Capital Area Chapter of the Audubon Society of New Hampshire
Bird Finding in the Concord Area
By Robert A. Quinn, Canterbury
[This is an update of the article the author first wrote for the New Hampshire Audubon newsletter,
Nov-Dec 1991.]The Concord area is probably unique in the State from the point of view of the longevity and intensity of bird observation, from Frances Abbott, Charles Goodhue and F.B. White at the beginning of the 20th century to Tudor Richards and Kimball Elkins et al today. This history, combined with its strategic geographic location, agricultural fields, significant wetlands and water bodies, has resulted in an astonishing array of rarities observed over the years (e.g. Black-legged Kittiwake, Yellow-breasted Chat at the State House, Varied Thrush, King Eider and Red Phalarope to name just a few).
Concord sits in the heart of the Merrimack River valley, with the city proper to the west of the river on a series of gradually rising hills, and there is a more recently developed section on the "plains" or "heights" at the top of a steep bluff to the east of the river.
Summers are warm and frequently stormy, and winters are usually long and colder than many surrounding areas. Precipitation averages out to about 3 inches per month. Water birds make the Concord area special, and naturally it is during the spring and fall migration that they are most numerous. All the ponds, and usually the river, freeze solidly during the winter. This article was originally written for a Fall issue of NH Audubon and therefore will start with that season.
By October, most of the shore birds (sandpipers and plovers) have gone south, but then comes the greatest congregations of ducks, geese and gulls. Dabbling ducks can be found almost anywhere there is open water, while diving ducks prefer the river and larger ponds. The geese and gulls are oftentimes observed from along the river as they fly over.
As winter approaches, the smaller ponds freeze, then the larger ones, and by mid-December the Merrimack River is usually starting to solidify. Any water birds that still remain are forced to find the few patches of open water such as at Sewalls' Falls and the confluence of the Contoocook and Merrimack rivers in Penacook. Those are the places where Christmas Bird Count observers have found lingering Pied-billed Grebes, Great Blue Herons, Barrow's Goldeneyes and the like.
Mid-winter can be extremely quiet in Concord unless there is an invasion of Snowy Owls or winter finches. But, by late February or early March, a warm southwest airflow will bring in the first Red-wings, Bluebirds, Killdeer and sometimes waterfowl. It is during late March and early April that the river normally opens up, and the ponds and lakes somewhat later, though this varies a lot from year to year. The Black Ducks, Pintails, teal, geese etc. first appear on the river and its marshy oxbow ponds, and then begin to disperse as soon as the ice is out on the nearby ponds and points north.
The sweeping meanders, backwaters and ox-bows can have hundreds of ducks and, under the right circumstances, the fields and sky can be filled with hundreds or thousands of geese. Canada Geese outnumber all other species by far, with the Black Duck a distant second, but sometimes there are big flights of Snow Geese. In fact, Snow Geese are common enough that observers should not hastily assume all "Vees" of geese are Canadas! The agricultural fields flanking the river are often the best place to see waterfowl.
As spring progresses into April and May, most of the waterfowl have passed through, a few staying to nest, and the later water birds come through: herons, gulls, sandpipers, plovers, scoters and, rarely, Ruddy ducks.
Over the years there have been interesting nesting records such as Common Moorhen and Ring-necked Duck but, overall, the summer is usually quiet until the shore birds start coming through again in July.
The land bird migration usually follows the river valley and can be spectacular under appropriate weather conditions. In the spring, this is usually a day of southwest winds after several days or a week of cold, rainy weather, or strong northerly winds. In the fall, the land bird migration is best after the passage of a cold front with its associated northwest winds. Now let's look at some specific areas.
A. Merrimack River from south to north
1. At the Bow/Concord town line, the Turkey River enters the Merrimack River from the west. There are several observation spots alongside the railroad tracks and Route 3A, plus the river bank opposite Blue Seal Feeds on Hall Street. Gulls, cormorants, herons and an occasional shore bird can be seen here. It is also a good spot to watch for migrating geese and it has open water later than many other areas.
