In the amazing week and a half of no rain we had, I really enjoyed the glorious clouds each day, even more so on my exploring of southern NH on my 4-day weekend.

The even was pretty fun to watch, and my first time shooting anything on a stage. I learned a bit, and will be better prepared next time.

After 3 years of watching, I finally got to capture why this bird hangs out here. My camera was at home, but I was able to scare up a D200 w/ 200-400 f4 for these shots. At only 30 or so feet away. w00t!

Nest building.
Carrying a willow branch back to the nest

This morning I was able to get out to Newmarket and snap a few photos of a rare bird for these parts. Amanda and I had gone out Saturday afternoon hoping to see the Mississippi Kites that have nested in Newmarket. When we got there, there seemed to be nothing there, though now I suspect one must have been in the nest. The regular people were not there logging what they were doing, so we never could find the nest. Today, I was able to get Amanda out the door with promise of Dunkin Donuts after we saw the Kites. It always works to get her moving in the morning when shes still sleeping. ;-) When we got there, there were some very nice people who pointed out where it was, and showed us where you could stand, and using our scope, look at one of the Kites incubating it’s eggs.

Saturday we were able to identify one hunting over the middle school parking lot. It was fairly high up, so none of the photos really came out. It was still fascinating to watch this bird hunt though. The size of a falcon, and a build similar, this bird was amazing. As it zipped through the sky at great speed, all it took was a flick of the tail and it was going in any direction often 90 degrees or more to the direction it had been traveling in. As we learned this morning talking to people in the know, it was apparently hunting dragonflys.

Beyond getting to see such amazing birds as this, it also reminds me that there are some really nice people out there. Most of the time, when you find a group of birders, it doesn’t matter if you know them, you’re immediately welcome, and everyone is helping you spot the birds, and those with spotting scopes are always sharing views with hose that don’t have them.

If you want to see the Mississippi Kites, head West on 152 out of downtown Newmarket. Park at the high school and head own the rd just a bit more. The nest is in a maple between Maple Crest and Pond St on the right hand side of the rd facing away from the school. Its a residential community, so please be respectful that these houses are seeing a lot of people in their quiet neighborhood right now. Most are very friendly. They say hi, and ask if you know where the nest is, etc. There is one house though, where the man is pretty ornery. Apparently he’ll yell at you if you step off the sidewalk onto his lawn, but he’ll walk his little yappy mutt to take a crap on everyone’s lawn but his own… Its pretty easy to pick this one out, white fence to keep the cars and balls and junk & trash contained in his yard. Its on the opposite side of the rd as the nest.