Little Blue Job will be new site of annual MMRG hawk watch

Longtime birder and MMRG Development and Communications Coordinator Virginia Long looking out at the horizon atop Blue Job. (MMRG photo)

Moose Mountains Regional Greenways will offer a free hawk watching outing on Little Blue Job Mountain in Strafford/Farmington led by MMRG Staff member and longtime birder Virginia Long.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on either Saturday, Sept. 10 or Sunday, the 11th, depending on which is forecast to have the better weather for hawk migration and viewing.

The hike up Little Blue Job is about a mile on a somewhat uneven trail through lovely mature pine and oak forest. The wide open rocky top has a panorama of excellent views to east, north and west, which should allow good observation of migrating raptors.

For this event, Long suggests that participants wear good walking shoes and bring binoculars, some snacks or lunch, and something to sit on, since hawk watching can be very exciting but can also involve a lot of waiting. She adds, "Keep your fingers crossed for clear skies and a breeze out of the northwest to provide a tailwind for migrating hawks. In past years on Teneriffe Mountain, we've been lucky to get good looks at a half dozen or so different raptor species and a couple dozen individual birds, but the numbers seem to have decreased in recent years. I'm looking forward to trying Little Blue Job this year and I hope we'll get to see a few more good hawks!"

Preregistration is required; please contact MMRG Education Coordinator Kari Lygren at (603) 978-7125 or email info@mmrg.info. No pets please.