2. Manchester Street/Terrill Park. Just east of the Manchester Street bridge, turn left for an undeveloped city park called Terrill Park. There is an old loop road that is a good place to park and watch the river. Just upstream, a small creek comes in and has formed a little sand spit. This spit can be good for shore birds if the water is low, but recently it has had a lot of vegetation growing up and the visibility is poor. As of Spring 1997, there is major construction going on here but it is still accessible following the above directions.
Upstream from this spit is a little backwater behind a row of hardwood trees where ducks often hide. In the 15 or so years that I have been birding Terrill Park, there have been major changes but it is still one of the better spots in the city. The clouds of Herring Gulls are gone now that the dump has closed but more and more Ring-billed Gulls are seen each year, and at least one Bonaparte's Gull has been spotted here. It is a good spot for migrant ducks and geese. The trees along the river can be good for migrants and wintering birds. On one recent spring day, over 10,000 blackbirds of various species invaded these trees and, during a Christmas Bird Count, a Red-bellied Woodpecker was discovered.
There is a separate parking area a little uphill from Terrill Park that gives a better view of the "cove" but a more restricted view of the river itself. This area can be good for other migrants, particularly Ospreys and other hawks that follow rivers, and sparrows and warblers which can be seen in the bushes around the parking lots.
3. The next good spot is a mile or two north, at the boat ramp off Fort Eddy Road behind the New Hampshire Technical Institute (NHTI). Besides the river and a very nicely developing ox-bow (old river channel) called the Sugar Ball, which is visible from the ramp, there is a corn field which you drive through that oftentimes has sparrows, pipits, larks and buntings in it, especially during migration, plus blackbirds, Killdeer and ducks in the spring. Across Fort Eddy Road is a soccer field that is a good place for staging Killdeer, Robins and an occasional American Golden Plover. An older ox-bow is beyond the soccer field and has limited access, but gets its share of Wood Ducks, Ring-necked Ducks, etc. The general area, especially at the ramp, is another good spot from which to observe migration. In recent migrations, Red-breasted Merganser and Oldsquaw have been seen here.
4. Horseshoe Pond. Continuing on Fort Eddy Road to Fan Road, you pass the NHTI and the planetarium (during spring/fall, watch for more shore birds and bluebirds in the grassy areas) and cross over I-93, arriving at Horseshoe Pond. It is a U-shaped ox-bow pond with an agricultural field surrounded by its "arms." Commercial Street closely follows along one arm and provides good views. This pond is probably second only to Turkey Pond in the tremendous variety and rarities seen there. A Peregrine Falcon harassing 45 breeding-plumaged American Golden Plovers was seen within the same week as Gadwall and Northern Shoveler. "Blue" geese and Brant are some of the more unusual species also spotted on this pond. It is probably the good access rather than its inherent qualities that accounts for its good list. During spring 1996, Horseshoe was visited by such uncommon species as Horned and Red-necked Grebes, Common Moorhen, Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, 34 Short-billed Dowitchers, and a Black Tern.
5. The next good spot is on the east side of the river at the Forest Society's flood plain. From a parking area on Portsmouth Street just down the hill from the main entrance to the Conservation Center, a gated road leads through the woods and then along Mill Brook and finally out into the open flood plain. This marvelous variety of habitats is a great place during migration with many passerines in the brush, water birds along the river, and hawks searching the open areas. Birds of note seen here include Bald Eagles and Rough-legged Hawks. It is also one of the best places to study swallows, since all the species pass through in migration, and Bank and Rough-winged Swallows nest in the sandy embankment along the river. This site allows you to look down upon these birds and also gives you a good chance to listen to their call notes. Blue-winged Warbler and Black-billed Cuckoo have been seen here.
