Second Saturdays in Surry

Saturday, October 10, 2026, 8 AM, morning only

Nate Marchessault, natemarchessault@gmail.com

Meet: Beth-El Bible Church parking lot, Surry Village (GPS directions)

Surry is an extremely birdy town with a diversity of habitats like fields, marshes, woodlands, a gravel pit, and Surry Mountain Lake. We'll meet up at the church, and based on the time of year will spend the morning in one of the nearby birding locations. Most locations contain wide paths with only slight elevation change, and a maximum of three miles will be walked. 

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Waterfowl at the Hinsdale Setbacks

Sunday, November 8, 2026, 8 AM, morning only

Nate Marchessault, natemarchessault@gmail.com

Meet: Small lot near Hinsdale Boat Launch (GPS directions)​

Spend the morning leisurely, birdy hike at one of the Monadnock Region’s premier locations for waterfowl. Expect to see both familiar and unfamiliar dabbling and diving ducks, and, if we’re lucky, sea ducks and loons! This walk will be 3 miles or less on mostly wide paths, with many stops for birds and any other interesting wildlife we might encounter. Registration required, registration and more information available here.

*This event is co-sponsored with the Harris Center.

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Second Saturdays in Surry

Saturday, November 14, 2026, 8 AM, morning only

Nate Marchessault, natemarchessault@gmail.com

Meet: Beth-El Bible Church parking lot, Surry Village (GPS directions)

Surry is an extremely birdy town with a diversity of habitats like fields, marshes, woodlands, a gravel pit, and Surry Mountain Lake. We'll meet up at the church, and based on the time of year will spend the morning in one of the nearby birding locations. Most locations contain wide paths with only slight elevation change, and a maximum of three miles will be walked. 

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Coast Trip: Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Newburyport, MA

Saturday, November 21, 2026, 8:30 AM
Jane Wing, jeswing29@yahoo.com
Meet: Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, Newburyport, MA (GPS directions)
Please join us as we explore Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on a quarterly basis.  While the focus for bird species will change quarterly, we will always have some overlap. During the winter months we will be looking for waterfowl such as loons, scoters, pintails, shovelers and more (maybe a Snowy Owl or two also).  Spring, summer and fall, we will be looking for shorebirds, warblers, and potentially seabirds.  Raptors may be observed every season.  We may even encounter some rarities throughout the year! We will meet at the PRNWR Visitor Center and then carpool along the refuge.  Most of the travel will be by vehicle, but we will also do some walking on the beach. We will have scopes available for others to look through, however, feel free to bring your own, if you have one.  There is a $5 fee per vehicle to enter the refuge.  Restrooms are available at several stops. If interested in carpooling, please enter your information into the carpool sheet. Be sure to check the meetup time for each trip, as the start time varies slightly by season. 

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Sip Pond Bird Walk
Saturday, December 5, 2026, 9 - 11 AM
Nate Marchessault, natemarchessault@gmail.com and Kate Witte, witte@monadnockconservancy.org
Meet: Monadnock Conservancy's Sip Pond Trailhead (Chamberlain Conservation Area), Fitzwilliam (GPS directions)
Join birders Nate Marchessault and Kate Witte for an easygoing stroll in search of avian life at Sip Pond. We'll look for recently arrived wintering songbirds and, if open water remains, we may also see waterfowl. If we're lucky, we might even spot a shrike! Most of this outing will take place on a flat, wide rail trail, with an optional short walk out to a peninsula, and we will walk 3 miles or less. Bring clothing appropriate for the weather and binoculars. Registration is required. Registration and additional information can be found here.
*This trip is co-sponsored with The Monadnock Conservancy