First hand report here. I was running in town without any optics, and 
saw a very large, dark bird flying south not far above tree tops. I 
watched the bird for a maximum of 30 seconds until it disappeared below 
the trees. Without the aid of binoculars, I noted long, angled wings, a 
shallow wing beat, and intermediate gliding. I also think I saw a small 
amount of white near the head, but it could have been the lighting. At 
the time, I pretty confidently ruled out Great-blue Heron or any other 
heron species. The neck was too short and I didn't see any legs hanging 
behind. I haven't seen a Frigatebird in almost 10 years (I am 17), but 
the bird matched the best recollection I had of the species. I didn't 
get home for nearly an hour after the sighting (@4:30 this afternoon), 
and didn't have access to a guide until then. However, when I looked at 
several guides and YouTube videos, something bugged me about this 
sighting. All drawings show frigatebirds as heavier chested than "my" 
bird, the tail is longer than I saw, and Sibley describes the wing beats 
as deep. Although the wings I saw were long and angled, I now expect 
frigatebirds to have even longer, more angled wings. I no longer feel 
confident putting a name to this bird. Very doubtful it was a heron, but 
it wasn't a classic frigatebird either. At the moment I don't know what 
I saw, and probably never will... but I don't think it was a species 
typically seen flying over New Hampshire/Vermont.

 From my iphone I was able to post a quick message on UVB, as well as 
text a few people. The intent was to get word out as fast as possible. I 
was confident enough at the time not to call my sighting provisional, 
but I probably should have; also, my notifications were Frigatebird sp. 
(not necessarily Magnificent).

Sorry for a possible false alarm, but it is great to see that we have a 
very rapid alert system.

Spencer



On 9/1/2011 5:39 PM, Steve Mirick wrote:
 > I just received a 2nd hand report from Marshall Iliff, that Spencer 
Hardy texted him to report a Magnificent Frigatebird along the 
Connecticut River in Hanover.  Presumably very recently.  Possibly this 
bird might follow the river southward, so this is a heads up to all 
birders in the river valley to get out this evening or tomorrow morning.
 >
 > This, like the tropicbird, would be a first state record.
 >
 > Steve Mirick
 > Bradford, MA



On 9/1/2011 5:17 PM, Spencer Hardy wrote:
> Headed south over sachem field on Hanover at 4:45 today. Details later.
>
> Sent from my iPhone