The bluff upon which the Conservation Center sits with its commanding view of the Merrimack River valley has nesting Pine Warblers and even nesting Pine Siskins in a good siskin year (rare).
6. The next stop can be at the Sewall's Falls area. As part of a new State park, it has recently been developed with a boat ramp, picnic area and the like. From a birding point of view, it may be of most interest in the winter when the rest of the river is frozen. Here the rapids created by the old dam keep the water open for quite a distance even in the coldest year and this is one of the best places for Common Goldeneyes and Common Mergansers during the winter. Rarer birds include Hooded Mergansers (rare in winter, that is), Bald Eagles and Barrow's Goldeneyes. As the access to the area is improved, it will undoubtedly become a more popular year round birding area. It does not get birded often but I suspect it to be a great spot for land birds during migration.
7. Heading north again, we go out Sewall's Falls Road to Abbott Road and take a right onto Penacook Street, and go down a hill. If road conditions are favorable, you may be able to stop and look out over this area which is called Goodwin's Point on topographical maps. It is a wonderful ox-bow pond that is bordered by a large farm field. It is a beautiful spot with a lot of potential, and it definitely gets the common waterfowl like Blacks, Mallards, teal, Woodys, Hoodys, Pintail, Wigeon and geese. Several dowitchers were reported here one spring. Please park with care.
8. Crete's overlook. Heading into Penacook and crossing the Contoocook River, if you take an immediate right onto River Road and go down past the abandoned tannery, you can stop where the Contoocook flows into the Merrimack near the Hannah Dustin memorial. This is another good place, especially when the river is frozen elsewhere. Continuing out River Road, you pass enormous corn fields that have the potential for geese and other waterfowl, shore birds and hawks. This enormous corn field is known as "Martin's" and it is permissible to walk out into it toward the river.
Several hundred yards out into the field, there is a low spot, not visible from the road, that can be loaded with ducks in the spring. One day there were several hundred ducks including Ring-necked Ducks, American Wigeon and Wood Ducks that were harassed by a coyote and a Goshawk, all within 15 minutes. If you walk out into this field, DO NOT BLOCK the access roads, and wear boots since it is usually quite muddy.
But my best luck has been further along Queen Street after is has climbed up a hill and just past a new house on the right. There is a small turnout on the right and you can get a modest view of a big sweeping bend in the river and another big corn field. If you walk a short distance down a steep embankment, you come out on the railroad tracks and have a great view of the entire area. During spring migration especially, this bend in the river can have large concentrations (hundreds) of waterfowl of many different species. Again, eagles have been seen here and the fields are good especially for Red-tailed Hawks. This is another area where the water stays open later in the fall than elsewhere.
Another way to access this site is to park along the road near the end of the huge corn field (Martin's) and walk north (left) along the railroad tracks. In 5 or 10 minutes, the river will come into view.
B. Lakes, ponds and marshes
9. The three most significant bodies of water apart from the Merrimack River are Turkey Pond, Turtle Pond and Long Pond (Penacook Lake). All of these attract a good variety of water birds and can be especially productive just after ice-out in the spring, and just before ice-up in the winter. Long Pond seems to be the least attractive to water birds but it has the only locally nesting Common Loons and can be good for shore birds in the fall if the water is low. Plus, this is where most of the local gulls roost each night, along with numbers of ducks. The land around the pond has no public access because it is the drinking supply for Concord, so the only observation point is located at the junction of Little Pond and Long Pond Roads.
Turtle Pond has a public boat ramp and is popular with fishermen as well as birders. There are two marshy areas around the pond, with one being near the boat ramp and the second being on the far side of the pond. In recent years, it has been watched more than previously, and it turns out to be most interesting right after ice-out in the spring. Loons, three species of grebes, and most common waterfowl occur here. Rarer species include White-winged Scoter and Shoveler.
