Dixville Ridge; Fox Sparrows, etc.

[Robert Ridgely]

Two years ago I was taken to what I’m going to call the Dixville Ridge by a scientist friend who was assisting in the oversight of the biological monitoring at the large wind turbine facility that had been constructed there.  I have been back several times since, most recently on Thursday June 26^th, finding it to be an interesting site for birds, especially as it provides relatively straightforward (road) access up into a boreal habitat that otherwise can be reached only after some pretty rigorous hiking.

 

Access via the road is open: you do not need any permit to enter, though gates prevent you from driving too close to the turbine facilities themselves.  Some sections are fairly steep, but with careful slow driving and a reasonably high-clearance vehicle it’s easy; I’ve done it my wife’s Subaru and my Toyota Venza.  The region is extensively used by ATV riders, especially on weekends; they pose little or no problem; most of the time in this remote area you don’t see or hear anyone.  Oftentimes it’s nice to see somebody, anybody: They do their thing, I do mine.  Often the riders are curious, and then become interested as I tell them what I am looking for.  I understand in winter it is also extensively used by snowmobilers, and I should emphasize that winter (and snow) comes early and lingers late here: there was still plenty of snow in late May when I went up last year.

 

To reach the area, drive north of Rt. 16 past Gorham and Berlin, continuing on through Milan.  About 6 miles further north you will see a side (dirt) road angling left, just before reaching Pontook Reservoir; the Dummer Pond Road.  Take this and continue for some 19 miles, basically following the high tension lines.  The company office and maintenance area is at Mile 6 (every mile is signposted) and you do not need to stop.  Continue past the right turn to the Fish Pond Turbines just past Mile 9 (blocked by a gate anyway), and past the Kelsey/Owl Head Turbines at almost Mile 10.  Just before the Mile 19 marker you will reach a gate that always seems to be locked.  By this time you are already well into boreal habitat, habitat that begins in earnest just past Milepost 16 as the road gets steeper.  Going straight, the drive up takes 45 minutes to an hour.  I usually stop for breakfast in a slightly more open area at about Mile 18.5, at an elevation of (I think) about 3200 feet.  There is of course much to see and stop for before then, but I’m usually anxious to get high as soon as possible, and then work my way back down more slowly.

 

So what are the notable birds?  For me the biggest attraction has to be the Fox Sparrows, a species that’s always been one of my favorites; this is where a small breeding population was discovered about five years ago, breeding for the first time as far south as New Hampshire.  In reasonable weather (meaning not too much wind) in May-June-July you should be able to find singing birds readily.  This last trip (26 Jun) there were at least 5 singing birds in various higher areas, some of them right along the road, others farther off.  I don’t know of any other place in New Hampshire where you can drive to breeding Fox Sparrows.  In addition to that gem I’ve found at least one pair of Bicknell’s Thrushes near Mile 18.5 every year; this year there appeared to be a pair of counter-singing birds.  The spruce forest hereabouts harbors pairs and families of Gray Jays and also of Boreal Chickadees, though both species are thinly spread and you may have to really look for them (I’ve never missed).  I’ve only encountered Black-backed Woodpecker once.  Swainson’s Thrushes and Blackpoll Warblers are both common (this despite my no longer being able to hear the latter very well, very frustrating!) , as are various other high-elevation birds.  I’m still looking for a Spruce Grouse, and I know they’re there as company workers describe what almost has to be this species on roadsides in the early morning (nonetheless I’ve gotten there early too, and all I ever seem to find are Ruffed Grouse, maybe not quite so “good” but for me always a pleasure to see).

 

Actually getting inside the forest at higher elevations isn’t all that easy, but just above Mile 18 the Coos Trail does cross the road.  It’s sign-posted, but the signs aren’t all that obvious.  Try walking in on the  north side and you get into beautiful habitat before it starts to drop off pretty steeply.  I’ve never gone more than about a half mile, and there often is quite a bit of deadfall.  Several territories of Yellow-bellied Flycatcher are here as are lots of other boreals.  You can always dream of Spruce Grouse.

