Not nearly as many species as last year and generally rather slow for birding, but we still managed to get some nice birds, and had a great trip today along the NH coast. Light to moderate westerly winds and lots of sun with seasonable temperatures. A nice fall day! Still no major frost yet on the coast and still lots of flowers and a lot of insect activity. LOTS of butterflies and a few dragonflies noted.
Birds – 53 Species
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Brant – 2 migrating birds offshore.
Canada Goose
Green-winged Teal – Flock of 7 over the ocean (landing briefly with White-winged Scoters!) off Ragged Neck.
Common Eider
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Red-breasted Merganser
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Greater Yellowlegs
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Northern Gannet
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
GREAT EGRET – 2 lingering birds at Philbrick Marsh.
Northern Harrier – One at Hampton Beach SP.
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk – Lots along the coast.
Downy Woodpecker
Merlin – 1 at Eel Pond.
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark – Small flock at Hampton Beach SP.
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird
European Starling
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
LAPLAND LONGSPUR – 1 seen well by all at Hampton Beach State Park with flock of Horned Larks.
Chipping Sparrow – 1 at Goss Farm in Rye.
Savannah Sparrow – Including 2 “Ipswich Sparrows” at Hampton Beach SP and one at Ragged Neck.
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird – Odd female in American Beach Grass at Hampton Beach SP.
PALM WARLBER – 1 “western” type Palm in the short grasses at Ragged Neck in Rye.
PINE WARBLER – 1 relatively bright male in gardens at Goss Farm.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Butterflies (6+ species)
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Cabbage White – 1 at Ragged Neck
Clouded/Orange Sulphur – 1 at Goss Farm and 1 at Odiorne.
Monarch – 10 (!!) estimated for the day with some migrating along the shoreline.
Question Mark – 2+ plus another anglewing sp. possibly an Eastern Comma.
Red Admiral – 1 in apples at Goss Farm.
American Lady – At least 2 clearly Americans. A 3rd possible Painted Lady.
Dragonflies (2+ species)
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Common Green Darner – 1 at Goss Farm
Possibly Mosaic Darner – 1 at Goss Farm
Autumn Meadowhawk – Several including pairs in tandem.
Steve & Jane Mirick
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Upcoming Field Trips
Pine Hill Road Grassland
Lancaster - Pine Hill Road Grasslands Pine Hill Road, Lancaster, MA, United StatesWe will hike a sandy/gravelly field area for grassland breeding sparrows and warblers including Grasshopper Sparrow, and wait until sunset for whip-poor-wills.
Great Meadows NWR, Concord
Concord - Great Meadows Concord Unit, Entrance Rd, Concord, MA, United StatesWe will walk easy trails looking for shorebirds, ducks, wading birds, rails, and nesting songbirds. This is also a great time to look for butterflies and other interesting insects. Note that entrance fee or pass is required. Loaner binoculars available; please email trip leader to reserve a pair!
Whale and Seabird watching trip out of Gloucester
Gloucester - 7 Seas Whale Watch 63 Rogers Street, 7 Seas Wharf, Gloucester, MA, United StatesThe BBC is partnering with the 7 Seas Whale Watching Tour Company to travel to Stellwagen Bank - primary feeding grounds for the Humpback Whale, the endangered Right Whale, and other marine wildlife, including seabirds. With the help of onboard naturalists, we will search for seabirds - storm petrals, shearwaters, gulls and terns, gannets, and [...]
An Oasis for Birds at Belle Isle Marsh
East Boston - Belle Isle Parking Lot 1399 Bennington Street, Boston, MA, United StatesJoin DCR park staff for a relaxed, one-mile bird walk through flat, easy terrain at this Massachusetts State Reservation and birding hot spot. In July, At Belle Isle and at additional nearby locations—we’ll search for osprey, flocks of egrets, piping plover, migrating shorebirds, meadow and grassland nesting birds. Participants are responsible for their own transportation [...]
Charles River Path in Waltham
Waltham - Charles River Shaws Supermarket 130 River Street, Waltham, MA, United StatesStroll along an easy to walk paved path. Possible sightings include Wood Ducks, Yellow Warbler, Warbling Vireo, and Great Blue Heron. Cosponsored with Waltham :Land Trust and Menotomy Bird Club.