NEWS!
2022 CSVW ANNUAL BIRD WALK Saturday • May 14, 2022 • 7:30am MEET in the upper parking lot. 740 Mt Israel Road • Center Sandwich, NH 03227 DETAILS on the Events Page! MARK YOUR CALENDARS • WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT THE ANNUAL BIRD WALK! |
SPRING TIME CAN BE
A CHALLENGE April 2022 Even just a little spring melting on Teacup Lake has uncovered both food and territory to which many forest animals would like to lay claim. A fine-looking River Otter has been all over Teacup Lake: in the open water, along the grassy edges, both under and on top of the ice taking full advantage of whatever food and shelter it could find. Meanwhile, CSVW’s resident Beaver(s) are also out and about foraging along the shoreline, and not necessarily happy with the Otter’s presence. |
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HAVE YOU HEARD?
Spring officially arrived last weekend and we are hearing all about it! March 2022 There may still be snow on the ground in some spots, but we can see and hear that spring is happening all around us. The birds begin to call for territory and for mates this time of year, making their intentions loud and clear. |
HEADING OUT ON THE CSVW TRAILS THIS WEEKEND?
YOU WON’T BE ALONE! February 2022 With plenty of snow in Sandwich and milder temperatures predicted, this weekend is a great time to hit the trails at Chapman Sanctuary and Visny Woods. Be on the look out for signs of life … the forest and its inhabitants are alive throughout the winter months! Pileated Woodpeckers are one of the species that remain active in their territories all year round. They can be elusive, and you may hear a Pileated long before you see one since their drilling can be heard from a long distance. A recent snowshoe trip along the River Trail East Loop revealed evidence of this big, beautiful bird with the discovery of what appears to be a newly excavated forage and/or possible nest site! |
SNOW!
January 21, 2022 Lots of it here at Chapman Sanctuary and Visny Woods, with most trails groomed by our Caretaker for our visitors to enjoy. Free to the public and open dawn to dusk everyday with plenty of free parking. XCSkiers and Snowshoers are welcome to come explore the pristine forest, field and trails. |
Welcome Winter Solstice!
December 21, 2021 Here at Chapman Sanctuary and Visny Woods we welcome winter and look forward to beautiful, white snowflakes blanketing the trails and fields and trees. We hope to see you outside at CSVW on your XC skis or snowshoes enjoying the stunning scenery and cold, crisp air made even more wonderful by the fragrant, wintry forest. |
GIFT A BIRDHOUSE SPONSORSHIP FOR 2022
Give this unique and meaningful gift to the bird/nature/wildlife enthusiast in your life! Located along CSVW's scenic trails, each sponsored birdhouse is well-maintained and will display a sponsor or gift recipient recognition tag for all of 2022. Check out the Birdhouse Sponsorship page for more information and to give the gift of a Birdhouse Sponsorship for 2022! HAPPY HOLIDAYS! |
Chapman Sanctuary and Visny Woods is a public 501(c)(3) nonprofit. To maintain this classification, we depend heavily on foundation grants and individual donations. Please join hundreds of our loyal supporters who value all that CSVW has to offer nature, bird, and wildlife enthusiasts With several giving options available, it’s easy to find a donation level that suits your budget. Just click the links below. JOIN US Become a new Member, renew your CSVW Membership or give a Gift Membership to the nature enthusiast in your life CONTRIBUTE Make a charitable contribution in an amount of your choice SPONSOR A BIRDHOUSE Sponsor a CSVW Birdhouse or Gift one for 2022 |
THANK YOU!
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DUCKLINGS?
