Magnificent weather encouraged 17 people to arrive at Historic New England’s Hamilton House property in South Berwick on June 9 for our second annual bird walk at this tranquil and beautiful site. Barn swallows coursed over the field as we climbed a gentle rise to get the sun at our backs, but songbirds were a bit of a challenge to see in tall grass and thick foliage.
With a mix of experienced birders and novices, we slowly but surely introduced various species to the beginners. For many, the highlight was discovering male and female bobolinks carrying food for nest-bound young. Our disturbance kept the caterpillar-carrying male cautious enough for folks to enjoy a scope view, then we moved past so the couple could feed their young. As soon as they were left behind, a Baltimore oriole appeared in front of us and sang brightly in full view.
Neighboring Vaughan Woods State Park beckoned, so we skirted its edge to pick up a few forest species including a singing winter wren. Soon after, we braved a mucky path back to the Hamilton House, where a scan of the Salmon Falls River shore revealed a spotted sandpiper.
In the tidy gardens, a hide-and-seek indigo bunting and a cooperative hummingbird capped off our 2-hour stroll, which put 34 species in the notebook. Donuts and coffee in the gardener’s cottage were a welcome treat offered by our hostess for those who had a few minutes to spare.
- Great Blue Heron
- Turkey Vulture
- Osprey
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Spotted Sandpiper
- Mourning Dove
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- Downy Woodpecker
- Eastern Phoebe
- Great Crested Flycatcher
- Red-eyed Vireo
- Warbling Vireo
- Blue Jay
- American Crow
- Tree Swallow
- Barn Swallow
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Tufted Titmouse
- White-breasted Nuthatch
- Winter Wren
- Eastern Bluebird
- American Robin
- Gray Catbird
- Yellow Warbler
- Common Yellowthroat
- Chipping Sparrow
- Song Sparrow
- Scarlet Tanager
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- Indigo Bunting
- Eastern Meadowlark
- Baltimore Oriole
- American Goldfinch
