Bear with me folks, this post is going to be a doozy!!! (Thank you Pittsburg, NH!!!)

From the outset, I apologize for the length of this forthcoming post, for it shall entail all the sightings and experiences engaged while up on vacation in the Pittsburg, New Hampshire area at Tall Timber Lodge off of Back Lake!


Every year, for the last 11 years, it has been a family tradition to go on vacation to the Great North Woods of New Hampshire's Coos County, spending 7 days at our favorite place of solitude, Tall Timber Lodge. Like any vacation, it is a much needed respite from the doldrums of every day life back at home, and to compliment such a wonderful getaway, bird watching was the top priority of my list of things to do while up North!


My goal, or rather, broad aspiration, was to try and chance upon the following target species: Bay-breasted Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Spruce Grouse, and my "Nemesis" birds, the explosive little singer often referred to as a Winter Wren! Many, many times I have heard the amazing and breathtaking song of the Winter Wren.....but alas, I have had the misfortune of never seeing one! Well.....guess what??!! The Winter Wren is STILL MY NEMESIS BIRD!!! Count 'em, for 10 times I was within earshot of a singing Winter Wren.....BUT NEVER CLOSE ENOUGH to try and find him in those dense, lush, piney boreal forests up there! The closest opportunity I had was while hiking/birding with my brother on the Little Hellgate Falls Trail off of Cedar Stream Road (east of Lake Francis). This damned little bugger had to be within 50 feet of me, but because the woods were so dense, I had no chance. I think the only way I would've seen one those those blasted Winter Wrens up there is if it flew and smacked me right in my bloody face!!


Oh well, dems da breaks, ya know?! However, I did get upon 2 new Life birds, one of them being one of the target species! An Alder Flycatcher was seen and heard (of course heard, otherwise I would not have been able to identify that Empid!) at Terrill Pond off of Indian Stream Road! Great looks and always fun watching any bird sing, and of course, quite the surprise! The other Lifer was a female Mourning Warbler at Scott's Bog, near East Inlet Road. It was intermingling at the edge of the parking area/boat launch in some deciduous trees (in the low branches) with what I counted to be 11 Boreal Chickadees and a few Red-breasted Nuthatches. Thickets were nearby, which were already home to a couple of Common Yellowthroats (despite their commonality, I love looking at them, that is, if you can find them....kinda elusive they are)!


Other highlights are as follows:


3 Bald Eagles were seen at Back Lake, 2 adults and one immature! Such majestic and proud raptors! 2 Ruffed Grouse were seen, a red-morph by myself and Chris whilst on Cedar Stream Road driving to the trailhead for Little Hellgate Falls (a Red-shouldered Hawk was also seen roughly 100 yards prior to coming across the red-morph Ruffed) and a gray-morph was solely observed by Chris while he and I hiked The Falls in the River Trail (part of the Cohos Trail system), this being near the dam for the 2nd Connecticut Lake. A Blackburnian Warbler (female) was seen while checking out the confines in behind our cabin, as well as a couple of Northern Parulas, a couple of Purple Finches and 2 Blackpoll Warblers. A couple of Blue-headed Vireos were seen while hiking the Moose Alley Trail (also part of the Cohos), and a Common Raven was seen off of Big Brook Road as well as at Terrill Pond. 4 Gray Jays were happily observed at East Inlet Reservoir....and as always, they are quite tame and rather inquisitive....one of the Gray Jays coming within 20 feet of Chris and myself. Chris was able to get a few decent shots of this lovely "Canada" Jay, of which he'll post on Facebook soon enough, at least most likely! Several Swainson's Thrushes were heard and observed at several locations throughout Pittsburg, and Boreal Chickadees were seen at Scott's Bog, Moose Alley Trail and Big Brook Bog. Lastly, a couple of Golden-crowned Kinglets were seen while hiking the short Idlewild Spur Trail (also part of the Cohos) that runs near the southwestern shoreline of the 2nd CT Lake. I hadn't seen GC Kinglets in seemingly ages....since I think Odiorne State Park in Rye, NH in the Autumn of last year!


Okay, enough blabbering I suppose! It was a great vacation with plenty of good birding, despite not seeing 3 birds I have been dieing to see (the Bay-breasted Warbler, Spruce Grouse and cursed Winter Wren). Coming away with 2 new Life birds, even one, makes the whole trip worth it!


And yes, for those whom may be wondering, several Red Foxes, Moose, White-tailed Deer and even 3 Black Bears were seen (saw the Momma black bear with adorable cubs in Bethlehem on the first day on our drive up to Pittsburg)!


Finally, here are all my sightings from this past week, the longest list only topping out at 19 birds seen. Thanks everybody for reading, enjoy and happy birding as always!!

