Author Archives: Scott

About Scott

I've been birding since I was ten and always enjoy being aware of the avian life surrounding me wherever I go. I've had the good fortune of studying and monitoring birds in some far-flung places, though most of my birding lately has been concentrated at two sites: home and work.

Savage Preserve, July 13, 2013

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The leader (Sue Bickford) and three observers came together for nearly 3 hours of “winged jewel” searching. With some netted and others photographed, we were able to identify these species: Odonata Ebony Jewelwing Variable Dancer Twelve-spotted Skimmer Green Darner (?) Widow Skimmer Lepidoptera Little Wood-Satyr Eyed Brown Aphrodite Fritillary (?) American Copper Summer Azure Eastern Tailed Blue Common Wood-Nymph Cabbage White Northern Broken-Dash Broad-winged Skipper (?) Silver-spotted Skipper

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Hamilton House, South Berwick: June 9, 2012

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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. … Continue reading →

Field Trip: Dragonflies and Butterflies

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Join Sue Bickford at the Savage Preserve along Route 101 in South Berwick for a morning of winged wonders. Birds, butterflies, damselflies, butterflies, and everything else this place has to offer. GWRLT says “We regard it as one of our most important properties both for its ecological significance and its value for public enjoyment.” Woods, some open space, nice trail sometimes with a bit of a slope. Google map, bird list, and trail map here. Additional Details Julie Suchecki 510-1323

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Bird Walk at Hamilton House, South Berwick

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Join York County Audubon for a bird walk on the grounds of Hamilton House and adjacent Vaughan Woods State Park. Watch for local nesting species and search for late migrants with leader Scott Richardson, a lifelong birder and resident of Berwick. Coffee and donuts in the Hamilton Garden Cottage to follow. Beginners are welcome. Space is limited, reservation required. Call Historic New England at 207-384-2454.

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Hamilton House: June 2011

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On June 18, five of us set out across the dewy field above South Berwick’s Hamilton House. Along a path mown up the gentle rise, we stopped to inspect a singing indigo bunting, enjoyed a clear view of a newly fledged bobolink, and scoped a talkative yellowthroat perched for a long while up in a tree. We returned on the trails of Vaughan Woods State Park, which abuts the Historic New England property, a route that allowed us to hear a few wood warblers and see a close-up pileated woodpecker. We finished with a green heron stalking across the mud … Continue reading →

Quest for 300, 2011

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This year’s Quest for 300 lists have been updated, with 261 species seen so far and 60 others not yet seen from the master county list (per eBird). Here are five we expect should already have gotten a 2011 tick… Common Gallinule Sandhill Crane Caspian Tern Common Murre Cape May Warbler

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Bird Day Draws a Crowd

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The Birding Challenge dovetailed nicely with an International Migratory Bird Day event held at the Wells Reserve on May 14. June Ficker and her bird-banding crew set up in the Laudholm barn, demonstrating their data-gathering procedures for curious onlookers. Their several captures included eastern wood-pewee and northern waterthrush. At the other end of the barn, a dozen kids put together free nest boxes while young brothers and sisters worked on cute bird crafts. Outside, several people went on a bird walk that netted a nice list of warblers in addition to a white-eyed vireo and dozens of other species. Throughout … Continue reading →

Quest for 300 Gets Tougher

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Last time I wrote that in 2010, birders using eBird had reported seeing 298 species in York County. Since then, I’ve discovered a quirk in that data: In eBird, “species” is more than species. The tally is not as close to 300 as I thought! Most birders have spotted birds that they couldn’t nail down to species, but many still make note of them. Rare is the field notebook without any “accipiter sp.” or “empidonax sp.” to account for those hawks or flycatchers that just didn’t reveal enough for a positive identification. Those entries and many similar ones are still … Continue reading →

Quest for 300

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How many bird species can be seen in York County in a single year? A dedicated birder can tally 200 or more with reasonable effort, but what if a bunch of birders ranging from casual watchers to serious listers contributed to a single collective list? They have, on eBird, and the 2010 total was 298. [Edit: Not so fast! See my followup on what eBird counts as “species.”] eBird.org is a real-time online checklist program launched in 2002 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society. It makes vast numbers of bird observations accessible and usable. We’re watching … Continue reading →