From the Field
Tag along on wild chases, unforgettable field trips, and birding adventures. These are the stories, surprises, and field notes that make birding in New Hampshire so much fun.
February 19, 2026
The WILD Cardinals returned to Rye for the 2026 Super Bowl of Birding, beginning before dawn in below-zero temperatures and birding from marsh to coastline. From calling owls in the dark to feeder flocks and winter sea ducks, the team tallied 64 species, setting a new Town of Rye record along the way.
February 4, 2026
From pre-dawn owling in subzero temperatures to five-point birds along the coast, the 2026 Superbowl of Birding was a day of grit, surprises, and community for NH Audubon’s Twitchers.
January 16, 2026
While football fans prepare for the big game, NH Audubon’s Twitchers are gearing up for a different kind of competition—the Superbowl of Birding. From snowy shorelines to winter specialties, the team will spend 12 hours birding the New Hampshire coast to raise funds for New Hampshire Bird Records, now online as the Joy of Birding.
January 2, 2026
What began as a hopeful spring pelagic trip turned into an unforgettable spectacle: thousands of Red Phalaropes rafting alongside bubble-net-feeding whales. Jon Woolf recounts a day at sea that may have set a new benchmark for New Hampshire pelagic birding.
January 2, 2026
Purple Martins are barely hanging on as a breeding species in New Hampshire. Kathy and Rick Fitzgerald may have turned the tide after nearly 25 years of waiting. Their story starts when Rick gave Kathy a single Purple Martin house as a Mother’s Day gift in 2001.
December 25, 2025
On February 3, 2026, UNH Cooperative Extension will open registration for the:
2026 INTRODUCTION TO BIRD IDENTIFICATION, ECOLOGY & HABITATS COURSE. This very popular course is for anyone interested in improving their ability to identify birds by sight & sound and in learning more about bird ecology.
October 10, 2025
On June 5, Debbie Lyons identified a female Lark Bunting at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye and posted it along with a photo in eBird. Steve Mirick got the word out the next day and birders began showing up in droves to see this rare visitor.
October 7, 2025
David Govatski is a well-known birder and naturalist in New Hampshire. He is active in many conservation organizations and is a popular speaker at the Tin Mountain Conservation Center and elsewhere.
October 4, 2025
On my daily sojourn to Exeter's Powder House Pond in May, I finally had a chance to spend time with an adorable male Red-winged Blackbird, whom I affectionately refer to as Bob. He is a tailless wonder.
October 3, 2025
For most of the winter, our yard in Portsmouth is besieged with House Sparrows, and I occasionally scan the flock for something more interesting, such as the time a Dickcissel hung out with them for a few days. A few White-throated Sparrows spend the winter and a couple of Song Sparrows pop in and out of the feeder, but as spring approaches the sparrow action gets more exciting.