October 2021 Three lovely Hooded Mergansers were gliding along together as the sun was setting on Teacup Lake this weekend. Could these be our 3 little Merganser ducklings that grew up here on Teacup this past summer? Perhaps they have come home for a visit and to show us that they are well before they move on for the winter. They are gorgeous. Take an evening stroll at Chapman Sanctuary and Visny Woods and end your day beautifully. |
BIRDWATCHING BONANZA
October 2021 Autumn is a wonderful time for birdwatching! When we think of birdwatching we often think of Springtime and the return of Neo-tropicals and other migrators to New England. But this season is a great time to come to Chapman Sanctuary and Visny Woods for birdwatching including:
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We are so excited that the EYES ON OWLS program is happening and we can't wait for you to join us on
August 21, 2021! Previously postponed in 2020 due to Covid 19, we are thrilled to finally be able to host this wonderful educational experience. All prior reservations will be honored. More information on EVENTS PAGE. |
SIGHTINGS!
July 2021 GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias) A gorgeous, healthy-looking Great Blue Heron has been frequenting Teacup Lake and wading along the shoreline in search of food. There is a variety of options available here to help sustain this heron and other species who depend on smaller aquatics for their survival. Today this beautiful bird was having excellent luck catching minnows. |
DUCKLINGS!
July 2021 The Hooded Merganser ducklings are growing up on Teacup Lake. Generally, ducklings would have moved on by now following the course of a stream or river for larger bodies of water. But the surviving 3 ducklings of this little family have stayed with their mother at Teacup Lake. Mother leads the way as they all dive for food together with good success, especially in the form of polliwogs. The mother hen will cluck softly when she calls the ducklings back to her for safety or for a rest on the warm rocks along the shoreline. Soon the ducklings will get their more mature plumage and we will be better able to distinguish males from females. Stay tuned in to CSVW and enjoy this wonderful experience in nature! |
SIGHTINGS!
June 2021 SNAPPING TURTLE (Chelydra serpentina) This lovely lady is welcoming the arrival of the summer season by digging a nice warm nest for her eggs to incubate throughout the coming months. Snapping Turtles will lay as many as 20-40 eggs with about 50% survival rate if the nest is undisturbed. In the fall the eggs will hatch and the babies will instinctively head for the water, just as turtles have been for millions of years. |
DUCKLINGS!
June 2021 A family of Hooded Mergansers has been living at Teacup Lake! A hen and 7 ducklings made their way from their nest to the water and have been surviving quite well here at the sanctuary. The ducklings appear to be healthy and are getting bigger every day. These ducks are lot fun to watch and a great education in nature as the babies grow and learn to become independent thrivers. We will have more information about this exciting family as we observe them. Drop by CSVW and check out the ducklings! |
SIGHTINGS!
June 2021 AMERICAN BITTERN (Botaurus lentiginosus) A healthy appearing American Bittern has been seen along the shores of Teacup Lake! American Bitterns are not easy to spot when they hide in the grasses and other vegetation at waters edge waiting to strike at prey. Holding completely still with their bill pointed upward and their necks stretched long, they are well camouflaged and disappear into their surroundings. Their diet consists of small aquatic life and insects making Teacup Lake a good choice for a meal. |
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THE 2021 ANNUAL CSVW BIRD WALK WAS WONDERFUL!
Did you join us for our Annual Bird Walk on May 15th? The weather was absolutely perfect and we had a record 18 guests in attendance! Thanks so much to everyone who came out bright and early to be part of this year’s event. The group began the journey at the beautiful Chapman House Gardens where the bird feeders were full of American Goldfinch, Mourning Doves, , Blue Jays and Nuthatches. Along the trails there were many sightings and/or soundings of lovely Warblers back from their winter habitats. Birders encountered Magnolia, Black-throated Blue & Green, Yellow-rumped and other species of warblers. Many were identified by their calls with help from cell-phone birding Apps that some participants used and shared. Woodpeckers were in the area and the group even came across this year’s “Bird of the Year” the Pileated Woodpecker. There is almost always a “surprise guest” during our Bird Walk, and this year was no exception. A gorgeous pair of Wild Turkeys have taken up residence in the field near Teacup Lake and they were busy gobbling and calling to each other as they foraged for food. |
Thank you Sue Rowan for the photos!
