This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, August 31st, 
2011.



Hurricane Irene pushed many birds northward along its path and birders noted 
a number of vagrants including rare and uncommon species. Sadly, many birds 
probably perished in the extreme weather conditions. Topping the list of 
rarities was a WHITE-TAILED TROPICBIRD that was found on the ground in 
Claremont on August 30th, and taken to a wild bird hospital where it died on 
the 31st.



Coastal sightings on August 28th included over 300 BLACK TERNS, 1 FORSTER'S 
TERN, 3 LEAST TERNS, over 100 HUDSONIAN GODWITS, 27 JAEGERS of which 3 were 
identified as PARASITIC, a LEACH'S STORM-PETREL, 3 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, 4 
MANX SHEARWATERS, 20 GREAT SHEARWATERS, a SOOTY SHEARWATER, 30 AMERICAN 
GOLDEN-PLOVERS, 21 RED KNOTS, and 11 WHIMBRELS.



18 BLACK TERNS were seen at Turkey Pond and 1 was seen at Horseshoe Pond, 
all in Concord on August 28th.



4 BLACK TERNS and a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER were seen at Lake Wantastiquet 
in Hinsdale on August 28th.



A BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was seen at Hampton Beach State Park on August 
29th.



6 BLACK SKIMMERS were seen on Seabrook Beach on August 29th, following 
Hurricane Irene's exit, and 2 were seen in Hampton Harbor on the 31st.



An AMERICAN AVOCET was discovered in Meadow Pond in Hampton on August 24th, 
was seen on several consecutive days in the area after then, and was last 
reported from Hampton Harbor on the 31st.



A ROYAL TERN was seen from Pulpit Rocks in Rye on August 27th.



6 CASPIAN TERNS and 2 FORSTER'S TERNS were seen from Little Boar's Head in 
North Hampton, and 2 FORSTER'S TERNS were seen in Hampton Harbor, all on 
August 27th.



A FORSTER'S TERN was reported from Squam Lake on August 25th, but has not 
been relocated.



A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was reported from Thorndike Pond located in Jaffrey 
and Dublin on August 26th.



A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen in Hampton Harbor on August 27th.



A juvenile LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen in Little River Salt Marsh in North 
Hampton on August 26th and 27th.



13 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were seen near Nancy and Norcross Ponds in 
Crawford Notch on August 18th, and 4 were reported from Trudeau Road in 
Bethlehem on the 21st.



There were numerous sightings of migrating shorebirds during the past week, 
mainly from the coast, but some inland sightings following Hurricane Irene 
were also reported, including: AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS, BLACK-BELLIED 
PLOVERS, WESTERN SANDPIPERS, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, and PECTORAL 
SANDPIPERS.



COMMON NIGHTHAWKS continue to be seen migrating south in the evenings.



This message is also available by phone recording: call (603) 224-9909 and 
press 2 as directed or ask to be transferred. If you have seen any 
interesting birds recently, you can leave a message at the end of the 
recording or send your sightings to the RBA via e-mail at: 
[log in to unmask] Please put either "bird sighting" or "Rare Bird 
Alert" in the subject line and be sure to include your mailing address and 
phone number. The RBA is also available on-line at the New Hampshire Audubon 
web site, www.nhaudubon.org



Thanks very much and good birding.