​Second Saturdays in Surry

Saturday, September 12, 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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Easygoing Hike at Distant Hill Nature Trail

Thursday, September 17, 2026, 10 AM - noon

Michael Nerrie, michael@distanthill.org and Mary Verrilli

Meet: Distant Hill Nature Trail, 66 March Hill Road, Alstead (GPS directions)

Join for a gentle hike along Distant Hill's beautiful trail network. This 2-mile route will feature stone sheep fences, pollinator meadows, geology stops, and a floating bog, along with whatever sights and sounds the September woods will have to offer. Registration required, registration and more information can be found here, or here.

*This event is co-sponsored with Distant Hill Gardens and Nature Trail and the Harris Center.

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Jaquith Rail Trail Mushroom Foray with Monadnock Mushroom Club
Sunday, September 20, 2026, 10 AM, morning only
Nate Marchessault, natemarchessault@gmail.com
Meet: Jaquith Rail Trail, Hancock (GPS directions)
We'll split up and spend a few hours collecting and learning about the mushrooms of the Jaquith Rail Trail. At the end of our exploration we'll all meet up and share our finds, and the experts at Monadnock Mushroom Club will help identify what we've found. Bring a (non-plastic) bag for collecting mushrooms, and expect lightly strenuous walking conditions. Optionally, bring a picnic lunch to socialize over lunch afterward. Registration suggested, registration and more information can be found here.
*This trip is co-sponsored with Monadnock Mushroom Club and the Harris Center.

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Hawk Watch at Pack Monadnock with South Shore Bird Club
Saturday or Sunday, September 26-27 (exact date dependent on weather), 9 AM - 3 PM
Nate Marchessault: natemarchessault@gmail.com and Pete Jacobson: ejake4@aol.com
Meet: Pack Monadnock Mountain, Peterborough, NH
Come spend the day with the Harris Center hawkwatchers at the Pack Monadnock Raptor Observatory, keeping an eye out for all the hawks, eagles, vultures, falcons, and sometimes songbirds that blow by. The summit can be accessed by driving the auto road, and the hawkwatch is just a short walk from the parking lot. Bring a bag lunch, sunscreen, and layers! There is a $4 fee to enter the park, and reservations for the auto road are suggested. Depending on how active the hawk watch is that day, this trip has been known to go for short walks elsewhere in the afternoon, or end the outing with ice cream.  Sign up with Nate to be notified of the date selected.

*This trip is co-sponsored with South Shore Bird Club of Southeastern Massachusetts.

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Meetinghouse Pond Mushroom Foray with Monadnock Mushroom Club
Sunday, October 4, 2026, 10 AM, morning only
Nate Marchessault, natemarchessault@gmail.com
Meet: Meetinghouse Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, Marlborough (GPS directions)
We'll split up and spend a few hours collecting and learning about the mushrooms of the Meetinghouse Pond Wildlife Sanctuary. At the end of our exploration we'll all meet up and share our finds, and the experts at Monadnock Mushroom Club will help identify what we've found. Bring a (non-plastic) bag for collecting mushrooms, and expect lightly strenuous walking conditions. Optionally, bring a picnic lunch to socialize over lunch afterward.
*This trip is co-sponsored with Monadnock Mushroom Club.

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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 link will be provided once available.

*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

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Second Saturdays in Surry

Saturday, December 12, 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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