5 Bird-Watching Locations in New Hampshire
Great North Woods - Pittsburg, NH
From remote and rugged northern forests and notches to sparkling lakes and rocky shorelines this sample of bird-watching locations in New Hampshire offers destinations to satisfy all manner of bird spotting habitats.
Connecticut Lakes State Forest – Pittsburg:
Deep in the North Woods of New Hampshire and far away from the busy hiking paths in the White Mountains is Connecticut Lakes State Forest.
Getting there is easy – just follow Route 3 20-miles north of Pittsburg to Moose Falls Picnic area and Deer Mountain Campground – but getting yourself around is where the fun begins.
Species you’ll likely see include: olive-sided flycatchers, purple finches, blackpoll, warblers, thrushes, redstarts and ruby-crowned kinglets. In nearby Scott Bog you can also view great blue herons, bitterns and snipes. For Scott Bog take the dirt road on the eastern side of Route 3 about 0.5-mile south of Moose Falls and follow it to the walking trail. The trail out to the bog is along Scott Brook and is 2-miles.
The Balsams - Dixville Notch, NH
The Balsams - Dixville Notch, NH
Dixville Notch State Park – Colebrook:
At 127-acres Dixville Notch State Park is the smallest state park in the New Hampshire system, but it packs a lot of scenic locations and bird watching opportunities into its compact locale. Because it’s located in the Great North Woods region its not as busy a destination as its larger cousins to the south in the White Mountains Region. The precipitous cliffs at the notch provide home for Peregrine Falcons and other raptors.
The park is 7-miles east of Colebrook on Route 26, and contains a forest of mostly red spruce and balsam fir and includes wonderful wildlife viewing on the Table Rock Trail and a short interpretive trail at Waterfall Walk.
McLane Center & Silk Farm Sanctuary – Concord:
The New Hampshire Audubon Society manages over 40 properties in the state and is headquartered in Concord. The Silk Farm Audubon Center in Concord is a popular location for birders with its centerpiece of Great Turkey Pond and three primary trails.
Trail include: the short Forest Floor Trail where you’ll get to spot ovenbird, warblers, chickadees, tufted titmice, and the white and red-breasted nuthatches, and the Great Turkey Pond Trail which at 1.2-miles is the longest walk but offers the chance to view waterbirds and includes a boardwalk for viewing along the pond.
The sanctuary is located off Exit 2 on I-89. Take left at ramp and at first blinking light make a right onto Silk Farm Road and the entrance to the center will be on your right.
Common Loon
Common Loon
The Loon Center and Markus Wildlife Sanctuary – Moultonborough:
Who hasn’t been mesmerized by the call of the loon when first heard? The haunting yet soothing sound is heard most often between mid-May to mid-June by the common loon in New Hampshire, the only bird of the species found here.
The Loon Center and Markus Wildlife Sanctuary is located on the north shore of Lake Winnipesaukee in Moultonborough and offers visitors information and exhibits about the loon and nature trails over the 200-acres of the wildlife sanctuary. The habit includes: upland forests, marshes, ponds, streams and the shoreline of the lake. The sanctuary is not only home to a resident pair of loons but birders can also spot forests and woodland birds such as warblers.
To get to the center and sanctuary at Route 25 in Moultonborough turn onto Blake Road at school and go one mile to end and turn right onto Lee’s Mill Road. The Loon Center is on the left.
Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve:
Great Bay is located about 15-miles inland from the New Hampshire coastline and Portsmouth and encompasses tidal marsh and freshwater wetlands, mudflats, and upland fields and forests.
Glossy Ibis
Prime bird-watching opportunities are found at Adams Point in Durham, Sandy Point in Greenland, and Chapman’s Landing. Adams Point is ideal for viewing bald eagles and Chapman’s point provides views of an osprey nesting platform.
Sandy Point is at the Great Bay Discover Center and is an excellent location for viewing glossy ibises, green-backed herons, snowy egrets, wood ducks, greater and lesser yellowlegs, American woodcocks, owls, kingfishers and a large assortment of songbirds. And the discovery center itself has exhibits and interactive learning areas to delight both adults and kids.
The Great Bay Discover Center is an ideal place to begin exploring the reserve and you can reach it by taking I-95 North to Exit 2 and head west on Route 101 for 4.5-miles until Routes 33/108. Turn right at bottom of ramp and follow Route 33 for 4-miles. Take second left onto Depot Road and follow to the end.
For more details on these and other attractions to see during a New Hampshire Vacation and to pick up your free New England trip planner package go to Cliff’s New England Vacations Guide at: http://www.new-england-vacations-guide.com
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I’m a birdwatcher, but live in So. California. But your post is so interesting and the photos are great. Too bad I’m so far away.
I can definitely get to any of those places! Thanks for showing them to us!
How beautiful!
Your post is great and the photos are beautiful.
Thank you for showing them to us!
One pleasure increased again in my life.
Don’t forget about Mt. Washington in Gorham, NH!!! Just a short drive from Dixville Notch where you mentioned.
Mt. Washington is one of two Bicknell’s Thrush habitats in the northeastern United States, and the Mt. Washington Auto Road offers you a unique opportunity to view these rare birds.
Our Bicknell’s Thrush Guided Tours leave early in the morning before the Mt. Washington Auto Road opens to the general public to cause as little disturbance as possible.