setbacks, Hinsdale Bluffs, Fort Hill Rail Trail, Lake
> Wantastiquet), if you bird across more than one location, then either stop
> one list at the boundary and then start another, or use a personal location
> with a descriptive name. If you were on the bluffs and not actually in Lake
> Wantastiquet, do not use the pin of Lake Wantastiquet. Otherwise, data will
> be wrong, implying open water habitat when multiple waterfowl are reported
> when in fact the water is fully frozen-over. Also, birders will be misled
> as to where birds are located, wasting their time and energy in the wrong
> location.
>
>
--
Bruce Conti
*B.A.Conti Photography* www.baconti.com/birding.htm
*¡BAMLog!* www.bamlog.com
Date: 3/12/26 8:54 am From: <nha......> <nhanke...> Subject: [NHBirds] Location in eBird - please choose correct hotspot
This is a reminder that location for an eBird checklist is meant to represent *where the birder was located throughout the time of that checklist*, not where they were looking towards. If you are standing outside a hotspot or in hotspot B rather than hotspot A, then do not assign the list to hotspot A. When multiple hotspots are close together, for example in Hinsdale (Hinsdale Setbacks, Hinsdale Bluffs, Fort Hill Rail Trail, Lake Wantastiquet), if you bird across more than one location, then either stop one list at the boundary and then start another, or use a personal location with a descriptive name. If you were on the bluffs and not actually in Lake Wantastiquet, do not use the pin of Lake Wantastiquet. Otherwise, data will be wrong, implying open water habitat when multiple waterfowl are reported when in fact the water is fully frozen-over. Also, birders will be misled as to where birds are located, wasting their time and energy in the wrong location.
Date: 3/12/26 8:00 am From: 'Steve Mirick' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Spring arrivals - Ducks and Blackbirds!
The warm weather earlier this week brought in some nice spring
migrants. Chief among those were blackbirds and ducks. Yesterday, Jane
and I got out and had the following in the seacoast area:
Hampton Beach State Park
-----------------------------------
Snowy Owl - 1 surrounded by photographers at safe distance, but no "pure
birders" present. Bird appeared to be sleeping peacefully.
Newfields Town Landing - Snow banks still and nearby Chapman's Landing
is (currently) difficult/inaccessible.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wood Duck - 9
Green-winged Teal - 10
Northern Pintail - 6
Mallard and Canada Geese
Adam's Point in Durham
----------------------------------
Red-throated Loon - 4
Common Loon - 5
American Wigeon - 6
American Black Ducks - yes
Jackson Landing in Durham
------------------------------------
CANVASBACK - female first reported by Mark Estes yesterday. Still
present as reported by others this morning.
Hooded Merganser - 12 with other assorted Ducks.
Portsmouth Road in Greenland nearing Dusk. Birds getting ready to enter
roost.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Grackle - 400
Red-winged Blackbird - 100
Date: 3/12/26 6:35 am From: Dan Young <danten66...> Subject: [NHBirds] American Woodcock - Nashua (Unconfirmed)
Wednesday Morning at about 6:20 am, I heard the tell tale meep of the American Woodcock. Merlin confirmed the sound. I heard it on and off for no more than 5 minutes before the sound disappeared.
I am in a residential neighborhood with many fenced in back yards. It was still pretty dark so I was unable to get my eyes on it to confirm.
I did not hear it this morning.
So I guess as much as I have something to report - I don't have much.
Date: 3/12/26 2:42 am From: 'Blake Allison' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] Lyme New Arrivals --- March 11
Two first of season records Wednesday. A European starling appeared at the feeders about 8am. A song sparrow was seen foraging in the feeder area about 1pm. Blake Allison Lyme, NH 03768-3400
Date: 3/11/26 6:49 am From: Pam Weeks <pamela.weeks...> Subject: [NHBirds] Spring has sprung!
My walk this morning yielded a small flock of male and female Cardinals (6-8), American Robins in several trees along the roadside, Grackles, and on my lawn, picking through the sunflower seeds that had been snow covered, were about 20 Red Winged blackbirds with 4-5 Grackles mixed in.