 

There’s a wide range of habitats further down the mountain, back toward Rt. 16.  I’ve been most pleased by the density of Mourning Warblers in the often heavily logged terrain along the first 6-8 miles.  One morning I counted no less than 11 singing males, stopping only the first one!  There surely are many more.

 

I hope more New Hampshire birders will give this beautiful, really quite spectacular, area a try.  Just exercise due caution, and obviously don’t litter (or mess the turbine facilities): we’re fortunate to have open access, and that I suppose could change should anyone start causing problems for the company. 

 

Feel free to contact me directly if you need any more information.  Good luck, and hope to see you up there!

 

Robert S. Ridgely

North Sandwich

 

 

From: nhb...@googlegroups.com [mailto:nhb...@googlegroups.com]
Sent: Friday, June 26, 2015 4:51 PM
To: Digest recipients
Subject: [NHBirds] Digest for nhb...@googlegroups.com - 2 updates in 2 topics

 

nhb...@googlegroups.com

Google Groups

Topic digest
View all topics

·         Woodpecker at Hummingbird feeder and other notes - 1 Update

·         durham landing - green heron, dover mills - bald eagle - 1 Update

Woodpecker at Hummingbird feeder and other notes

William Smith <wmsmit...@gmail.com>: Jun 26 01:15PM -0400 About a month ago I posted about a male downy woodpecker at my hummingbird feeder. Thanks to Anne and Catherine for their reply and links, very helpful.   The Downy continues sporadically and the hummingbirds, who abandoned the feeder initially, have returned and even will chase the Downy from the feeder. I’ve had a couple of face to face encounters from less than a foot away as the Downy will land on the windowsill where the feeder is and look in. Since this is over the kitchen sink we are often at the window and the woodpecker seems largely unfazed. This morning my wife saw the male at the feeder and what she thinks was a juvenile on the window sill. Apparently it’s part of the education process for the youngster.   This morning a red bellied woodpecker (male I believe) showed up at our sunflower seed feeder. I have a regular red belly at the suet during the winter, this is a 1st yard bird for the summer.   Yard birds seem to have had a very productive breeding season so far. Many white-breasted nuthatches, catbirds and robins eating my wild blueberries, and the titmice seem to have very large numbers. Apparently years of landscaping for the critters is paying off.     Bill Smith   If we don't change the direction we are headed we will end up where we are going

Back to top

durham landing - green heron, dover mills - bald eagle

duane dotton <ddo...@gmail.com>: Jun 25 06:48PM -0400 six green herons at durham landing this evening.   also female wood duck, great blue heron, Northern flickers, and cormorants.   this week i have seen a bald eagle over the dover mills, three separate times - this morning at 630 am, and Monday and Tuesday at 4pm.   - duane dotton

Back to top

You received this digest because you're subscribed to updates for this group. You can change your settings on the group membership page. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it send an email to nhbirds+u...@googlegroups.com.

 

[Christian Martin]

Bob Ridgely is absolutely right that this is a beautiful (and underbirded) area, both at high elevation and in the low country around Pontook Reservoir, although anyone going there should expect to see lots of very early post-harvest habitat rather than acres of unbroken mature forest.  For those thinking about a visit, there is a second way to access the ridge via the West Branch Clear Stream Road which starts on the sw side of Rte 26 between Errol and Dixville Notch.  This creates the possibility of driving up one way and down the other, rather than repeating the entire route.

- Chris

Chris Martin
Senior Biologist, NH Audubon
cma...@nhaudubon.org

84 Silk Farm Road, Concord, NH 03301
603/224-9909, ext. 317 (office)
603/226-0902 (fax)

www.nhaudubon.org

New Hampshire Audubon - Protecting New Hampshire's natural environment for wildlife and for people.

---

From: nhb...@googlegroups.com <nhb...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Robert Ridgely <b...@RainforestTrust.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2015 12:12 PM
To: nhb...@googlegroups.com
Cc: 'Steve Mirick'
Subject: [NHBirds] Dixville Ridge; Fox Sparrows, etc.

 

--
To Change your e-mail delivery settings (digest, daily, no mail) visit:
https://groups.google.com/group/nhbirds/subscribe?hl=en
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NHBirds" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to nhbirds+u...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to nhb...@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nhbirds.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.