[TN-Bird] Eastern Trip 2008

Sorry, about that.  Attachments don't work on tn-bird so here is the trip info. 
 Delete if you are not interested in this info. about the Northeast.


TN Birders:

I just got back from my longest trip of the year (Northeast: CT, RI, MA, NH, ME 
& VT) and I have an abbreviated trip schedule with the focus on where and when 
to go.  Note that I had birded in the Northeast before so some of the places 
would not be must-see for first time birders, yet I've tried to mention all the 
important areas as well.  I left out accommodations and indeed much else so let 
me know if you have any questions.

Kevin Breault
Brentwood, TN



2008: CT, RI, MA, NH, ME, VT

 

Connecticut

 

The trip began in New Haven, Connecticut at East Rock Park.  The parking lot 
used by most birders is at the Eli Whitney Museum.  To all but the most focused 
birder the museum is worth a look.  It is the site in 1798 on which Whitney 
constructed the first factory in America, manufacturing guns (muskets) for the 
U.S. government.  East Rock Park is 450 acres on Mill River in urban New Haven, 
perhaps the best location for migrating land birds in Connecticut.  More than 
200 birds have been identified in the park with mid-May being the peak of the 
migration.  Every eastern warbler (30+) has been seen in the park, and 
according to one local expert the park may be one of the best places to see 
Prothonotary and Yellow-throated Warblers in Connecticut (1).  If you don=t 
find American Redstart, Black-and-white, Blackpoll, Magnolia, Northern Parula 
and Yellow, you are spending too much time at the museum.  The best birding is 
on trails along and on both sides of the Mill River.  You should be able to 
find a map of the park on the net.   

 

Many people think that Milford Point is the overall best location for shore and 
other water birds in Connecticut in May.  However, your success, as in much 
ocean shore birding, will depend on what time you get there.  Most experts 
suggest two or more hours before high tide.  One helpful site for tides is 
saltwatertides.com.  Perhaps the very best spot at Milford is the beach 
platform at the Connecticut Audubon Society Coastal Center which holds the Big 
Sit record for Connecticut (101 on Oct. 14, 2007, 2nd in the entire country for 
that year).  More energetic birders will explore the entire area that in season 
is full of birds, including Least Terns and Piping Plovers.   After the beach, 
backtrack to the Center and the various observation platforms both inside and 
out overlooking the salt marsh of the Charles E. Wheeler Wildlife Management 
Area (WMA).  Another access to Wheeler is at the end of Court Street (back down 
Milford Point Rd to a left on Third Ave to another left on Court).  Note that 
the Center has educational exhibits and programs for children, as well as a 
small store.

 

At Milford a couple of visiting birders were asking about the swans that appear 
to be ubiquitous.  They are Mute Swans (rarely you will see a Tundra Swan) and 
you should see them throughout the coastal northeast (yet, even though I am 
close to 50% for New Hampshire, I still need this common swan for that state).  

 

To see Monk Parakeets take exit 40 on I-95, then right on Old Gate Lane to 
another right on New Haven Ave to a left on Buckingham Ave to a right on Field 
Lane.  At the end of Field Lane on the right (north), near what I think is an 
old pumping station, you will find the birds.

 



Griswold Point Preserve, owned by the Nature Conservancy off Old Shore Rd near 
the city of Old Lyme, is perhaps the second best area for shorebirds in May.  
Griswold too has Least Terns and piping Plovers.

 

Known mainly for migrant land birds in fall (according to one expert, your best 
shot at Orange-crowned Warbler in Connecticut in fall), Bluff Point Coastal 
Reserve, near Groton, CT, can be good for shorebirds and waders in May.

 

Your last stop going east on the Connecticut shore should be the 707-acre Barn 
Island Wildlife Management Area near Stonington.  Birding at the impoundments 
(east of the parking lot before the boat launch) is good in May for water birds 
as well as songbirds.  I had 15 warblers when I visited including an unusual 
Prothonotary (it seems to be the year for them as two were seen in different 
areas of Massachusetts).  Note also that the entire area from nearly when you 
get off I-95 is very pretty and park-like with rock fencing and wooded 
properties.

 

Rhode Island

 

Adjacent to Burlingame State Park (SP) in southwest Rhode Island is Kimball 
Wildlife Sanctuary owned by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island.  The trails 
are very good for land birds, if not as profitable as the famous Swan Point 
Cemetery in Providence, the best place for songbirds in migration.  Find a map 
of Kimball on the net and take the trail west and opposite the nature center.  
Continue north to Watchaug Pool and then take the Yellow Trail toward and 
continue into Burlington SP.

