This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Tuesday, December 28th, 2010. A DOVEKIE that was first reported close to shore on the south side of Great Boar's Head in Hampton on December 15th, has been seen numerous times since then, and was last reported on the 27th. Several RAZORBILLS have been reported from the same area during the past week. A BLACK GUILLEMOT was discovered in Rye Harbor on December 18th, and was still present on the 25th. A BARROW'S GOLDENEYE that was first reported close to shore on the south side of Great Boar's Head in Hampton earlier in December has been seen numerous times since then, and was most recently reported on the 26th. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen along Route 101 in Candia on December 28th. 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, a GLAUCOUS GULL, and 2 ICELAND GULLS were seen in Gonic on December 26th. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen at the Durham Business Park along Oyster River off of Route 4 in Durham on December 26th. A PINE GROSBEAK, 28 EVENING GROSBEAKS, and 32 COMMON REDPOLLS were seen at a birdfeeder in Jefferson on December 24th. A WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was seen in Newton on December 27th. A flock of 160 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS was seen in downtown Meredith, and a flock of 40 was seen in Center Harbor, all on December 26th. A flock of at least 20 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS was seen near Longmeadow Road in Hancock on the 22nd. 3 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS and a RUSTY BLACKBIRD were seen in Gilford on December 26th. A single BOHEMIAN WAXWING was seen in Durham, also on the 26th. 3 SNOW BUNTINGS were reported from near Meredith Center Road in Laconia on December 24th. COMMON REDPOLLS are finally starting to arrive in larger numbers, with flocks of 20-40 birds being reported from several locations and numerous reports of smaller flocks from scattered locations, all during the past week. A RUSTY BLACKBIRD and 13 EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen in Surry on December 23rd. A NORTHERN SHOVELER and a NORTHERN PINTAIL were seen on South Mill Pond in Portsmouth on December 25th. 3 NORTHERN SHOVELERS were seen at the Rochester Wastewater Treatment Plant on December 26th. The treatment plant is gated and the hours of operation are 7:30-3:00 on weekdays. If you visit, please check in at the office and be out of the plant by 2:45 so that plant personnel do not have to ask birders to leave. Do not drive on the dikes and do not block the road. The Trails at Pickering Ponds, located east of the plant, are not gated, and are always open during daylight hours. An EASTERN SCREECH OWL was reported from Dover on December 26th. A NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL was seen near the Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch on December 28th. Highlights of the Pittsburg Christmas Bird Count that was held on December 21st included 32 GRAY JAYS, 77 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, 111 COMMON REDPOLLS, 5 PINE GROSBEAKS, 3 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, and 24 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS. Highlights of the Errol Christmas Bird Count that was held on December 22nd included a HOARY REDPOLL, 2 COMMON GOLDENEYES, 88 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, 12 RUFFED GROUSE, a CEDAR WAXWING, and 2 NORTHERN CARDINALS. A PINE WARBLER was seen coming to a suet feeder at a private residence in Hollis on December 27th, one was reported from Newmarket on the 26th, and one was reported from Lee, also on the 26th. A BALTIMORE ORIOLE was reported from a birdfeeder at a private residence in Manchester on December 26th. A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was reported from Goffstown on December 23rd. 4 WINTER WRENS were reported from the Lee/Durham Christmas Bird Count on December 26th. For more information about upcoming Christmas Bird Counts, which are open to all participants, click on the following link: http://nhbirdrecords.org/birding/CBC.htm 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. **************************************************************** To post messages, send e-mail to: [log in to unmask] Set your e-mail application to PLAIN TEXT ONLY to post messages. To contact the list owner: [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------- Web based archives and subscription management are available at: http://listserv.dartmouth.edu/Archives/uv-birders.html ****************************************************************