It has been a beautiful spring and a great migration season. It seemed like I was out every morning searching for winged creatures. I visited many spots in the Upper Valley of NH and VT and one location out of the valley — the Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge in Whitefield, NH.
I joined three bird walks, but mostly I was on my own. Since I decided to present the photos here by species rather than location, I will cover the bird walks briefly at the end of this long blog post. The photos here were taken between April 20 and June 3, 2026, except for the sapsuckers at the nest hole which were taken this morning.
Warblers
To me migration means warblers. Some move through the area — Palm, for example — while many remain, but are mostly hidden once the trees leaf out. There is a “sweet spot” for seeing rather than just hearing them — the few short weeks between when they arrive and when they are mostly hidden by new green foliage. That is a very busy time for those wanting to see or photograph them.
American Redstart
A very showy bird. Black and orange male and beautiful female with subdued colors. Here are some photos of the male taken along the RR tracks in Bradford, VT and near Ice House Road in Lebanon, NH.
Here are photos of females taken along the Rail Trail from Mascoma Lakeside Park in Enfield and Boston Lot in Lebanon.
Black-and-white Warbler
No color, but a spectacular bird with old fashioned jail wear stripes. These from Bradford RR Tracks and Crossroad Farm in West Fairlee, VT and the Canaan Town Forest in NH.
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Two males from the Bear Pond Natural Area in Canaan.
And a female from the same spot and a second, surprisingly, from near Occom Pond in Hanover, which was far more productive this spring then anytime in memory.
Black-throated Green Warbler
A fairly common warbler in the woods of the Upper Valley, but one that is rarely seen. This first one from Wells River, VT during the 26th Annual Birding with Bill (Shepard) in Boltonville (BBB).
And three from a local spot I had only visited previously in winter with snowshoes — the Canaan Town Forest. This spring I discovered that it is a wonderful place to find B&W, Magnolia, Blackburnian, Black-throated Green, Northern Waterthrush, and Canada Warblers. All these within a hundred yards or so from the entrance along an easy trail. And it has a story walk for kids plus a nature hut.
Blackburnian Warbler
Spectacularly beautiful Blackburnian Warblers seem to hang around Bear Pond in Canaan. I found them in both the Bear Pond Natural Area and the Canaan Town Forest.
Canada Warbler
Bear Pond is also THE spot for Canada Warblers. As with the Blackburnians, I found them at both the Bear Pond Natural Area and the Canaan Town Forest.
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warblers seemed to be everywhere: in VT during BBB in Wells River, at Crossroad Farm in West Fairlee, and at Zebedee Wetlands in Thetford; in NH at Boston Lot in Lebanon and especially in the King Bird Sanctuary in Etna with the blooming trees.
Common Yellowthroat
Look for Common Yellowthroats skulking in low shrubs, but I also found them high in blooming trees in the King Bird Sanctuary and at the Windsor Grasslands in VT.
Here are more from Vermont:
from BBB
in Bradford
in Windsor along Hunt Road
and a female in Windsor Grasslands WMA.
Magnolia Warbler
Another dramatically beautiful bird, I found Magnolia Warblers at Pondicherry, in the King Bird Sanctuary, and, the first eight photos below, in the Canaan Town Forest.
Nashville Warbler
I photographed Nashville Warblers at Pondicherry and in the Bear Pond NA.
Northern Parula
Northern Parula were photographed near Occom Pond in Hanover, at Pondicherry, and surprisingly — the last two photos below — at the corner of Dogford and Elm in Etna where Jann and I parked to take a walk.
Northern Waterthrush
I found one in the brush by a small stream in Quechee Green Park.
Although I have seen them in the Canaan Town Forest, all of the Northern Waterthrush photos below are from the other side of Bear Pond in the UVLT Bear Pond Natural Area.
Ovenbird
Ovenbirds were photographed at Crossroad Farm in VT, near Occom Pond, and at Bear Pond NA.
Although they are ground nesters, building an oven-shaped nest, I normally see them high in trees. I was surprised that the one in Hanover near Occom Pond seen below was close to the ground and actually below me.