Location:     Tall Timber Lodge, Pittsburg, NH
Observation date:     7/18/10
Number of species:     15

Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis     1
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Archilochus colubris     2 (at hummingbird feeders near main lodge)
Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus     2
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos     5
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     7
Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis     1
Swainson's Thrush - Catharus ustulatus     1
Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum     6
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - Dendroica coronata coronata     4
Blackburnian Warbler - Dendroica fusca     1
Blackpoll Warbler - Dendroica striata     2
Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina     1
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) - Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis     2
Purple Finch - Carpodacus purpureus     2
American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis     3


Location:     East Inlet, Pittsburg
Observation date:     7/19/10
Notes:     I chose East Inlet as primary location since most of listed birds were seen there...here are some more details of most of the birds observed: Common Loons seen at Lake Francis and 1st Connecticut Lake; Great Blue Heron seen at East Inlet; Immature Bald Eagle seen along northern shoreline of Back Lake near Tall Timber Lodge; Ring-billed Gull seen at Middle Pond; Red-eyed Vireo seen at East Inlet; Grays Jays seen at East Inlet; Common Raven seen at East Inlet; Barn Swallows seen at junction of Route 3 and Indian Stream Road; Red-breasted Nuthatch seen at East Inlet; Hermit Thrush seen at East Inlet; Cedar Waxwings seen at Tall Timber Lodge near Back Lake; Northern Parulas seen at East Inlet and Tall Timber Lodge; Common Yellowthroat seen at East Inlet; Song Sparrows seen at Moose Pond; White-throated Sparrows seen at Middle Pond; Dark-eyed Junco seen at Tall Timber Lodge.
Number of species:     19

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis     7
Common Loon - Gavia immer     5
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias     1
Bald Eagle - Haliaeetus leucocephalus     1
Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis     1
Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus     1
Gray Jay - Perisoreus canadensis     4
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos     9
Common Raven - Corvus corax     1
Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica     3
Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis     1
Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus     1
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     5
Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum     14
Northern Parula - Parula americana     2
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas     1
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia     2
White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis     2
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) - Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis     1


Location:     The Falls in the River/Moose Alley Trails (Cohos), Pittsburg, NH
Observation date:     7/21/10
Number of species:     10

Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias     1
Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon     2
Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus     2
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     1
Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis     1
Swainson's Thrush - Catharus ustulatus     2
Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus     1
Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum     4
American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla     2
White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis     2


Location:     Arthur & Christie Johnson Memorial Forest, Pittsburg, NH
Observation date:     7/21/10
Number of species:     14

Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos     10
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias     2
Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon     2
Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus     4
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos     2
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     12
Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis     8
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis     1
Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus     3
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     3
Northern Parula - Parula americana     2
Ovenbird - Seiurus aurocapilla     1
White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis     2
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) - Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis     8


Location:     Terrill Pond, Pittsburg, NH
Observation date:     7/21/10
Notes:     Northern Flickers seen near Mile Marker 11 while driving south on Indian Stream Road in Pittsburg, NH.
Number of species:     10

Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) - Colaptes auratus [auratus Group]     4
Alder Flycatcher - Empidonax alnorum     1
Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus     1
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     5
Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum     2
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas     1
Chipping Sparrow - Spizella passerina     1
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia     2
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     2
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula     1


Location:     The Falls in the River/Moose Alley Trails (Cohos), Pittsburg, NH
Observation date:     7/22/10
Number of species:     12

Common Merganser - Mergus merganser     1
Ruffed Grouse - Bonasa umbellus     1
Wild Turkey - Meleagris gallopavo     2
Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon     2
Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus     1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     2
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos     1
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     5
Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis     1
Swainson's Thrush - Catharus ustulatus     4
Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus     2
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) - Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis     8


Location:     Little Hellgate Falls, Pittsburg, NH
Observation date:     7/22/10
Notes:     Red morph Ruffed Grouse and Red-shouldered Hawk seen within a hundred yards of each other near Mile Marker 16 along Cedar Stream Road; Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker seen near junction of Magalloway & Cedar Stream Roads; Eastern Phoebe seen on power lines paralleling Beach Road near Powderhorn Lodge.
Number of species:     8

Ruffed Grouse - Bonasa umbellus     1
Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus     1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) - Colaptes auratus [auratus Group]     1
Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe     1
Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus     1
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     8
White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis     2
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) - Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis     5


Location:     Moose Alley Trail (Cohos), Pittsburg, NH
Observation date:     7/23/10
Number of species:     10

Blue-headed Vireo - Vireo solitarius     1
Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus     1
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos     1
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     5
Boreal Chickadee - Poecile hudsonicus     1
Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis     6
Brown Creeper - Certhia americana     2
Swainson's Thrush - Catharus ustulatus     1
Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus     3
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) - Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis     1


