July 18th – NEW START TIME – A Bird Walk at the Orris Falls Conservation Area in South Berwick
July 18 @ 7:00 am - 9:00 am
Free
A Green Heron stalking – photo by Phil Stone
Our July walk in our tour of different habitats will take us to the Orris Falls Conservation Area in South Berwick. It’s a a 213 acre preserve with 3.76 miles of trails, conserved beginning in 1999 by the Great Works Regional Land Trust (GWRLT). This diverse habitat features beaver wetlands, the gorge of Orris Falls, the Littlefield Homestead, a large glacial erratic aptly named Balancing Rock, and the Big Bump with views of Mount Agamenticus from its summit when the trees are free of leaves. FMI: https://gwrlt.org/orris-falls-conservation-area/
It’s an excellent birding spot, with 135 species reported there so far. Highlights include Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Bunting, Pileated Woodpecker, Green Heron, Winter Wren, Pine Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, and Ovenbird. FMI: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L2891623
We’ll be meeting at 7 a.m. at the parking lot at 551 Emery’s Bridge Road in South Berwick. Be careful not to use the pin in Google Maps, which will take you to a different entrance on Thurrell Road. Birding mostly by ear, we’ll walk about a mile through deep forest to several beaver ponds then watch patiently to see what birds show themselves. There’s a new great blue heron nest at the ponds this year. We’ll stop by Balancing Rock, a massive boulder perched improbably on a small rock, and visit the deep gorge and rapids that give Orris Falls its name.
While the path is wide and well-traveled, there are rocks and roots and several short but moderately steep sections. So use good footwear. Also, bug spray is highly recommended.
Beginning birders are most welcome. We will be happy to introduce you to the joy of birding, if you’re new to it. More experienced birders are most welcome as well! Please bring binoculars if you have them, but we’ll have some to lend if you don’t. These walks are provided at no charge and advance registration is not required.