Palm Warbler
Beautiful Palm Warblers migrated through the Upper Valley late April. I found these along the Rail Trail from Mascoma Lakeside Park.
Pine Warbler
Hanover was the spot for Pine Warblers this spring. The first two photos below were taken near Mill Pond in Etna. The others were photographed three different days along Occom Ridge Road in Hanover. I suspect there may be several breeding pairs in the woods above Occom Pond.
Wilson’s Warbler
One of my favorite warblers, mostly yellow with a cute black hat. These photos from Dewey’s Pond Trail in Quechee.
Yellow Warbler
Another predominantly yellow warbler is the, well, Yellow Warbler. They were everywhere. In VT: at BBB, the RR tracks in Bradford, near Dewey Pond in Quechee, and in Kilowatt Park South in Wilder.
And in NH along the Rail Trail at Ice House Road — a very reliable spot for Yellow Warblers, American Redstarts, and Warbling Vireos.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
The male is mostly black and white with yellow sides and a yellow rump that gives it its name. These photos of the males are mostly from Enfield and Lebanon with the last two from Bradford and Hanover, all at spots already mentioned.
These two females at from Enfield and Lebanon.
Kinglets
Kinglets are mini-warblers. They are smaller and they move faster, so they are normally a challenge to photograph. But one Ruby-crowned Kinglet sat still for me for several minutes as it preened on a branch along the Rail Trail in Lebanon. It is the first one below.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
This one was in Enfield along the Rail Trail.
Golden-crowned Kinglet
I found Golden-crowned Kinglets in the Bear Pond NA in Canaan.
Thrush
American Robin
A common bird that is a member of the thrush family. Here is one from each state.
Eastern Bluebird
From Crossroad Farm.
Veery
A plain mildly-spotted thrush, the Veery calls “VEER”. These are from VT: during BBB in Wells River and at the Union Village Dam area in Thetford.
And from the NH side of the river at Boston Lot in Lebanon and the Hudson Farm Conservation Area in Etna.
Hermit Thrush
I just got one quick look at a Hermit Thrush in the King Bird Sanctuary.
Wood Thrush
I found quite a few dramatically-spotted Wood Thrush in the Boston Lot area of Lebanon. They were easy to find since they were singing their heads off.
Sparrows
Chipping Sparrow
This photo is from the newish Ely Mountain Conservation Area in Thetford, VT where the Upper Valley Land Trust will hold its 40th Anniversary party later this month and say goodbye to long-time President Jeanie McIntyre.
Eastern Towhee
The Eastern Towhee is a striking oversized sparrow. It is hard to mistake it for any other sparrow. I took these two photos at the Windsor Grasslands WMA.
Dark-eyed Junco
Another bird that does not look like a “typical” sparrow, the Dark-eyed Junco can be recognized by the bright white tail feathers they habitually flash in flight. This one is from our Etna yard.
Field Sparrow
This somewhat uncommon Field Sparrow was found at the Windsor Grasslands WMA.
Savannah Sparrow
This Savannah Sparrow was sitting on some farm machinery at Crossroad Farm.
Song Sparrow
I keep photographing common Song Sparrows hoping they are a different sparrow species. Sometimes they are. But most of the time… These from Bedell Bridge State Park in Haverhill and Boston Lot in Lebanon.
Swamp Sparrow
Not an attractive name but a pretty bird, these Swamp Sparrow photos are from Little Goose Pond in Canaan, Bedell Bridge in Haverhill, NH and the RR Tracks in Bradford, VT.
White-throated Sparrow
I photographed these White-throated Sparrows at the Union Village dam area in Thetford, VT.
Raptors
American Kestrel
Stevens Road in Thetford is a reliable spot for American Kestrel.
Bald Eagle
I would have missed them if I was alone, but I was on a bird walk along the Rail Trail from Mascoma Lakeside Park. Other birders spotted them far out over the lake. I took aim and captured a tussle between an adult and a juvenile.