The Junko population is down from 20-ish to 3-4, the Eastern Bluebirds are fighting over 4 birdhouses, and I've heard but not seen Song Sparrows.
The Gold finches are starting to "yellow-up," and the snow is melting so fast it's almost exciting to watch. Just a bit better than paint drying.
Date: 3/11/26 6:45 am From: Cynthia Nichols <cnichols...> Subject: [NHBirds] Song sparrows and Turkey Vultures - Lebanon yesterday
3 Song sparrows 2 Turkey Vultures and a pair of Hooded Mergansers to boot
Lebanon Mill St parking lot - 43.63933 - 72.25575 in front of Wayne's World Gym It's a surprising little wetland in a bit of an urban area that often yields some good birding Yay!
Cynthia Nichols, MS, BSN, RN
Volunteer & Board Member: New Hampshire Healthy Climate: nhclimatehealth.org Certified Climate Change Resilience, Antioch University
(603) 508 - 1594 *Please Text Me *if you're not getting a quick response and need to reach me - it's a challenge to get to my email these days!!
Date: 3/10/26 5:38 pm From: '<bikenbird...>' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] REMINDER*** NH Audubon Seacoast Chapter Wednesday March 11, 2026 7:30 PM Program: Birds and Other Creatures of Ghana***
New Hampshire Audubon Seacoast Chapter
Please note the following:
* Check the chapter website (http://www.seacoastchapter.org/programs) for any changes that may impact the in person program.
* There will be refreshments from 7-7:30 pm. Feel free to bring in refreshments for others to enjoy at the program. Thank you!
Wednesday March 11, 2026 7:30 pm Program: Birds and Other Creatures of Ghana
In October, 2024, Kathryn and Roger Frieden went on a group birding trip to Ghana where they saw many fascinating birds and other creatures. In this program, Kathryn will share information about their adventure (and Roger’s photos).
Bio: Kathryn and Roger Frieden started birding and learning about birds around 15 years ago when their children were all off to college. Their first birding trip was to south Texas with Mass Audubon in 2011, and they have been enjoying birding travel ever since. In 2015, Kathryn started volunteering for NH Bird Records shortly after retiring as an OB-GYN physician. They lived in Manchester for many years, and moved to Nottingham 8 years ago, so now they get to include Pawtuckaway Lake birds in their yard list.
All are welcome to attend our Wednesday March 11, 2026 program which is free of charge at the Seacoast Science Center (wheelchair accessible), Odiorne Point State Park, 570 Ocean Boulevard, Rye NH (click here for Google maps, Seacoast Science Center) There will be refreshments starting at 7 pm. Meetings begin at 7:30 pm. Entrance doors will be locked at 7:45 pm. Cancellations will be announced on http://www.seacoastchapter.org/programs and this Google group.
Thank You! Dunkin’ of 14 Central Ave (exit 7 off of Rte 16), Dover, NH (603) 740-9649 donates hot coffee and more for our programs. When you visit the location mention a thank you!
Al Stewart,Jr.
Date: 3/10/26 5:26 pm From: Bruce Conti <contiba...> Subject: [NHBirds] Sunny warm afternoon on the Seacoast
Enjoyed a warm sunny afternoon on the Seacoast. All the beaches were
relatively crowded, and plenty of people walking along the shore. Stopped
at Rye Harbor for a half hour, then a couple hours hiking in Odiorne
Point. Highlights were two Killdeer at Rye, and six Long-Tailed Duck in
flight at Odiorne. Thanks to Josh Fecteau and Russ Brummer here in nhbirds
for help identifying the Long-Tailed Ducks. Also observed a banded Herring
Gull at Odiorne, left 35H Green, right silver.
Rye Harbor, https://ebird.org/checklist/S308111068 with photos...
Canada Goose 3
Common Eider 1
Bufflehead 7
Common Goldeneye 3
Killdeer 2
Herring Gull 1
Common Loon 5
Song Sparrow 2
Odiorne Point, eBird checklist https://ebird.org/checklist/S308143624 with
photos...
