Posted by Richard Hahn on February 15, 2009 at 12:25 AM
Good evening,
I am planning on a short visit to New Hampshire from Friday 3/27 – Sunday 3/29. I would like to try to limit my driving to mid state if at all possible.
Can anyone recommend areas where I might be able to find wildlife & birds for viewing and photographing? I would really love to see moose & eagle, but will take what I can.
Thanks a lot.
Posted by Jim Salge on February 15, 2009 at 8:18 AM
hmmmm....you sure you don't want to travel further north???
Eagles shouldn't be a problem...the great bay, the merrimack, and a few early melting ponds should all hold eagles staging waiting for ice out further north. I would focus on the great bay, or follow sitings on this site:
http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NHBD.html
For moose...are you willing to hike? Moose are tough to find in the central portion of the state, but if you are willing to put a few miles under your boots, the area around mount shaw in the ossipee range is a great late winter moosing ground.
However, if you head north to Crawford Notch, it's a great time to watch them come out of the upper elevations for the melting valley and the salt lick road shoulders...
Good luck, and hope some others can help as well...
Posted by Richard Hahn on February 15, 2009 at 11:49 PM
Jim,
Good evening & thanks for the reply. After reading your email & looking at the map we decided that Crawford Notch is do able. We are going to try to stretch it out from Thursday - Sunday if possible.
The first day we will stay Merrimack for the eagles & what ever else. Then we will head up to Crawford Notch for the moose & what ever else. If you could possibly email me at 5045@optonline.net with any other details or suggestions that would be great.
Again thank you very much.
Posted by Jim Salge on February 16, 2009 at 3:57 PM
Hi Richard,
I prefer to keep everything in the public domain, but will happily answer anything and everything that I can here in the forum...so others can help as well, and benefit from the conversation also!
Ask away, I'll do what I can!
Jim
Posted by Richard Hahn on February 16, 2009 at 4:33 PM
Jim,
Good afternoon & thank you. I agree with the info being offered on the forum so that others may benefit from it, but as I am sure you are aware there are some that prefer to do it privately.
Merrimack
While I found it on the map, I was not able to locate the Great Bay or any other water that appears to be close. So if you could let me know where the great bay is and if there is maybe one area that is better then others for eagles.
Crawford Notch
I found Crawford Notch and Crawford Notch SP on the map. Would it be better to go to the park for moose and / or other wildlife?
What ever suggestions that you can offer will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again.
Posted by Jim Salge on February 16, 2009 at 6:36 PM
I see where the mixup is.
The Great Bay is along the seacoast, and the most popular spot for birding, and eagles is the great bay refuge outside of the city of portsmouth:
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/greatbay/
The Merrimack is a river that runs from concord, through manchester, nashua, and then salisbury mass. There are numerous access points, and in spring, the river opens before many of the lakes, so the eagles congregate on the river. Following the birding site I posted above will give you hints as to where they are during the week or so leading up to your trip.
As for crawford notch, if you are staying in the area, the hotels are in twin mountain or bretton woods to the north end, and bartlett to the south end. The moose tend to come out roadside that time of year in the lower part of the state park during the mornings and evenings. If you haven't been, the area is gorgeous, and offers many opportunities for shooting wildlife and scenics. The AMC runs a lodge at the north end of the notch that has daily guided walks, educational talks and generally provides info on the area.
http://www.outdoors.org/lodging/lodges/highland/index.cfm
Hope that helps a bit more!
Jim
Posted by Richard Hahn on February 17, 2009 at 9:41 PM
Jim,
Good evening & thank you again. I think we are going to hit the Great Bay area on Thursday, spend the night and head up to the Crawford Notch area of Friday. We were able to get Thursday into the weekend so that helped a lot.
The motel (Best Western, I think) we are tentatively staying at is in Franconia, which appears to be west of Crawford Notch. We are bringing my girlfriend's dog, so finding a place to stay is limited.
Obvious all subject to change, but we will see. Again thanks a lot.
Discussion
6 repliesI am planning on a short visit to New Hampshire from Friday 3/27 – Sunday 3/29. I would like to try to limit my driving to mid state if at all possible.
Can anyone recommend areas where I might be able to find wildlife & birds for viewing and photographing? I would really love to see moose & eagle, but will take what I can.
Thanks a lot.
Eagles shouldn't be a problem...the great bay, the merrimack, and a few early melting ponds should all hold eagles staging waiting for ice out further north. I would focus on the great bay, or follow sitings on this site:
http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NHBD.html
For moose...are you willing to hike? Moose are tough to find in the central portion of the state, but if you are willing to put a few miles under your boots, the area around mount shaw in the ossipee range is a great late winter moosing ground.
However, if you head north to Crawford Notch, it's a great time to watch them come out of the upper elevations for the melting valley and the salt lick road shoulders...
Good luck, and hope some others can help as well...
Good evening & thanks for the reply. After reading your email & looking at the map we decided that Crawford Notch is do able. We are going to try to stretch it out from Thursday - Sunday if possible.
The first day we will stay Merrimack for the eagles & what ever else. Then we will head up to Crawford Notch for the moose & what ever else. If you could possibly email me at 5045@optonline.net with any other details or suggestions that would be great.
Again thank you very much.
I prefer to keep everything in the public domain, but will happily answer anything and everything that I can here in the forum...so others can help as well, and benefit from the conversation also!
Ask away, I'll do what I can!
Jim
Good afternoon & thank you. I agree with the info being offered on the forum so that others may benefit from it, but as I am sure you are aware there are some that prefer to do it privately.
Merrimack
While I found it on the map, I was not able to locate the Great Bay or any other water that appears to be close. So if you could let me know where the great bay is and if there is maybe one area that is better then others for eagles.
Crawford Notch
I found Crawford Notch and Crawford Notch SP on the map. Would it be better to go to the park for moose and / or other wildlife?
What ever suggestions that you can offer will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again.
The Great Bay is along the seacoast, and the most popular spot for birding, and eagles is the great bay refuge outside of the city of portsmouth:
http://www.fws.gov/northeast/greatbay/
The Merrimack is a river that runs from concord, through manchester, nashua, and then salisbury mass. There are numerous access points, and in spring, the river opens before many of the lakes, so the eagles congregate on the river. Following the birding site I posted above will give you hints as to where they are during the week or so leading up to your trip.
As for crawford notch, if you are staying in the area, the hotels are in twin mountain or bretton woods to the north end, and bartlett to the south end. The moose tend to come out roadside that time of year in the lower part of the state park during the mornings and evenings. If you haven't been, the area is gorgeous, and offers many opportunities for shooting wildlife and scenics. The AMC runs a lodge at the north end of the notch that has daily guided walks, educational talks and generally provides info on the area.
http://www.outdoors.org/lodging/lodges/highland/index.cfm
Hope that helps a bit more!
Jim
Good evening & thank you again. I think we are going to hit the Great Bay area on Thursday, spend the night and head up to the Crawford Notch area of Friday. We were able to get Thursday into the weekend so that helped a lot.
The motel (Best Western, I think) we are tentatively staying at is in Franconia, which appears to be west of Crawford Notch. We are bringing my girlfriend's dog, so finding a place to stay is limited.
Obvious all subject to change, but we will see. Again thanks a lot.
Rich