Location:     Scott's Bog, Pittsburg, NH
Observation date:     7/24/10
Notes:     Female Mourning Warbler seen intermingling with Boreal Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches near boat launch/parking area for Scott's Bog.
Number of species:     8

Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos     1
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     2
Boreal Chickadee - Poecile hudsonicus     11
Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis     3
Black-throated Blue Warbler - Dendroica caerulescens     2
American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla     1
Mourning Warbler - Oporornis philadelphia     1
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas     2


Location:     Big Brook Bog, Pittsburg, NH
Observation date:     7/24/10
Notes:     Wild Turkey and Common Raven seen along Big Brook Road; One chick with 2 adult Common Loons.
Number of species:     14

Wild Turkey - Meleagris gallopavo     1
Common Loon - Gavia immer     3
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias     3
Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularius     1
Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon     2
Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus     1
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos     1
Common Raven - Corvus corax     1
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     7
Boreal Chickadee - Poecile hudsonicus     2
Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis     5
Northern Parula - Parula americana     1
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas     1
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia     1


Location:     Idlewild Spur Trail (Cohos), Pittsburg, NH
Observation date:     7/24/10
Number of species:     6

Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus     1
Golden-crowned Kinglet - Regulus satrapa     4
Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus     2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - Dendroica coronata coronata     3
Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas     1
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia     1

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

eBird Report - Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge, 4/13/10 - A multitude of woodpeckers!

Another fine day to be out and about! I decided to hit Oxbow NWR for the first time this year, Oxbow being my favorite local area to find solitude in and to go a-birding! I had wanted to check out Oxbow prior to, but with the recent flooding, that was not possible. You can tell how bad the flooding was due the faint silty waterline about 4 feet up on some of the tree trunks. Just amazing!

At any rate, a fine day of birding it was, taking a jaunt through all the trails from 10:30 am to 2 pm. The place was loaded with chickadees, goldfinches, grackles, red-wings, robins, tree swallows, titmice and singing juncos. I was also amazed at the numbers of woodpeckers there, especially finding 6 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, the most I have ever seen anywhere at one time! It was also very nice seeing a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker again, FOY! Also finally notched my FOY Pine Warblers, some excellent looks along Tank Road. I also had the pleasure of seeing 2 Ruffed Grouse along Tank Road, the first grouse I have seen in years! Normally, from what I understand, they tend to be solitary, but there were 2 of them, one following the other. I will say they were a bit far back into the pines, but had good looks at them before losing them into the thick of the woods. Definitely sweet! Enough babbling from me!

Here are some directions to Oxbow NWR for those who would like to check it out (do where some good hikers, its very mucky, especially along the Riverside Trail): From MA Route 2, take Exit 38 (Route 110/111) south toward Harvard; bear right to stay on Route 110 at Harvard Center; and, turn right onto Still River Depot Road at the Still River Post Office. The refuge parking area is at the end of Still River Depot Road, past the railroad tracks.

Happy birding everyone!

Location:     Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge
Observation date:     4/13/10
Number of species:     33

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis     5
Wood Duck - Aix sponsa     7 (all along Turnpike Trail near jct with Riverside Trail)
Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos     5
Ruffed Grouse - Bonasa umbellus     2 (in pine forest area long Tank Road nearer to Route 2)
Wild Turkey - Meleagris gallopavo     2 (Tank Road)
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias     2
Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura     6
Barred Owl - Strix varia     2 (heard "who cooks for you, who cooks for you-all" fairly close, but could not get on them; was on Tank Road nearest jct of Turnpike Trail when calls were heard; were seemingly calling back and forth between each other)
Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon     2
Red-bellied Woodpecker - Melanerpes carolinus     6 (Most along Riverside Trail)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Sphyrapicus varius     1 (near jct. of Riverside & Turnpike)
Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens     5
Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus     2
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) - Colaptes auratus [auratus Group]     3
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     11
American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos     3
Tree Swallow - Tachycineta bicolor     X (throughout, but most along Turnpike Trail)
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     X
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor     X
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis     6
Eastern Bluebird - Sialia sialis     2 (along backside of marsh area that runs along Tank Road)
Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus     1 (pine forest area along Tank Road)
American Robin - Turdus migratorius     X
Pine Warbler - Dendroica pinus     3 (Tank Road)
Palm Warbler (Yellow) - Dendroica palmarum hypochrysea     2 (Turnpike Trail)
Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia     1
Swamp Sparrow - Melospiza georgiana     1
White-throated Sparrow - Zonotrichia albicollis     5
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) - Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis     X
Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus     X
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula     X
Brown-headed Cowbird - Molothrus ater     2 (near parking lot)
American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis     X

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2 (http://ebird.org/massaudubon/)