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TREE SWALLOWS ARE NESTING!
Did you Sponsor a Birdhouse with us this year? If so then your support has helped to provide a nest box - plus its care and maintenance, bird seed and fresh nesting material and we thank you! Tree Swallows are nesting in boxes in the Teacup Field right now! Open meadow with a tree-line and water nearby makes the Teacup Field a perfect location. Other Bird Boxes all over the sanctuary are being used by Eastern Bluebirds, Black-capped Chickadees and other cavity nesters. If you would like to sponsor a bird box yourself or as a gift to honor a loved one / fellow nature enthusiast, visit the Sponsor a Birdhouse page on this website. This a very easy, feel-good way to help out the birds that make Chapman Sanctuary & VIsny Woods their home. |
NEWS!
May 2021 WHAT’S NEW? ALMOST EVERYTHING! Have you made a trip to the sanctuary lately? It is a perfect time to come and walk the trails and be observant of all the new things growing and blooming or soon to be. Most migratory birds are back in the area now and are busy establishing themselves in the trees, on the ground or in the water. |
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REMINDER!
CSVW ANNUAL BIRD WALK Led by Christine Costello of USFS Saturday • May 15, 2021 • 7:30 am Details on EVENTS page! Don't miss this annual favorite! |
SIGHTINGS!
May 2021 This handsome male Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) has been spotted in the Chapman Sanctuary neighborhood. A somewhat solitary bird, they are most often seen at the edges of forests and fields. Look for them on the ground near brush piles or areas of shrubby growth; or listen for the Eastern Towhee scratching around in the leaf litter as they search for food. With this specie’s numbers still somewhat in decline in the Northeast, we feel fortunate to have this “new world sparrow” in the CSVW area finding its basic necessities. |
BUSY WEEKEND AT THE SANCTUARY!
Wow! So much going on in the springtime! Here at CSVW we are especially happy to see all the species that have chosen this area as their home because of the diverse habitat and the ability to fulfill their needs right here. Lots of animals & birds have been very busy building nests in anticipation of eggs and offspring, or refurbishing old ones for their newborns. What a great time to be outside in nature and witness these life processes and celebrate the newness of things. |
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NEWS!
CSVW ANNUAL BIRD WALK Led by Christine Costello of USFS Saturday • May 15, 2021 • 7:30 am Details on EVENTS page! Don't miss this annual favorite! |
Spring Time!
April 2021 We have a happy pair of Mallards on Teacup Lake as mating season has begun! Mallards actually choose their mates in the fall & early winter and the pair will (usually) migrate to the female’s “home territory” in the spring. While other waterfowl, birds and countless species may still be busy sorting it all out, this female seems pretty pleased with her choice of mates. |
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SIGHTINGS!
March 2021 RED FOX (Vulpes vulpes) A gorgeous Red Fox has been seen behind the Chapman House and in neighboring acreage! The largest of the "true foxes", the Red Fox is active year-round and survives well in wooded areas. The Red Fox has a diet that mostly consists of small rodents, birds and rabbits making CSVW a great source of both food and shelter. It is currently breeding season for Red Fox in the Northeast and we hope that we will see kits out about with their mothers in the late spring and early summer months! |
Tracks in snow!
One of the joys of being on the trails in winter is discovering that life is quietly happening all around us. You may feel like you have the peaceful forest all to yourself and then come across some tracks in the snow as a wonderful reminder that animals are carrying on with their daily lives. Look for tracks that disappear under rocks, downed trees and into brush piles. You may spot small footprints in the snow that lead from tree to tree as squirrels and their kind search for food and return to their nest sites. Birds leave tiny footprints and even wing prints as they forage for seeds and berries. You might find a single pine cone on the forest floor with dozens of little bird tracks around it. |
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IT SNOWED!
