AUGUST

Kayak Hampton and Seabrook Marshes – Saturday August 26th 6:00 am 

Join Scott Heron as he leads a trip paddling through Hampton and Seabrook's estuary searching for a variety of bird life across tidal streams, mudflats, saltwater marshes and beach dunes. We'll be looking for species of herons, gulls, terns, shorebirds, raptors, swallows, and other avian and marine life as we ride the falling tide. Meet at Harborside Park along Route 1A in Seabrook at 6am. Sunrise is at 5:54am and low tide is at 8:12am. Be mindful of best practices for boating safety. A kayak is preferred and a canoe can be used as well, but may be more difficult to navigate. At times, we'll be travelling through very shallow water and mild currents. The trip is planned to take three hours.

This field trip will be limited to 15 participants. Click on the link below to sign-up.

SEPTEMBER

Fall Pelagic - Tuesday, September 5th Dockside 7:30 am for an 8:00 am departure Rye Harbor, NH—MV Granite State 

In past years the September pelagic out of Rye Harbor has ventured into MA, NH, and ME waters and has turned up interesting birds including four species of Shearwater (Great, Manx, Cory’s, and Sooty), 2 species of Phalarope (Red-necked and Red), Pomarine and Parasitic Jaeger, Northern Fulmar, Wilson’s and Leach’s Storm- petrel and the first NH record of South Polar Skua.  (But obviously as with any trip no bird species is guaranteed or should to be expected!). Veteran birder Steve Mirick will lead the all-day trip. The cost is $75 per person to cover fuel, boat time, and the cost of chum.

Registration is limited to 50. Please click the link below to sign-up. 

Beginner Bird Walks (BBW) 

NH Audubon Seacoast Chapter volunteer Dan Hubbard will lead three Beginning Bird Walks (BBW) this September. Although these walks are geared with the beginner birder in mind, birders of all levels of expertise are encouraged to participate and share their experiences. Children are gladly welcome with an adult. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars, water, insect repellent, and sunscreen.

BBW Pickering Ponds – Wednesday September 6th,  8 am – 12 pm

One of the top 10 birding spots in New Hampshire, this walk will traverse the Rochester city park trails along the Cocheco River and around the former wastewater treatment settling ponds. Meet at the Pickering Ponds parking area at 8:00 AM. The entrance is about a mile south of the Rochester Wastewater Treatment Plant on Pickering Road (opposite mailbox #452). Contact: Dan Hubbard at danielhubbard@peoplepc.com or 603-978-0218.

This field trip will be limited to 20 participants. Please click the link below to sign-up. 

BBW: Pickering Ponds - Sunday, September 10th , 8 am – 12 pm 

An encore of the very popular Pickering Ponds walk on September 6th (see description above). Meet at the Pickering Ponds parking area at 8:00 AM. Contact: Dan Hubbard at danielhubbard@peoplepc.com or 603-978-0218.

This field trip will be limited to 20 participants. Please click the link below to sign-up.  

BBW: Strafford County Farm - Sunday September 17th, 8am – 12 pm 

With diverse habitats for water birds, raptors and song birds, this walk will include the Don Black Trail and the hedgerows around the fields of the conserved property. The walk will last as long as participants choose, but not beyond noon. Meet at 8:00 across from the Strafford County Work Program at 266 County Farm Road; follow County Farm Road and take a left at the stop sign and then an immediate left to continue along behind the jail to the parking lot across from  the entrance to the Strafford County Work Program.  Contact: Dan Hubbard at danielhubbard@peoplepc.com or 603-978-0218.

This field trip will be limited to 20 participants. Please click the link below to sign-up. 

Bioblitz!  Sponsored by the Seacoast Science Center Saturday,  September 23rd, 6:30 am - 4 pm 

The Bioblitz is comprised of scientists, field naturalists and backyard enthusiasts coming together to appreciate and learn about biodiversity and record data on as many different species as possible in one day at Odiorne State Park for the Seacoast Science Center. There will be guided programs around the park covering many different topics, including birds. As the event nears, for more information and to register, refer to the Seacoast Science Center website: https://www.seacoastsciencecenter.org/events/bioblitz/

Great Bay National Wildlife Refuge – Sunday September 24th, 8 am 

Established in 1992, the Great Bay NWR is home of over 225 species of birds. Join trip leader Susan Wrisley  for a two-mile loop through some of the refuge’s fields, forests, and beaver wetlands, including an overlook of Great Bay itself.  Meet at the refuge parking area at 8:00 AM. Contact: Susan Wrisley at susan@wrisleyart.com.