And of course there is the “VINS pair” in Quechee. I was there for a brief time and saw one guarding the nest.
Osprey
Along River Road in Lyme, in or just south of the Wilder WMA, there is an Osprey platform that had been unused for many years. This spring I thought that might change. A pair started building a nest.
And then it looked like they were going to mate, but the male hopped off quickly.
I went back a week later and the platform was bare.
Woodpeckers
The rarest and most spectacular woodpecker to visit the Upper Valley this spring was the Red-headed Woodpecker in Norwich. I published a dozen photos in a blog that you can see if you CLICK HERE. Here is one photo.
Downy Woodpecker
From Bradford, VT.
Hairy Woodpecker
As we walked into Pondicherry, we spotted these two deep in the woods posing or displaying. These sat still for a long time. We got tired of watching and left.
Pileated Woodpecker
This from Boston Lot near the lake. I heard it well before I found it.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
The first photo is from Ice House Road, and the next two photos are from the Union Village Dam area.
Last evening Ted Levin told me about a nest hole near his home. I went over this morning and took some photos as the sapsuckers arrived with food and sometimes departed with a fecal sac. The tree was in a great spot, but the light was very low. I was shooting at ISO 12,800 and still did not have as much shutter speed as I would have wanted. Perhaps I will go back later in the day. The light will be stronger but likely more contasty.
In the second and fourth photos the female is in the nest hole. The male in the third and fifth.
Ducks and Geese
Early spring is when they migrate, but there are still some ducks around, although the Buffleheads and Ring-necked Ducks have likely departed.
Bufflehead
From Main Street Pond in Enfield in late April. In good light the male can be quite colorful.
Common Merganser
In the Ompompanoosuc River in Norwich,
Hooded Merganser
There may be a pair nesting at Main Street Pond in Enfield. This pair was heading into some weedy growth before they disappeared from view.
Mallard ?
Earlier there were five Muscovy Ducks in Occom Pond. This strange creature visited mid-May. Perhaps a mallard hybrid? If so its likely domestic.
Ring-necked Duck
Ring-necked Ducks persisted for many weeks in the mouth of Grant Brook in Lyme. Here are a pair in late April before they disappeared.
Wood Ducks
I found Wood Ducks in the mouth of Grant Brook in April and then surprisingly a female with five young in Occom Pond in Hanover in early June.
Canada Goose
I don’t think of Canada Geese as tree-dwelling birds. But at Main Steet Pond in Enfield one did just that. It flew from a dead tree and sat on a stump about eight feet above the pond for many minutes.
During BBB in Wells River, we spotted a Canada Goose on a nest.
I photographed some at Bedell Bridge SP.
The parents of a family watched me carefully while I was photographing Bobolinks in Etna. They were in the same field as the Bobolinks. I photographed the chicks before the parents guided them across the road to their pond.
Vireo
I was happy to photograph three vireo species.
Blue-headed Vireo
The Blue-headed Vireo is the hardest to photograph of the trio. I surprisingly found this one while walking with Jann in Etna.
Red-eyed Vireo
The constant monotonous song that Ted Levin calls forest elevator music is from the Red-eyed Vireo, often high in trees and unseen. These two were in Etna’s King bird Sanctuary above the Hanover Town Library.
Warbling Vireo
They are very prevalent along the Rail Trail in Lebanon and Enfield.
This one was near Dewey Pond in Quechee.
Mimids
You can sometimes get a “mimid hat-trick” of these three loudly chattering birds at Kilowatt Park South in Wilder, VT.
Brown Thrasher
Four photos from KW South.
Gray Catbird
This one was photographed at Kilowatt Park South.
But these three came from along the Rail Trail in Enfield and Lebanon.
Northern Mockingbird
I put a number of photos in my Early Spring blog post. Here is another one from KW South.
Blackbirds
I’m lumping in grackles here because they look pretty black to me.
Common Grackle
The first photo is from KW South in VT, the last is from Bedell Bridge in NH, and rest are from the Ice House Road area in Lebanon. In the right light these are colorful birds.