...and then it rained...and then it snowed again! January 2021 No matter what the weather is or what you like to do outside in winter, grab your gear and join us on the trails. Snow boots, snowshoes, or XC Skis are all appropriate for winter fun in the forest. CSVW Caretaker Paul is grooming the trails and it is always beautiful to spend a day surrounded by trees or checking out Teacup Lake. Get outside and enjoy the day! |
Holiday News! It's not too late to give a meaningful gift to the birdwatcher or nature lover on your list! A CSVW Birdhouse Sponsorship feels as good to give as it does to receive and it will do so much good all year long! Head over to the Birdhouse Sponsorship Page for more information. Thank you! |
Welcome!
Resident Caretaker Paul Healy Please join us in welcoming Paul Healy as Resident Caretaker for CSVW! Paul will reside in the historic Chapman House and is responsible for its care and maintenance as well as greeting guests and answering visitor’s questions. Along with the multitude of tasks that come with living in a rural nature preserve, Paul will undertake the huge job of maintaining sanctuary trails, gardens and wildlife habitats. |
NEWS!
EYES ON OWLS Live Owl Program coming to CSVW! POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE We hope to offer this program in the spring of 2021 LOOK FOR UPDATES ON THIS WEBSITE AND IN OUR eNEWSLETTERS More information and advanced registration for this fun and fantastic program can be found on the EVENTS PAGE of this website! |
SIGHTINGS!
June 2020 RING-NECKED PHEASANT Although some what rare in this area, lately there has been a gorgeous male pheasant strutting around CSVW and neighboring properties! Ring-necked Pheasants prefer open fields with some brush cover and the weedy areas along roadsides, making Chapman Sanctuary a perfect habitat. What a thrill to see him and hear the very loud call of this member of the grouse family, who so far seems right at home. |
SIGHTINGS!
June 2020 HOODED MERGANSER A female Hooded Merganser has been seen going in and out of the duck box on Tea Cup Lake! There were a few pair of Hooded Mergansers on Tea Cup this spring and now there seems to be a lone female who we at the sanctuary hope is sitting on a nest in the duck box. The female comes out to stretch her wings, groom herself in the sun and to feed on the fish, tadpoles and other small aquatic creatures that nature provides in the Teacup Lake waters. The nesting box is visible to her from all areas of the water and after a short time she heads back inside the box. |
These red nylon drawstring backpacks are perfect for showing your CSVW pride and toting your gear when you hit the trails!
CSVW Board of Trustees President, Robert Rowan at 603-848-6807 or ngb284@gmail.com and we'll get one to you right away. |
Broad-winged Hawk (heard)
Spotted Sandpiper (visual) Ruby-throated hummingbird (visual) Yellow-bellied sapsucker (heard) Eastern phoebe (visual) Blue headed vireo (heard) Blue Jay (heard) Tree swallow (visual) Black-capped chickadee (visual) Tufted titmouse (heard) Red-breasted nuthatch (heard) White-breasted nuthatch (heard) |
Brown creeper (heard)
Hermit thrush (heard-call only) American robin (heard) Eastern bluebird (visual) Black-throated blue warbler (heard) Pine warbler (heard) Black and white warbler (heard) Ovenbird (heard) Song sparrow (visual) Rose-breasted grosbeak (visual) American goldfinch (visual) |
We were happy to receive feed back from a CSVW Bird Walk participant who described her experience ... Thank you Deb!
Good Memorial Day morning! I am writing to add my thoughts about attending the bird walk at Chapman Sanctuary/Visny Woods... Delightful! I am so glad I attended. I learned a lot, not only about bird calls and songs and habitat and such, but all those little tidbits that make learning so rewarding. Visually, what I will remember most is our guide showing us why an ovenbird is called an ovenbird. Who knew?! Great place to view a variety of birds from woodlands to open fields. And a great place to simply take a walk along the well-planned trails. Deb P.S. Thanks for making available the Bird Song Identification Tips aka “cheat sheet!" |
Click on image to enlarge & download a copy of
Chris Costello's Bird Song ID Tips for yourself and get outside and listen! |
NEWS!