This field trip will be limited to 20 participants. Please click the link below to sign-up. 

OCTOBER

Coastal Migration - Saturday, October 7th  8:15 am

The trip will be a long walk around the varied habitats of Odiorne Point State Park, the top birding hotspot in New Hampshire. We will look for the expected fall migrants and perhaps even a rarity or two. Meet at the Odiorne Point parking lot at 8:15 (the park opens at 8:00). A small entrance fee for the park is required. Contact: Steve Mirick, 978-374-0654 or e-mail smirick@comcast.net

This field trip will be limited to 20 participants. As the event nears, return to this site to sign-up. 

Birch St Community Gardens - Sunday, October 8th,  7:30-10:30 am

Join us for a round-up of sparrows and other fall migrants at the Community Gardens off Clinton Street in Concord. Fourteen species of sparrows have been seen here, more than any single location in the state, including both Clay-colored and Vesper Sparrows.  Dickcissel, Blue Grosbeak, and Sedge Wren have also made appearances here.  Meet at 7:30 at Birch Street (the road is now signed). Contact: Zeke Cornell at zekecornell@gmail.com

This field trip will be limited to 20 participants. As the event nears, return to this site to sign-up. 

Hawk Watch at Pack Monadnock - Tuesday, October 10th, 10 am - 2 pm

Join Phil Brown, the Harris Center's Bird Conservation Director, for a half day of hawk watching at the Pack Monadnock Raptor Observatory in Peterborough. We will hope for a good mid-season migration flight which, in mid-October, can include several species of hawks and falcons as well as flocks of migrant Canada Geese, songbirds, and even scoters!

Learn hawk watching ID tips from the experts and learn about the different migration strategies and behaviors of up to 15 migratory raptor species. During a visit to the hawk watch, you'll experience NH's birding culture and immerse yourself in a long-standing community science project that is a partnership between the Harris Center and NH Audubon. https://harriscenter.org/conservation-research/pack-monadnock-raptor-observatory

Meet at the Observatory for the 10 am start time, and stay as long as you'd like. The park usually closes by 4 pm in mid-October. Weather conditions may cancel.

State park reservations with Miller State Park and a small fee are required for visiting Pack Monadnock. For more information on park fees and reservations, as well as accessibility, visit https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/miller-state-park. For more information on this outing, contact Phil Brown at brown@harriscenter.org. 

Registration is limited to 15. As the event nears, return to this site to sign-up. 

NOVEMBER

Maine Coast – Wednesday, November 1st , 9 am 

Join trip leaders Linda Maley and Ann Ablowich looking for seabirds, raptors, and  late migrating songbirds along the southern Maine coast.  Meet at the Perkins Cove parking lot at 9 AM.   From Perkins Cove we will bird Marginal Way, Nubble Light and Seapoint Beach. Dress warmly in layers and bring water and lunch or snack. For more information, contact Linda Maley at lindajeanmaley@gmail.com

Registration is limited to 20. As the event nears, return to this site to sign-up. 

DECEMBER

Christmas Bird Counts 

Across the country, Christmas Bird Counts take place annually between December 14 and January 5, and three of the counts are conducted in the Seacoast Chapter area.  As the season approaches, visit the New Hampshire Audubon Christmas Bird Count site for specific dates and more information  https://nhbirdrecords.org/new-hampshire-christmas-bird-count/ and contact the compilers if you are interested in participating: 

NH Coastal: Dave Tucker (dhtucker@comcast.net)

Lee-Durham: Kurk Dorsey (kurk.dorsey@unh.edu) 

Isles of Shoals: Ben Griffith (bgriffith@gmail.com) 

JANUARY

Birds of the Winter Coast – Saturday January 20th,  9:00 am

Join veteran birder and former ornithology instructor Rich Aaronian to look for the birds that make the New Hampshire coast their home during the winter. The trip will start at Hampton Beach State Park and proceed up north the coast as we look for loons, scoters, mergansers, grebes, shorebirds, and perhaps other specialties such as “white-winged gulls”, Horned Larks, and Snow Buntings. Dress warmly in layers and bring water and a snack. Contact Rich Aaronian for more information at raaronian@exeter.edu

Registration is limited to 20. As the event nears, return to this site to sign-up.