Common Eider 2
Surf Scoter 2
Long-Tailed Duck 6
Bufflehead 7
Common Goldeneye 14
Red-Breasted Merganser 18
Ring-Billed Gull 1
Herring Gull 5 (1 banded)
Common Loon 1
Song Sparrow 5
--
Bruce Conti
*B.A.Conti Photography* www.baconti.com/birding.htm
*¡BAMLog!* www.bamlog.com
Date: 3/10/26 5:05 pm From: Daniel M. Keefe <daniel.keefe...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rye Harbor
Took a quick trip to Rye Harbor this afternoon- warm and sunny. Really the nicest day in months. Got some nice images of Loons, including one eating a crab. Two Eagles in view on the large tree beyond the bridge (Mating). And a swan swimming in the harbor. Really a lovely way to close the day,
Date: 3/10/26 4:53 pm From: Bruce Conti <contiba...> Subject: [NHBirds] Need help with ID
I need help with identifying these water birds, observed in flight at
Odiorne State Park this afternoon... https://www.baconti.com/inflight.jpg Image is blurry but the markings are distinctive and with yellow bills. I
haven't yet been able to find anything comparable online or in my bird
books. Thank you.
--
Bruce Conti
*B.A.Conti Photography* www.baconti.com/birding.htm
*¡BAMLog!* www.bamlog.com
Date: 3/10/26 8:05 am From: Randy Langer <randylanger52...> Subject: [NHBirds] Turkey vulture
Not sure if it's too early for them to be here but if so there's one hanging out at the intersection of Meredith Center Road and parade Road in Laconia. Regards Randy
Date: 3/10/26 8:04 am From: birdrecords <birdrecords...> Subject: [NHBirds] Where to Bird in Concord, NH
Hi Everyone,
I'm pleased to share one of the latest Joy of Birding articles. In this new "Where to Bird" feature, NH Audubon biologist Pam Hunt highlights some of the best birding spots in Concord, NH. There are so many places to explore that we split the guide into two parts!
Part One<https://joyofbirding.nhaudubon.org/part-1-concord-merrimack-river-foodplain/> explores the southern side of the city, including the floodplains, pine barrens, and Concord's central waterbird hotspot at Horseshoe Pond. From grassland sparrows and nighthawks near the airport to migrating ducks and gulls downtown, these accessible sites offer excellent birding throughout the year.
The Joy of Birding (joyofbirding.nhaudubon.org) is the new free, online home of New Hampshire Bird Records. You can sign up for monthly email updates on the website homepage or check back anytime for new articles. There's always something to see.
If you'd like to get in touch or are interested in writing a future "Where to Bird" article, please email <birdrecords...><mailto:<birdrecords...> or contact the editor, Grace McCulloch, at <gmcculloch...>
On Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 12:31 AM F Keenan <fkeenanhome...> wrote:
> I checked the boatyard at Rye Harbor and saw nine loons. They were
> swimming together close to shore. All except one were still in winter
> plumage. Is this gathering of loons a sign of Spring? Have they come back
> from somewhere farther south? It was nice to see so many of them.
>
--
Bruce Conti
*B.A.Conti Photography* www.baconti.com/birding.htm
*¡BAMLog!* www.bamlog.com
Date: 3/10/26 4:16 am From: Matthew Tarr <bodhinatureaudiovisual...> Subject: [NHBirds] FOY Red-wings & Grackles
The first Red-winged blackbirds and Common grackles arrived at out feeders in Gilmanton Ironworks around 1pm on Monday (3/9).
These were two males of each species feeding very frantically and they moved off very quickly and didn’t return.
They are arriving here about a week later this year than is typical for our site - perhaps due to slightly more wintery conditions than normal(?). We lost over 8” of snow yesterday and the 67 degrees predicted today should start to expose large sections of ground…at least until snow returns at the end of the week.
Date: 3/9/26 5:31 pm From: F Keenan <fkeenanhome...> Subject: [NHBirds] Loons in Rye Harbor
I got over to the coast yesterday afternoon to pay homage to the warm air. Saw many people walking -- or being walked by -- their dogs at Rye Beach. There were also surfers.
