(Reprinted from the Fall 2023 issue of New Hampshire Bird Records)
Fall migration is in full swing! This is a great time to see a diversity of warbler species. Identifying them, on the other hand, can be a challenge. Fall is known for its confusing warblers. Some species simply appear in duller versions of their breeding plumage. Some change their appearance entirely. Have fun identifying these birds and enjoy the new seasonal challenge they bring to your birding. Here are some birding highlights to watch for in September:
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Blackpoll Warbler by Grace McCulloch. September is a great month for warbler migration as the “confusing fall warblers” can move through at any time. Odiorne Point State Park in Rye can be a great place for a fallout in poor weather.
- The first Blue-winged Teals appear in August but sightings peak in September. Good places to look for them include Horseshoe Pond in Concord, the Rochester WTP (open on weekdays only until 2:45 pm), and Exeter WTP (do not walk past the gate).
- Juvenile shorebirds begin to arrive. They have fresh feathers and look stunning. The later-migrating species such as American Golden-Plover and Dunlin also begin to arrive.
- Broad-winged Hawk migration peaks in mid- September with the potential for days with over 1,000 birds. Pack Monadnock Raptor Observatory in Peterborough has a regularly staffed fall hawkwatch, but you can watch from any high spot with a good view to the north.
- In late September, check any hummingbirds very carefully; this is the time when vagrants such as Rufous Hummingbird become more likely than Ruby-throated.
New Hampshire Bird Records is now available in digital format free to all NH Audubon members. (Not a member yet? Join here!) All members receive an email with a link to the current issue. Printed copies are available to members for an additional fee that covers the cost of printing and postage. Details are on the New Hampshire Bird Records website.