JANUARY

Birds of the Winter Coast – Saturday January 14^th, 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 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 lunch or snack. Contact Rich Aaronian for more information at raaronian@exeter.edu.

Registration is limited to 24 and participants should be fully vaccinated. Click on the link below to sign-up.

FEBRUARY

North Country Winter Finch Trip – Tuesday February 7^th, 8 am

The seacoast chapter heads north again this year with leader Lori Charron to look for winter finches. Meet at the McDonald's in Gorham, 214 Main Street, at 8:00 am. Contact: Lori Charron lpcharron@gmail.com.

This field trip will be limited to 16 participants and carpooling is encouraged. Click the link below to sign-up.

APRIL

Bob Hull Memorial Bluebird Walk - Saturday, April 8th 8:00 am

Help trip leader David Blezard clean out bluebird boxes, look for early migrants and lingering winter birds, and get yourself in the mood for spring. Meet at the UNH Parking Lot B at 8:00. Contact: David Blezard dblezard@mac.com or call 603-343-1223. Registration is not required.

Owl Prowl – Saturday, April 22nd 4:00 am

Join our always popular search for owls and sunrise birds. Meet at 4 am (!) at the Mill Road Plaza parking lot in Durham. Be prepared for a long, and possibly a bit wet, but leisurely walk through the woods. Wear appropriate footwear and bring insect repellent. Contact: Steve Mirick at smirick@comcast.net or 978-374- 0654.

As the event nears, re-visit this website to sign-up.

Kwaks Wildlife Sanctuary – Sunday, April 23rd 8:00 am

Join New Hampshire Audubon President Doug Bechtel in exploring NH Audubon’s Kwaks Wildlife Sanctuary in Newmarket. We will look for early spring migratory song birds and learn a bit about the plants and habitats that make the Kwaks Sanctuary, an important part of the Follett’s Brook Watershed. Meet at 8:00 AM at the parking lot.

The trip is limited to 20 participants. As the event nears, re-visit this website to sign-up.

MAY

Beginner Bird Walks (BBW)

The NH Audubon Seacoast Chapter will sponsor five Beginner Bird Walks (BBW) this spring. 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: Deer Hill Wildlife Management Area – Saturday, May 6th 7 am

Bird the varied habitats of the Deer Hill Wildlife Management Area with trip leader Scott Heron. With 188 species seen on the property, in the spring Deer Hill can be full of migrating passerines and breeding water birds. Meet at the entrance gate on Pine Road in Brentwood. Contact: Scott Heron at smheron@gmail.com.

This field trip will be limited to 25 participants. As the event nears, re-visit this website to sign-up.

BBW: Pickering Ponds – Sunday, May 14^th 7 am – 12 pm

One of the top 10 birding spots in New Hampshire, this walk will traverse Rochester city park trails along the Cocheco River and around the former wastewater treatment settling ponds. Meet at the Pickering Ponds parking area at 7:00 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 and vaccination is required. As the event nears, re-visit this website to sign-up.

BBW: Pickering Ponds - Wednesday, May 17^th 7 am – 12 pm

An encore of the very popular Pickering Ponds walk on May 14^th (see description above). Meet at the Pickering Ponds parking area at 7:00 AM. Contact: Dan Hubbard at danielhubbard@peoplepc.com or 603-978-0218.

This field trip will be limited to 20 participants and vaccination is required. As the event nears, re-visit this website to sign-up.

BBW: Burley Farms – Saturday, May 20^th 7 am

With fields, forests, a beaver pond, and a heron rookery Burley Farms is a great spot to look for birds. Join trip leader Greg Tillman to explore some of the property’s varied habitats. Meet at the parking area at 245 North River Rd in Epping at 7:00 am. Contact: Greg Tillman at gregtillman@comcast.net.

This field trip will be limited to 20 participants. As the event nears, re-visit this website to sign-up.

BBW: Strafford County Farm – Sunday, May 21^st 7 am – 12 pm

With habitat 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 7:00 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 and vaccination is required. As the event nears, re-visit this website to sign-up.

Marsh Birds of World End Pond – Sunday, May 21^st 6:30 am – 9:30 am

World End Pond is one of the top birding hotspots in southeast New Hampshire and it is home to many specialties not easily found elsewhere in the state. At almost 100 acres, one of the best ways to discover its birdlife is by kayak. Join Kyle Wilmarth as he leads a trip paddling through the pond and marsh. Meet at the boat launch at the end of Theresa Avenue in Salem. Contact: kyle.wilmarth@gmail.com.

This field trip will be limited to 7 participants. As the event nears, re-visit this website to sign-up.

JUNE

Pickering Ponds Nest Walk – Saturday, June 3rd 7 am – 12 pm

Join us as we look for nests and other evidence of breeding birds on the trails around the ponds and along the Cocheco River. Meet at the Pickering Ponds parking area at 7:00 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 and vaccination is required. As the event nears, re-visit this website to sign-up.

JULY

Birds & Butterflies of Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge - Saturday, July 8th 8 AM

Join Steve Mirick and explore the birds and butterflies (weather permitting!) of the refuge and adjacent areas. Be prepared for a long, but level walk and the possibility of biting insects. Meet at 8:00 AM at the trailhead for the Cherry Pond Trail at 289 Airport Road, Whitefield.

As the event nears, re-visit this website to sign-up.