Over the years, Turkey Pond has been the crown jewel of Concord when it comes to water birds. It is actually two ponds that are connected by a rowing course and controlled by a dam, but is has been studied so much over the years that its list of water birds exceeds 75 species! The list of rarities includes Tundra Swan, Stilt and Baird's Sandpipers, Glossy Ibis, King Eider, Red Phalaropes (two together) and, perhaps most amazing of all, a Forster's Tern and 16 Black-legged Kittiwakes on a beautiful day in May of 1972! There is a good trail network around Turkey Pond that starts at Audubon House. The ponds can also be viewed from Hopkinton Road and from a rough boat launch = mile beyond Silk Farm Road (further out Clinton Street).
10. Several marshes are worth mentioning. South End Marsh is bounded by the old industrial park and I-93, but it still gets a good variety of migrants (such as coots and American Wigeons in addition to more common fare) and it has had nesting Soras and Common Moorhens, the latter now quite rare. The Hoit Road Marsh in East Concord is a Fish & Game area on the outskirts of town that has most of the water birds mentioned elsewhere and it is a pleasant place for a canoe trip. When they lowered the water to work on the dam a few years ago, birds of note included a Semipalmated Plover and a Snowy Egret.
C. Fields
11. Most fields in the Concord area are either hay, corn or athletic. Along Clinton Street, they are primarily hay and attract Killdeer, Meadowlarks, Horned Larks, Kestrels, Rough-legged Hawks (rare) and the like. They are a good place for early spring migrants and used to be one of the few places where Upland Sandpipers could be found with any regularity. In the spring of 1994, two Glossy Ibis and a Cattle Egret graced these Clinton Street fields.
12. So-called Walker's Island, or Horseshoe Island, is the field surrounded by Horseshoe Pond and has had a lot of different birds depending on the season and the crop. When at least parts of it are left fallow, it is the best place I know of for nesting Savannah Sparrows and Bobolinks in the Concord area. It can be good for waterfowl during migration and has had an impressive list of hawks including Peregrine Falcon, Cooper's Hawk and Goshawk. Recent rarities include Lark Sparrow and Lapland Longspur.
13. Another field worth noting is the (usually) corn field near Exit 16 West of I-93 and bounded by West Portsmouth Street in East Concord. It is excellent for "puddle" ducks in the spring and I have even seen a Common Snipe pretending she was a phalarope in one of the vernal pools in this field. Regular migrants such as yellowlegs should also be looked for here.
14. A short distance north from here is Locke Road which leads to some sod farm fields and some relatively undisturbed flood plain. The sod farm is open to foot travel and has not been visited often, but should be good for some of the more unusual shore birds such as Baird's and Buff-breasted Sandpipers. The approach to the Locke Road sod farm has a nice mixture of marsh, weedy fields and woodland. This land is private property but is open for hiking. Please do not block the gate and treat the privilege with respect.
D. Woodlands
Some of the best woodlands have already been mentioned, such as around Turkey Pond, the Forest Society and Locke Road. Other interesting woodlands include the Pitch Pine forest on the Heights which does not seem to have any discrete area of public access, but is now riddled with roads and power lines which allow one to listen to the "specialties" such as Field Sparrows, Towhees, Prairie Warblers and Brown Thrashers. I do not know for a fact, but I suspect that the area has been disturbed too much for there to be any Whip-poor-wills left, but they are worth listening for. Woodlands abound in Concord, so these are just a few of the better known and generally accessible ones.
E. Miscellaneous and special
Urban birding is not too exciting, but it is not as dull as you might think either. I have seen Black Ducks, Ravens and Turkey Vultures over the capitol dome, a Fish Crow within a block of the State House (they probably nest), and, several years ago, a Yellow-breasted Chat was found by Tudor Richards in the bushes on the State House grounds. Concord seems to be in a good location for fall hawk watching and I have seen 1000 Broad-wings in one hour within a couple of blocks of the State House.
This is only a brief overview on the habitats of Concord. Any comments, questions, corrections or bird sightings are welcomed by the author, Bob Quinn.
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