Red-winged Blackbird
Males from Bradford and Lebanon.
Females from Bradford, Norwich, and Hanover.
Flycatchers
Eastern Kingbird
From the RR Tracks in Bradford far below me at the water’s edge.
Eastern Phoebe
One from Enfield and the second from Crossroad Farm.
Least Flycatcher
A regular along the Rail Trail in Lebanon.
Olive-sided Flycatcher
A slightly rare bird, I was surprised to find this one in the King Bird Sanctuary in Etna.
Heron
American Bittern
With some help I spotted this bird hidden across the marsh during the BBB walk.
Great Blue Heron
Yet another surprising find at Occom Pond in Hanover.
Green Heron
It flew into a tree right in front of me in Paradise Park in Windsor, VT. It stayed long enough so I could walk to a spot where it was not behind branches.
A Bunch of Other Species
Bobolink
I searched for them at one spot in Etna, but found them in a field above a road Jann and I often walk.
I managed to get some flying.
Black-capped Chickadee
These first two are from VT.
During a bird walk along the Rail Trail from Mascoma Lakeside Park, we saw Black-capped Chickadees excavating a nest hole in a small dead tree. I went back twice, but found on the second trip the tree had fallen down. I doubt there were any eggs yet.
Blue Jay
From Wilder, Norwich, and Enfield.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
A tiny bird and a surprising find along the RR Tracks in Bradford, VT.
Brown-headed Cowbird
One of each gender from Enfield.
American Crow
Near Occom Pond.
European Starling
Along Stevens Road in Thetford.
American Goldfinch
From Enfield and Quechee.
House Finch
Female from Bradford.
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Three from the UVD area in Thetford and one from surprisingly active Occom Pond in Hanover.
House Wren
I found one near what appeared to be a nest hole at Boston Lot in Lebanon.
Two photos from Bedell Bridge and one from Windsor Grasslands.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
I was surprised to find a male sitting on a branch part way up to Boston Lot Lake.
Indigo Bunting
The King Bird Sanctuary is a reliable place for Indigo Bunting. In mid-May they are spectacular when sitting amid colorful blooms.
Northern Cardinal
I found Northern Cardinals at KW South in Wilder and in the Mink Brook Nature Preserve in Hanover.
Turkey Vulture
One flying over the Wilder WMA in Lyme.
Tree Swallow
One was peeking out of a nest hole along the Cross Vermont Trail during BBB.
There were a pair at Crossroad Farm.
And also at Ice House Road.
This photos was taken in Paradise Park in Windsor, a reliable place to find Tree Swallows because of all the boxes in the field.
White-breasted Nuthatch
We saw a White-breasted Nuthatch on our bird walk along the Rail Trail in Enfield.
Baltimore Oriole
I finish with two colorful birds. I photographed the bright orange males and yellow females at Ice House Road in Lebanon and in the red-headed woodpecker yard in Norwich.
And a male along the RR Tracks in Bradford, VT.
Scarlet Tanager
I was surprised to find one at Boston Lot, close to the tree where I earlier saw the hummingbird.
Bird Walks
I joined three bird walks led by experts.
Rail Trail from Mascoma Lakeside Park
Tom Sherry and Gail McPeek led a bird walk in Enfield along a very productive Rail Trail in spring. It was a cold morning May 3, but we saw and heard some very nice birds. Tom and Gail are at the far right in this photo.
Birding with Bill in Boltonville
Bill Shepard led this one for the 26th time along the Cross Vermont Trail in Boltonville. It has a wonderful variety of habitats along a short easy path.
We even saw a beaver.
Pondicherry Wildlife Refuge
Longtime manager and great naturalist David Govatski led one of two groups to Big Cherry Pond. I drove almost two hours to join the early group that left at 6 a.m. A few hours behind was the second, larger group shown here.
You might want to check out
Recent Blog Posts
If you missed any, including some cute red fox kits and a beautiful vixen, you can find them HERE.
Upper Valley Bird Sites
The descriptions of the bird sites mentioned in this post and many others can be found if you CLICK HERE.