May means stellar birding on the Seacoast

The low sun silhouettes the outline of a bird on the outer reach of a tree branch overhanging a trail at Fort Foster in Kittery, Maine. It chatters wildly and bobs its head, whistling like a free jazz flutist taking an indulgent solo.

Linda Gurtman lifts a pair of binoculars to her eyes for a better look. A mockingbird, she surmises. But no—upon closer inspection she arrives at a positive identification. “It’s a catbird showing off,” she says, “trying to find a girlfriend.”

That’s exactly what a myriad of bird species are trying to do in southern New Hampshire and Maine this time of year, as migratory birds returning from the south search for suitable mates. Some of these birds will settle here through the summer and into the fall, while others are just making a pit stop on their way to Canada.

“They’re moving through and they’re all singing and trying to find mates,” said Judy Trull. “Some of them stay, some of them go farther north.”

For birders in northern New England, spring is an opportunity to see bird species that are absent from the area for most of the year. Fort Foster and other locations around the Seacoast offer plentiful views of various warblers, tanagers, orioles, cardinals—even the brilliant blue of the indigo bunting. 

Not only does May offer a great diversity of birds, but many of them are less cautious and secretive than usual. The males, eager to advertise their availability for breeding, exercise their vocal chords liberally and flash their bright plumage on perches. Males and females can often be seen chasing each other through the trees, playing indiscreet games of springtime romance.

“They’re much more active. They’re singing and they’re setting up territory,” said Dan Hubbard, program manager for the Seacoast chapter of New Hampshire Audubon. “They’re more obvious because they’re not as careful, because they’re courting.”

Judy and Frank Trull, of Kittery, stroll through Fort Foster with their binoculars almost every morning in May. The birds were especially lively on the early morning of May 13. Yellow warblers the size and color of unripe limes flitted between branches along a trail by the Atlantic shore. Northern parulas and black-throated green warblers displayed alternate shades of yellow and green. Flocks of cormorants soared overhead, while red-winged blackbirds swooped over a salt marsh. Several scarlet tanagers showed off their black wings and bright red breasts.

“We had one almost hit us this morning,” Frank said. “He was chasing a female and went right by our ears.”
Later, a pair of chirping chickadees alighted on a nearby branch, doing what looked like a rapid dance step. “I think they’re mating—or trying to,” Judy said.

The couple has been birding in the area since 1990. About 10 years ago, they were treated to the exceptionally rare sight of a fork-tailed flycatcher, which is typical of South and Central America. They have also encountered non-avian animals in the seaside park, including moose, deer, fishers, raccoons, rabbits and porcupines.

The plentitude of birds can vary from day to day depending on the weather, as well as the sheer luck of when migratory birds happen to be passing through. Only a day after the Trulls’ close encounter with a scarlet tanager, Fort Foster was considerably quieter. That was bad news for Bridget Coullon, who was leading a field trip for York County Audubon. Her trips in southern York County usually draw six to eight people, but Linda Gurtman was her only companion on May 14, when cool morning temperatures and a light wind kept many birds away.

Still, Coullon and Gurtman, both of York, witnessed their fair share of winged critters. They watched as a male and female chickadee dug around in a nesting hole in a tree branch. They saw mourning doves, song sparrows, eastern kingbirds, cardinals, orioles, robins, mallards and a hairy woodpecker. Gurtman cooed with a “pssshhh, pssshhh,” sound to attract birds, and Coullon checked a field guide to North American birds to identify certain species. “I haven’t done a whole lot of birding recently, so I need to brush up,” confessed Coullon, whose license plate reads “HERON.”

Gurtman, too, doesn’t get out as often as she used to. “Grandchildren have interrupted my birding for the moment,” she said. She’s already teaching her oldest grandson some basic ornithology. “The first word he learned was ‘bird,’” she said. 

Both Gurtman and Coullon said the diversity of birds in the area appears to have dwindled in recent years. Coullon has seen little activity in the garden outside her house this spring, and Gurtman has noticed a general decline. “I just don’t see the volume or variety anymore, but I don’t know why,” she said.

But Dan Hubbard said the Seacoast is still home to the most active birding community in New Hampshire, although the hobby is on the rise in both the central and southwestern parts of the state. “Historically, I think the Seacoast has been pretty much the foremost birding section of the state,” Hubbard said. “Concord wants to give us some competition. They’re pretty competitive about it.”

This spring has offered several notable sightings of rare or unusual birds in the area. Two Mississippi kites were spotted in Newmarket on May 13, thrilling area birders. Residents of Hampton have reported a marbled godwit, and Lawrence’s warblers have appeared in both Hampton and Durham. A cerulean warbler was glimpsed at Pawtuckaway State Park in Nottingham, and a sora was observed at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye. Orchard orioles have been witnessed throughout the region, and numerous shorebirds are still migrating to the area. Even a pair of endangered piping plovers turned up at Hampton Beach on May 9.

Overall, New Hampshire boasts more than 300 bird species, eight of which are endangered and seven of which are threatened. Hubbard said casual bird watchers sometimes cause problems for rare species. “There are ethics rules that birders should be following,” he said.

Last year, Hubbard noted, the discovery of a great gray owl in Durham ignited some controversy. “Some people reported the bird getting kind of harassed,” he said. “It’s a problem, because masses of people show up with cameras and they’re really excited about seeing something unusual and are not too mindful of the bird.”

But a number of endangered species have rebounded in the area. Bald eagles, for example, were absent from New Hampshire for some 40 years until a pair reappeared in the state in 1989. Another pair arrived in 1998 and eggs hatched the following year. Now bald eagles can be found across much of the state, including on Great Bay and in the Lakes Region, although they are still classified as threatened.

Hubbard said bald eagles can occasionally be spotted at the Trails at Pickering Ponds Recreation Area near the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Rochester, where he led a field trip on May 16. A number of uncommon gulls and ducks also grace that area through the winter because it offers open water year-round.

Other hot spots for birding in southeastern New Hampshire include Odiorne Point in Rye, Deer Hill Wildlife Management Area in Brentwood, Pawtuckaway State Park in Nottingham and Hampton Beach, Hubbard said. (To keep up to date on birding field trips and programs in the state, visit www.newhampshireaudubon.org.)

Another common destination for Coullon and Gurtman is the Eliot Boat Basin off Route 103 in Maine. York County Audubon offers weekly bird walks every Wednesday morning from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m., as well as other meetings and field trips. (Visit www.yorkcountyaudubon.org for details.)

Mastering the art of birding is a process that takes years of dedication. Memorizing each bird’s distinct call is crucial to recognizing specimen and is often more foolproof than trying to identify birds by sight. Without ever seeing it, Coullon classified a wood thrush at Fort Foster. “They’ve got that lovely trill in their call,” she said.

The hobby also requires vigilant observation. With patience, Gurtman said, you can see birds display fascinating behaviors in the wild.

“To learn about birds, you have to watch them,” she said.