This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, April 27th, 2011. A RUFF was discovered at Chapman's Landing in Stratham on April 21st and was last reported on April 25th. It was often seen associating with GREATER YELLOWLEGS in the salt marsh. A SWALLOW-TAILED KITE was reported from along the Connecticut River in Hinsdale on April 27th. A FORSTER'S TERN was seen at Horseshoe Pond in Concord on April 26th. A possible first-year MEW GULL and an ICELAND GULL were seen at the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant on April 25th. A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen at Horseshoe Pond in Concord on April 27th, and a GLAUCOUS GULL was seen at Hampton Beach State Park on April 21st. A BLACK GUILLEMOT continues to be seen in Rye Harbor. A NORTHERN PINTAIL was reported several times from Effingham during the past week. A pair of AMERICAN WIGEON was reported from Lancaster on April 24th, and 2 AMERICAN WIGEON and 2 GADWALL were reported from Hinsdale on April 22nd. There was an unusual inland sighting of 2 SURF SCOTERS on the Merrimack River in Hooksett on April 26th. A PURPLE MARTIN was seen at Horseshoe Pond in Concord on April 27th, and 2 were reported from the coast on the 21st. 7 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen in Keene on April 22nd. 2 BONAPARTE'S GULLS and 75 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS were seen at Horseshoe Pond in Concord on April 27th, and there were several other inland reports of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS on the same day. There were several sightings of NORTHERN SHOVELERS, BONAPARTE'S GULLS, RED-NECKED GREBES, HORNED GREBES, PIED-BILLED GREBES, LONG-TAILED DUCKS, and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS reported from several locations along the Connecticut River during the past week. There was a significant movement of northbound migrating raptors on several days during the past week. Highlights on April 27th included, from Powder Mill Pond in Hancock: 586 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, 3 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 2 COOPER'S HAWKS, a NORTHERN HARRIER, 2 AMERICAN KESTRELS, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, 3 OSPREYS, and 3 RED-TAILED HAWKS; from Pittsfield: 14 OSPREYS, a MERLIN, 23 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 69 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, 18 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 9 COOPER'S HAWKS, and a NORTHERN HARRIER; and from Plymouth: 7 OSPREYS, 2 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 3 BALD EAGLES, 18 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 7 COOPER'S HAWKS, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, 174 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, a RED-TAILED HAWK, and 9 AMERICAN KESTRELS. There was an influx of returning spring migrants during the past week, including: WILLET, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, BOBOLINK, CHIMNEY SWIFT, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, ORCHARD ORIOLE, EASTERN KINGBIRD, GRAY CATBIRD, BROWN THRASHER, EASTERN TOWHEE, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, VEERY, GREEN HERON, HERMIT THRUSH, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, WARBLING VIREO, MARSH WREN, HOUSE WREN, WINTER WREN, CAROLINA WREN, FIELD SPARROW, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, and FOX SPARROW, as well as BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, PALM WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, PINE WARBLER, OVENBIRD, NORTHERN PARULA, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH. The PEREGRINE FALCONS that are nesting on the Brady-Sullivan building in Manchester now have hatched chicks. Check this link to webcam access: http://www.spectraaccess.com/falcon2/ 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 ****************************************************************