2020 ANNUAL BIRD WALK Led by Christine Costello of USFS Saturday, May 16, 2020 at 7:30 am Details on EVENTS page! Don't miss this annual favorite! SPECIAL NOTE: ALL participants will be expected to be able to follow the rules of social distancing. 6-foot rule required. Face coverings & masks recommended. |
SIGHTINGS!
April 21, 2020
It is springtime after all, and nature carries on with the business of life. Birds are returning from their winter homes just as the trees begin to bud and insects start to appear. More animals are out and about now that the snow has melted and exposed some browse for them. Waterfowl have landed on Teacup Lake with some "regulars" who have decided to stay, and some others who are just passing through. And oh the Peepers are peeping! |
NEWS!
EYES ON OWLS Live Owl Program coming to CSVW! POSTPONED UNTIL SATURDAY • OCTOBER 4, 2020 • 1:00pm Sandwich Central School 28 Squam Lake Road Center Sandwich, NH 03227 More information and advanced registration for this fun and fantastic program can be found on the EVENTS PAGE of this website! DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS UNIQUE INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE! |
NEWS!
WINTER TRAILS ARE OPEN The Chapman Sanctuary and Visny Woods Trails are groomed and ready for you to come and experience the beauty and serenity of winter in Center Sandwich, New Hampshire. Peace and quiet await you as you make your way through the woods and down to the Cold River on snowshoes. Or let your XC skis take you across the field down to Teacup Lake and through the forest trails. |
A CSVW MYSTERY
Can you identify this plant? JULY 1, 2018 CSVW President & Trustee Bob & Sue Rowan discovered this plant growing in the field above Teacup Lake and we could use your help to identify the species. The flowers are pinkish and its long slender leaves are a darker green than the other vegetation in the vicinity. Any ideas what this plant might be? Please EMAIL CSVW if you think you know … thank you! |
Mallard Loon Broad Winged Hawk Mourning Dove Ruby-throated Humming Bird Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Northern Flicker Least Flycatcher Great Crested Flycatcher Blue-headed Vireo Blue Jay American Crow Tree Swallow Black-capped Chickadee Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Winter Wren House Wren |
Hermit Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird Nashville Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Pine Warbler Black & White Warbler American Redstart Ovenbird Scarlet Tanager Chipping Sparrow Song Sparrow Rose-breasted Grosbeak Brown-headed Cowbird American Goldfinch |
House Sparrow 28 (28)
Pileated Woodpecker 13 (8) Belted Kingfisher 1 Blue Jay 454 (222) American Crow 50 (71) Common Raven 13 (17) Black-Capped Chickadee 761 (822) Tufted Titmouse 118 (61) Red-breasted Nuthatch 25 (56) White-breasted Nuthatch 118 (112) Brown Creeper 8 (12) Golden-cr Kinglet 4 (14) Eastern Bluebird 5 (4) American Robin 77 (59) European Starling 36 (95) Cedar Waxwing 163 (47) Bohemian Waxwing 178 (22, irruptive) American Tree Sparrow 29 (22) Snow Bunting 14 (7) Dark-eyed Junco 40 (109) Northern Cardinal 37 (14) |
American Goldfinch 84 (388)
American Black Duck 4 (13) Mallard 1 (36) Hooded Merganser 3 (6) Common Merganser 8 (45) Wild Turkey 190 (64) Ruffed Grouse 1 (6) Bald Eagle 3 (1) Red-tailed Hawk 1 (1) Ring-billed Gull 2 (1) Herring Gull 1 (1) Rock Pigeon 25 (20) Mourning Dove 112(150) Barred Owl 6 (3) Red-bellied Woodpckr 6 (1) Downy Woodpecker 46 (48) Hairy Woodpecker 57 (48) Pine Grosbeak 8 (8) Purple Finch 1 (8) Red Crossbill 2 (2) Common Redpoll 5 (118, irruptive) Pine Siskin 1 (67) |