 

Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) with 300 regular birds annually is 
a requirement for spring birding in Rhode Island.  It has a variety of habitats 
on the 642-acre refugeBbeach access for shorebirds (at the end of Moonstone 
Beach Rd), wetlands for waders, rails and other marsh birds, woods for 
songbirds, and fields for many others, including Bobolinks.  For more 
shorebirds go west (right) at the beach.  Also note that the road on the way to 
the beach can be good for song and water birds.  Spending the time to walk all 
of the trails at Trustom Pond is useful although I found Otter Point and Red 
Maple Swamp trails to be the most productive.  If you go off the trails examine 
yourself for deer ticks re Lyme Disease (which was considered a new disease 
beginning in 1975 from research conducted at Lyme, CT).  Note that removing the 
ticks as much as 48 hours after exposure results in only a low probability of 
contracting the disease, and the disease is exceedingly rare if you remove the 
ticks within 24 hours.  Be sure to see a physician if the removed deer tick 
appears to be engorged and keep the tick for identification (engorged deer 
ticks can look like dog ticks).

 



Perhaps your best bet for shorebirds in Rhode Island is the mud flats at the 
Charleston Breachway.  Don=t forget to check a tide chart and for greater 
safety take a kayak (rent one on Charleston Beach Rd at the Breachway Bait & 
Tackle store).  Wading across the channel to the flats can be dangerous and 
several people (perhaps absent-minded professors?) have been stranded in high 
water.  Other places in the area to consider are Ninigret NWR and Carolina 
Management Area and on the net see, ARhode Island Coastal Adventure Trails, 
Coastal Birding Trail@ .

 

My last stop in Rhode Island was Point Judith for a chance for seabirdsBnot 
best in May, of course, but I did see a Red-breasted Merganser and Northern 
Gannet.  Birds such as scoters, grebes, Long-tailed Duck and Common Eider are 
regular in season.

 

Finally, note that many birders think that the best overall birding in Rhode 
Island is on Block Island especially in fall.  A ferry and tours are available.

 

Massachusetts

 

Having birded in Massachusetts several times in the past my focus was on a 
limited number of birds and birding places.  I went first to an area that many 
non-locals should know more, Willowdale State Park.  Willowdale is a wonderful 
place with Ruffed Grouse and most of the eastern flycatchers, thrushes, vireos 
and warblers.  Spending time here can be profitable: in spring migration scores 
of birds can be identified.  Take exit 50 on I-95 to Route 1 north to a right 
on Ipswich Rd to a parking lot on the left near Gravelly Brook (don=t block the 
fire lane/Gravelly Brook Rd).  You should find a map on the net.  Take the 
trail next to Gravelly Brook and then head north into the heart of the park.

 

Additional sites in the area are at Jeffrey=s Neck.  Turn east (after 
Willowdale) on Ipswich Rd to Jeffrey=s Neck Rd to a right on Little Neck Rd and 
find Pavilion Beach with a look at Plum Island Sound.  Continue north on Clark 
Rd which ends in a right on Bowdoin Rd, which has a small parking area next to 
Clark Pond and the adjacent marsh.

 



You really should not leave Massachusetts without a trip to Plum Island 
(specifically, Parker River NWR), the best overall birding in Massachusetts and 
perhaps the region, and a sentimental favorite for me.  At age 17, Plum Island 
(with 4,662 acres and 300+ species) was one of my first major birding 
destinations.  Because the refuge admits only a limited number of cars at a 
time it can be important to get to the refuge at or even before sunrise (a good 
idea in any case as you will want to spend as much time as possible).  At the 
headquarters get a map and find the shorebird pools (salt pannes) after parking 
lot #1.  Note that your timing might not coincide with the most advantageous 
tides but you will have better chances later (see Jappa Flats below).  Kettle 
Hole (lot #3) has a good wooded area as does Hellcat Wildlife Observation Area 
(lot #4), the best place for migrant wood birds.  Also see the marsh area at 
Hellcat which has two pools (North Pond in that direction and Bill Forward Pond 
to the south) that should have waders.  Old Pines (#5) also has wading birds, 
and Stage Island Pool (#6 & 7) can have marsh birds including bitterns.  Note 
that Sandy Point State Reservation at the end of the island usually has few 
birds especially in late May through summer.  Since my last trip to Plum Island 
(early 1980s), my impression is that the vegetation has increased and now more 
of the island is favorable for songbirds, and some of the best birding is along 
the main road from about lot #3 to the Hellcat area.  Plum Island is the kind 
of place where almost everything can turn up, so spending time there (several 
days in migration) is usually well worth it.