I checked the boatyard at Rye Harbor and saw nine loons. They were swimming together close to shore. All except one were still in winter plumage. Is this gathering of loons a sign of Spring? Have they come back from somewhere farther south? It was nice to see so many of them.
Date: 3/9/26 12:02 pm From: Mark Suomala <suomalamark...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, March 9, 2026
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, March 9th, 2026.
A KING EIDER was seen at Pulpit Rocks in Rye on March 9th.
A male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE continues to be seen at the Lochmere Dam on
Silver Lake in Tilton and another male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE continues to be
seen at the Granite Street Bridge, on the Merrimack River in Manchester,
all during the past week.
A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen in Concord on March 4th, and MERLIN was seen
flying over Noyes Street in Concord on March 7th.
A BLACK VULTURE and a NORTHERN HARRIER were seen on the UNH main campus in
Durham on March 8th, and 2 BLACK VULTURES were seen in Walpole on the 3rd.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen on Route 10 in Orford on March 5th, and 1 was
seen at the Ines and Frederick Wildlife Sanctuary in Warren on March 8th.
A DICKCISSEL continues to be seen at 26 Elm Street in Wolfeboro and was
last reported on March 7th.
A BALTIMORE ORIOLE continues to be seen in Kingston and was last reported
on March 3rd.
A flock of 60 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS was seen on Chellis Road in Plainfield on
March 6th, and a flock of 52 was seen at the Houston Fields in Hopkinton on
the 9th.
5 PINE GROSBEAKS were seen in Shelburne on March 5th.
64 EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen in Jefferson on March 8th, 3 were reported
from Deerfield on March 3rd, and 8 were reported from Strafford on the 4th.
2 REDPOLLS were seen in Belmont on March 4th.
A WINTER WREN was reported from Exeter, 1 was reported from Madbury, and 1
was reported from Merrimack, all during the past week.
A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was seen at Mechanic Street in Gorham on March 5th.
and a NORTHERN FLICKER was reported from Grasse Road in Grafton on the 6th.
A HERMIT THRUSH continues to be seen in Gilford, and was last reported on
March 7th. Single HERMIT THRUSHES were also reported from Sandwich,
Litchfield, Merrimack, and Durham during the past week.
2 FOX SPARROWS continue to be seen in Londonderry and were last reported on
March 7th, and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW continues to be seen on Mechanic
Street in Gorham and was last reported on the 4th.
2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen in Orford on March 5th, 1 was seen in East
Kingston on the 6th, and 1 was seen in Concord on the 8th.
2 KILLDEER were seen at Ragged Neck in Rye on March 5th, and 4 were seen in
Exeter on the 8th.
An AMERICAN WOODCOCK was reported from Spinney Lane and Durham Reservoir in
Durham on March 4th. PEENT!
The warming weather should open-up bodies of water, which will attract
water birds of all sorts – so keep your eyes and ears alert and please
share your sightings!
An archive of rare bird alerts is available at nhaudubon.org/rba. If you
have seen any rare birds recently you can leave a voicemail at (603)
224-9909, following the prompts on how to report a rare bird. You can also
send your sightings via email to <birdsetc...> Please put “Rare
Bird” in the subject line and include the location of the sighting and your
phone number.
*What is the Rare Bird Alert?*
The New Hampshire Rare Bird Alert is a list of birds that is posted,
usually on a weekly basis on NH Audubon’s website, and several public
websites. The primary goal of the list is to help bird watchers find
uncommon or rare birds that occur within the geographical boundaries of NH.
*What makes a bird rare?*
A bird may be considered rare if it’s outside its usual range, present at
an unusual time of year, or found in an unexpected part of the state. For
example, a Red-bellied Woodpecker in southern NH is expected, but one in
Coos County would be unusual. A Black-throated Blue Warbler in summer is
normal but in winter it would be rare. While a Roseate Spoonbill would be
rare in any season. To learn more, read “So You Think You Found a Rare
Bird? A Quick Guide to What Counts and How to Report It”
<https://joyofbirding.nhaudubon.org/what-is-a-rare-bird-and-how-to-report-it/> on the *Joy of Birding.*
Thanks very much and good birding!
