​​​​​Birds and Blooms in Surry
Sunday, May 17th, 2026, 7 AM, - 12 PM
Wendy Ward, weward0@yahoo.com, and Dave Hoitt
Meet: Surry Town Hall (GPS directions)
Join local birder Dave Hoitt and wildflower enthusiast Wendy Ward on this easy walk looking for birds and wildflowers of the open field and wetland habitat. After exploring the habitats behind the town hall, the group will drive to Surry Lake to look at open water and the dam for woodland habitat. We will count total species of birds and native wildflowers in bloom observed. Dave and Wendy have led this trip for over 30 years at this location in mid-May. Bring binoculars, drinks, and snacks-- the trip should be over by noon, but participants should feel free to peel off as early as they'd like.

 

Birds, Botany, and Beans: Southern New Hampshire, co-sponsored with South Shore Bird Club of Southeastern Massachusetts
Saturday, May 30, 2025, 8 AM
Nate Marchessault: 508-304-3346 natemarchessault@gmail.com
Meet: Hancock, New Hampshire (location provided on signup)

Let’s be good hosts for our coastal counterparts by showing them some of the premier birding spots of the Monadnock Region. Arrive at 8 AM for coffee, tea, and birds in Nate's yard or by 9 for caravaning to birding and nature study locations around the area. The trip will last for the majority of the day, but cars can be arranged if people need to leave earlier. Please sign up with or contact Nate for more information.

*This trip is co-sponsored with South Shore Bird Club
 

Second Saturdays in Surry

Saturday, June 13, 2026, 8 AM, morning only

Nate Marchessault, nmarchessault@antioch.edu

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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Gilsum Rock Swap

June 27 - 28, 2026

Gilsum Steam Academy (GPS directions)

No trips scheduled this weekend, go check out the Rock Swap in Gilsum! More info about the Rock Swap can be found here. 

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Micromoth Caterpillar Walk at the Swanzey Airport with The Caterpillar Lab
Sunday, July 5, 2026, 9:30 AM, morning only
Nate Marchessault, nmarchessault@antioch.edu and Lucy McKay, mckay@thecaterpillarlab.org
Meet: Dillant Hopkins Airport, side of parking lot furthest from main road (GPS directions)
Join us as we search for caterpillars along the road and trails at the Swanzey Airport with a focus on finding micromoth caterpillars. Micromoths are a fascinating and diverse group of moths that are often overlooked due to their small size. We’ll learn to spot their sign, from leaf rolls to leaf mines, and discuss their ecology and life history. Distances covered will be short and we’ll be going at a slow pace to carefully examine plants.
*This trip is co-sponsored with The Caterpillar Lab.

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Second Saturdays in Surry

Saturday, July 11, 2026, 8 AM, morning only

Nate Marchessault, nmarchessault@antioch.edu

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, August 22, 2026, 8:00 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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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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