Birdwatching in New Hampshire

1 | Monthly Guide to the Best of New Hampshire Birding

Monthly Guide to the Best of New Hampshire Birding 1 January Birding is not at its best in January, but the Superbowl of Birding is a fun way to beat the winter blues and get out with friends in some of the best areas in southeastern New Hampshire. This friendly competition is run by the Massachusetts Audubon Society’s Joppa Flats Education Center. Prizes are awarded for most points scored (different species are worth different point totals) in New Hampshire’s Rockingham County or Massachusetts’ Essex County. See the Mass Audubon Web site (www.massaudubon.org) for details. February If you can get out to Jeffreys Ledge toward the end of the month, the number of alcids—including Razorbills, Black Guillemots, and Atlantic Puffins—can be impressive. Access can be difficult during winter, however, and late fall offers more dependable conditions for similar birds (see November). March From mid-March through the end of the month, waterfowl migration north through the Connecticut River Valley is outstanding. Several rare species are more likely to be found here than elsewhere in New Hampshire, including Greater White-fronted Goose and Cackling Goose. New Hampshire’s first records of Barnacle Goose and Pink-footed Goose were discovered in Hinsdale and Walpole, respectively. The farm fields on both sides of the river, from Hinsdale north to Charlestown, are especially productive. About 25 species of waterfowl are recorded each spring. The Merrimack River Valley and the coast also are excellent at this time, especially the agricultural fields at the Big Bend in Boscawen, Moore Fields in Durham, Great Bay, and Meadow Pond in North Hampton. 32 Bi r dwatc hin g in New H amp shire April Waterfowl migration continues into April and is so spectacular that it warrants repeat mention. Some southeastern spots peak in April, including Meadow Pond in Hampton for Green-winged Teal and Powwow Pond in Kingston for Ring-necked Duck. Later in the month, northward migration of Brant, Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, and Northern Gannet can be impressive along the coast. April also is when the North Country awakens, especially for waterfowl. May The arrival of songbirds from their tropical winter homes peaks in May, typically during the middle of the month. Nowhere in the state is this phenomenon more evident than on Star Island, one of the Isles of Shoals. Nocturnal migrants such as warblers, tanagers, and buntings that find themselves over the ocean as dawn breaks must find the nearest landmass to rest and refuel. The concentration of songbirds on the island is often an order of magnitude greater than at similar locations along the coast. Additionally, there are few large trees on the island in which the birds can hide. Most are so busy feeding that they pay little attention to birdwatchers, allowing the sort of breathtaking views that seldom occur at breeding sites in the interior of the state. Access in May is usually by private charter, with scheduled ferries sometimes available later in the month (see chapter 5). June June is a great time to visit the White Mountains and the North Country, including Mount Washington, Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge, Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, and East Inlet Wildlife Management Area. Pondicherry , located in Jefferson and Whitefield, is one of the crown jewels of New Hampshire’s landscape. This 6,000-acre preserve of boreal habitat, fashioned around Cherry and Little Cherry Ponds, includes spruce-fir forest and black spruce–tamarack bog and is a mecca for boreal species (238 species of birds have been recorded). Farther north, Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge in Errol is another northern gem, boasting outstanding habitat for waterbirds and northern boreal specialties. Harper’s Meadow, on the western shore of 33 M o nt h ly G uide the lake, has been designated a National Natural Landmark for its exemplary floating bog. Close to the Canadian border, East Inlet in Pittsburg is a relatively easy place to observe New Hampshire’s boreal specialties, particularly for those who don’t want to hike the White Mountains. All boreal species that occur in the state have been seen from the area’s forest roads, and it is probably the most reliable spot in the state to find Spruce Grouse (though even here it is not guaranteed). June also is the best month to find Bicknell’s Thrush in New Hampshire, most easily from the Mount Washington Auto Road or the Cannon Mountain...