Available NOW!
Birding Northern New Hampshire By Robert A. Quinn. Boreal birds and
dramatic vistas await you most any time of the year in New Hampshire’s
North Country. Follow birder and naturalist Robert A. Quinn’s detailed new
guide, *Birding in Northern New Hampshire* to the best birding in northern
Coos County. All proceeds go to NH Audubon. For more info and to order a
copy, check out this link:
Date: 3/9/26 7:30 am From: David Govatski <david.govatski...> Subject: [NHBirds] Jefferson Evening Grosbeaks
I counted 64 Evening Grosbeaks on Monday morning here at our feeders in Jefferson. This number is considerably less than what we had during some of the colder periods this winter. Also continue to have a dozen pine siskins, several purple finches, and about 30 goldfinches. First two robins of the year today. I don’t think they will stay because the ground is about 95 percent snow covered. Also had a starling and I have not seen one here for several months.
Date: 3/6/26 10:35 am From: Sean Beckett <sean...> Subject: [NHBirds] Field Ornithology class in Vermont May 18-22
Birders,
At the risk of running afoul (a-fowl?) of this group's rules around promotion, I wanted to share this weeklong Field Ornithology <https://northbranchnaturecenter.org/adult-programs/biodiversity-university/ornithology-2026> class being offered in central Vermont this May 18-22. It's for those of all birding skills and interests, and created out of the growing reality that in-depth, field-based naturalist study is hard to come by in the northeast, particularly outside of academia. This retreat-style course will have food, lodging, and is timed around catching all the spring migrants you could ask for--in a really beautiful setting. Hope you'll check it out! https://northbranchnaturecenter.org/adult-programs/biodiversity-university/ornithology-2026
Thanks!
Sean Beckett (he/him) Program Director North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm St, Montpelier VT 05602
Date: 3/5/26 6:57 pm From: '<bikenbird...>' via NHBirds <nhbirds...> Subject: [NHBirds] *** NH Audubon Seacoast Chapter Wednesday March 11, 2026 7:30 PM Program: Birds and Other Creatures of Ghana***
New Hampshire Audubon Seacoast Chapter
Please note the following:
* Check the chapter website (http://www.seacoastchapter.org/programs) for any changes that may impact the in person program.
* There will be refreshments from 7-7:30 pm. Feel free to bring in refreshments for others to enjoy at the program. Thank you!
Wednesday March 11, 2026 7:30 pm Program: Birds and Other Creatures of Ghana
In October, 2024, Kathryn and Roger Frieden went on a group birding trip to Ghana where they saw many fascinating birds and other creatures. In this program, Kathryn will share information about their adventure (and Roger’s photos).
Bio: Kathryn and Roger Frieden started birding and learning about birds around 15 years ago when their children were all off to college. Their first birding trip was to south Texas with Mass Audubon in 2011, and they have been enjoying birding travel ever since. In 2015, Kathryn started volunteering for NH Bird Records shortly after retiring as an OB-GYN physician. They lived in Manchester for many years, and moved to Nottingham 8 years ago, so now they get to include Pawtuckaway Lake birds in their yard list.
All are welcome to attend our Wednesday March 11, 2026 program which is free of charge at the Seacoast Science Center (wheelchair accessible), Odiorne Point State Park, 570 Ocean Boulevard, Rye NH (click here for Google maps, Seacoast Science Center) There will be refreshments starting at 7 pm. Meetings begin at 7:30 pm. Entrance doors will be locked at 7:45 pm. Cancellations will be announced on http://www.seacoastchapter.org/programs and this Google group.
Thank You! Dunkin’ of 14 Central Ave (exit 7 off of Rte 16), Dover, NH (603) 740-9649 donates hot coffee and more for our programs. When you visit the location mention a thank you!
At 3:30 pm today I observed a Peregrine Falcon fly from the direction of a know nest site along Rte 25 West over Tenney Mt. Observed in flight as well as perched on a distant dead tree. eBird Checklist - 5 Mar 2026 - Dodge Rd. Plymouth,NH - 2 species <https://ebird.org/checklist/S306265283>