 

Very close to Plum Island is the new (as of 2003) Jappa Flats Educational 
Center and Wildlife Refuge (opposite the Parker River headquarters--you went 
past Jappa on the way to Plum Island), one of the best shorebirds areas in 
Massachusetts (again, be sure you know the tides-nothing like trying to 
shorebird at high tide!).  Also see the mud flats west of the Center for more 
views.  Several places to park next to the road are available.  Note that the 
Jappa Flats Center has good restrooms unlike what you may have found at Plum 
Island.

 

As the above is, admittedly, a somewhat idiosyncratic tour of Massachusetts, in 
addition to Plum Island and Jappa Flats I would suggest the following areas for 
first-time birders to Massachusetts: the best place for migrant songbirds is 
Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge near Harvard University; Cape Ann is perhaps 
the best place for birding in winter; on Cape Cod there are various places, my 
favorite is the 1,100-acre Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, a place I loved as 
a child even before I was a birder.  For a short trip in spring, Mount Auburn, 
Plum Island and Jappa Flats are first tier.  Let me also add that pelagic trips 
off Massachusetts to Stellwagen Bank can be beneficial (e.g., Greater, Sooty & 
Manx Shearwaters, Wilson=s & Leach=s Storm-Petrels, and Parasitic & Pomarine 
Jaegers).  Note that some of these trips begin in May but most are later in the 
season.  One area in west Massachusetts I would strongly suggest is Pleasant 
Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Berkshire County with its 1,314 acres and indeed 
very pleasant trails. 

 

New Hampshire           

 

My birding in New Hampshire began with Odiorne Point SP, arguably the best 
place in New Hampshire for songbird migration, and the first settlement in New 
Hampshire dating from 1623.  At the parking lot near the fee kiosk (where you 
can get a map), take the bike trail adjacent to route 1-A and past the small 
pond, then go north/right (where the best birding begins) toward Frost Point to 
a World War II battery, and then southeast before you actually get to the 
Point, to the Seacoast Science Center and parking lot.

 



After Odiorne I went south on I-A to ultimately end up at the Seabrook/Hampton 
Harbor at two or so hours before high tide.  Thus, after Odiorne I drove to 
Pulpit Rock, the Rye Harbor Marina, Eel Pond, North Hampton State Park and 
Meadow Pond, but note that there are many other opportunities to park and scan 
the ocean on I-A--a requirement in winter.  At Pulpit Rock you may see Purple 
Sandpipers in winter (and perhaps as late as mid-May) and, as I did, 
Red-throated and Common Loons.  Some winter birds linger until early June and 
note that Common Eider now breeds on the Northeast coast as far south as 
Connecticut.  Rye Harbor can be good for gulls and terns but is best in winter. 
 Eel Pond can have ducks.  North Hampton SP is good for shorebirds but often 
there are too many people, as was the case when I was there in May.  The Meadow 
Pond area has Seaside Sparrows and I am told, both Salt-marsh Sharp-tailed and 
Nelson=s Sharp-tailed Sparrows (2).  Note that Hampton Beach SP, just before 
Seabrook/Hampton Harbor going south, can be helpful in winter but is too full 
of people at most other times.  The Seabrook/Hampton Harbor is the best place 
for shorebirds in New Hampshire.  One viewing area is the pier at the south 
side of the harbor at River St.  Another option is to walk on the mud flats 
west of the pier (watch the tide).  Finally, the west side of 1-A just south on 
the harbor bridge can be good.  Note that the best shorebirding is in fall 
(July though September).

 

If you are still looking for migrants, one agreeable place is Great Bay NWR 
with Peverly Pond and Ferry Way trails, both of which can add to your state 
list.  At this point there is only one way in and out of Great Bay NWRBthrough 
the airport (Pease International Tradeport): take Pease Blvd into the airport 
and take a right on Arboretum Dr which winds around the runways and ends up at 
the NWR.  The nearby Sandy Point Discovery Center has lots of programs for 
children and families, 2,000 feet of mud flats (do you think someone counted, 
perhaps a birder?), Osprey, waders, and a surprisingly good (if small) wooded 
area.

 

A trip on the Auto Road up the 6,288-foot Mt. Washington is worth the time even 
though most birders need not go the entire way.  Perhaps a better chance for 
Bicknell=s Thrush is on the Cap Ridge Trail off of Jefferson Notch Rd, about 25 
miles (by road) on the other (west) side of Mt. Washington.  The thrush is 
fairly easy to find at the >3,000 foot level; there are few sightings at less 
than 3,000 ft in New England (the bird is found in the mountains of northern 
New York, mainly Adirondack and Catskill, the mountains of Vermont, roughly 45 
of which are >3,000 ft, mainly the White Mountains in New Hampshire and various 
mountains throughout Maine).  Other birds to be seen in these mountains are: 
Ruffed & Spruce Grouse, Black-backed Woodpecker, Olive-sided & Yellow-bellied 
Flycatcher, Boreal Chickadee, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Winter 
Wren, Swainson=s & Hermit Thrush, N. Parula, Magnolia, Tennessee, 
Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue, Blackburnian, Canada, Bay-breasted & 
Blackpoll Warbler, Gray Jay and Pine Siskin.  Note that the Auto Road is $20.00 
per car and driver with additional fees for passengers. 

 



A trip to upper New Hampshire is very special as much for the scenery as the 
birds.  You are looking for the Connecticut Lakes area just north of Pittsburg, 
NH on route 3.  While different experts like different birding routes in the 
area, most birders take Smith Brook Rd. and especially East Inlet Rd, which 
goes almost to the northern-most part of New Hampshire.  Including the birds 
previously indicated for the Mt. Washington area, you may be able to identify, 
among others, Rusty Blackbird, N. Saw-whet Owl, Alder Flycatcher, Blue-headed & 
Philadelphia Vireo, Common Raven, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Nashville, 
Yellow-rumped, Mourning & Wilson=s Warbler, N. Waterthrush and Purple Finch.

 

Maine   

 

In Maine, one of the birding highlights is the Kennebunk Plains for 
Grasshopper, Vesper & Savannah Sparrow, Upland Sandpiper, a chance, it is said, 
for Blue-winged Warbler (I did not get one), Bobolink, Horned Lark and many 
others.  Many of the birds at Kennebunk are difficult to see elsewhere in the 
state.  Take exit 25 on I-95 to a right on Fletcher Rd which becomes Alfred Rd 
to a left on Mill St to a right that goes to a parking lot on route 99.  There 
are various dirt roads throughout the area, many beginning at the parking lot 
on route 99.  Note that the forest margins around Kennebunk Plains can be 
especially productive.   

 

The Apool@ at Biddeford Pool (a village) is perhaps the best shorebird area in 
Maine.  To get to the pool, or rather the mud flats, go to Hattie=s Deli (on 
208/Mile Stretch Rd), park at the lot and ask for permission.  They are very 
familiar with, and yes, are still friendly toward birders.  

 

Among the very best places to see water birds is the Scarborough Marsh on 
Eastern Rd. near the Maine Mall (exit 45 on I-95).  Bring boots.

 



Because I had previously birded quite a bit in Maine I did not go to some 
places where birders new to Maine arguably should go.  And unfortunately some 
trips are no longer available.  As a young person one of my best birding 
experiences was pelagic birding on the old Bluenose Ferry between Bar Harbor 
and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.  The Bluenose is gone now and there is a new ferry 
(called The Cat) that is very fast (40 knots) and your chances of seeing or 
photographing birds up-close and for a longish period of time is reduced (what 
was once a 6.5-hour trip now takes 3 hours).  Without question there are some 
birders who like the new ferry and perhaps I am just showing my age.  On the 
Bluenose you could bird at the bow just meters above the water, and the birding 
(and mammaling) was almost always excellent.  (Perhaps the most interesting 
non-birding experience was when a very large loggerhead sea turtle surfaced 
next to the bow of the ship just beneath where I was birding.)  In three trips 
on the ferry I had Northern Fulmar, Greater, Sooty & Manx Shearwater, Leach=s & 
Wilson=s Storm-Petrel, Pomarine & Parasitic Jaeger and South Polar Skua among 
other birds.  Fortuantely, there are now good pelagic trips on other boats (see 
the pelagic newsletter in ABAs Winging It) although May would not be the best 
time (June-Sept. is when the most boats go outBwhen it is warmer and the waters 
calmer).  One very nice boat trip is the one to Machias Seal Island on the 
northern coast (Adown east@) of Maine.  On the island you will see lots of 
Atlantic Puffins (the largest colony in the US, about 3,000), as well as 
Razorbills, Common Murres, and Arctic & Common Tern.  On the way to the island 
you may see some of the pelagic birds noted above.  Note that the ownership of 
Machias Seal Island and the surrounding waters are disputed (claimed by both 
Maine and New Brunswick) and for birding purposes can presumably be listed as 
either ME or NB but not, I think, both!  A trip to Baxter SP and 5,267-foot 
Mount Katahdin is good for northern birds, including those indicated above for 
Mt. Washington in New Hampshire, e.g., Bicknell=s Thrush, Ruffed & Spruce 
Grouse, Black-backed Woodpecker, Gray Jay and Boreal Chickadee.  The only other 
place I would suggest for first-timers is Mount Desert Island and Acadia 
National Park for songbirds, especially on the Ship Harbor Nature and 
Wonderland Trails (both near Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse).  In Maine I spent 
some time visiting with relatives in the Kennebunkport area and if you happen 
to be in the area (perhaps ogling the former president=s compound--which will 
give the Secret Service something to do), there are two good areas just south 
in Wells, the headquarters of the Rachel Carson NWR which has a very nice trail 
named for Carson on Port Rd off route 9, and Laudholm Farm, which has 200+ 
birds, on Laudholm Farm Rd off route 1.  

 

Vermont           

 

A very special area in northern Vermont (the ANortheast Kingdom@) is the boreal 
Wenlock WMA and Moose Bog (a Akettle@ bog that has mats of sphagnum moss (peat) 
on the surface).  Beyond the bog, the area is typical of boreal forests with 
cedar, fir and spruce predominating.  Among the birds that are at least 
possible are Spruce Grouse, Black-headed Woodpecker, Gray Jay, Boreal Chickadee 
and the birds indicated above for Mt. Washington and northern New Hampshire.   
You might find your bug clothing helpful or wish you were better prepared! 

 

I began birding in 1971 in Vermont and previous to this trip I already had 
about 45% of the birds for the state so I went to only two additional places, 
both of which are good for water birds, Dead Creek WMA (near Addison) and West 
Rutland Marsh.  Other areas in Vermont you should consider are: Mount Mansfied 
where you are likely to get Bicknell=s Thrush, and Herrick=s Cove (near 
Rockingham) for migrant songbirds, and water and marsh birdsB220+ birds in all.

 

 

In sum, with fairly good weather this was a pretty typical total ticking trip 
and I ended up with numerous state birds but unfortunately no life birds (I had 
several chances for Spruce Grouse but no soap).  In total I left the Northeast 
with one 50% state (VT), the Paul Lehman gold standard, and all the other 
Northeast states in excess of the 37%, let me say, Breault silver standard (37% 
x all the states and provinces = about 10,000, my life total ticks goalBthat 
would seem to make 25% the bronze standard).  As a total ticker, the Northeast 
is relatively easy to bird as the distances between birding opportunities and 
different states are so small.  In the amount of time you can drive from 
Memphis to Knoxville in Tennessee you can drive through five states in the 
Northeast, CT, RI, MA, NH and ME.  And clearly, the Northeast has great places 
to bird and should be on any birder=s life list. 

 



 

References/useful books (note that several of these are no longer in print but 
can be found on Amazon.com and presumably similar sites).

 

Alfange, B. et al., Bird Finding Guide to Western Massachusetts, Univ. of 
Massachusetts Extension, 2003.

 

Delorey, A., A Birder=s Guide to New Hampshire, ABA, 1996.   (2)

 

Devine, B. & D.G. Smith, Connecticut Birding Guide, Thomson-Shore, 1996.   (1)

 

Murin, T. & B. Pfeiffer, Birdwatching in Vermont, University Press of New 
England, 2002.

 

Observer, Bird, A Birder=s Guide to Eastern Massachusetts, ABA, 1994.

 

Pierson, E.C. et al., A Birder=s Guide to Maine, Down East Books, 1996.

 

White, M. & P. Lehman, National Geographic Guide to Birding Hot Spots of the 
United States, National Geographic, 2006.

 

 

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