This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, May 4th, 2011. A SANDHILL CRANE was seen in farm fields in East Kingston on April 30th and May 1st, but has not been reported since then. A CASPIAN TERN was seen at Meadow Pond in Hampton on April 27th, and one was seen in coastal Rye on April 28th. This may have been the same bird at both locations. An adult-plumaged LITTLE BLUE HERON was discovered at the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant on May 2nd, and was last reported on May 4th. A GLOSSY IBIS was reported from the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant on May 2nd, and 4 were reported from the coast on April 30th. 3 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were seen from Island Path in Hampton on April 28th, and 26 SNOWY EGRETS were reported from the coast on April 30th. An UPLAND SANDPIPER was seen at Runnymede Farm in North Hampton on May 1st. A SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, 9 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, 5 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 5 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 6 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, and 2 unidentified TERNS were seen on the Connecticut River near Hanover on May 4th. A male EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED or "COMMON" TEAL, 123 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and 2 BLUE-WINGED TEAL were seen on Meadow Pond in Hampton May 1st. 2 GADWALL and 2 AMERICAN WIGEONS were seen on the Connecticut River in Hinsdale on April 27th, 5 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, 2 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, and a PEREGRINE FALCON were seen here on the 29th, and 2 GREATER SCAUP and a RED-NECKED GREBE were seen here on May 4th. A pair of GADWALL was seen on Eel Pond in Rye on May 1st. A BLACK SCOTER and 4 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were seen on Spofford Lake in Chesterfield on May 4th. 2 RED-NECKED GREBES and 2 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were seen on Mascoma Lake on May 4th. 2 PIED-BILLED GREBES and several BANK SWALLOWS were seen at Airport Marsh in Whitefield on May 1st. A WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was seen in Keene on April 28th. There were a few reports of lingering COMMON REDPOLLS, and scattered reports of small numbers of EVENING GROSBEAKS, from several locations during the past week. 2 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS and 3 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were reported from the Pondicherry National Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson on May 4th, and a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER and 7 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen here on May 1st. An ORCHARD ORIOLE was reported from Durham on April 28th, one was seen at Horseshoe Pond in Concord on April 29th, and one was seen in Hinsdale on May 3rd. There was an unconfirmed report of a CERULEAN WARBLER from Madbury on April 29th and 30th. There were several reports of VESPER SPARROW and 1 of LINCOLN'S SPARROW during the past week. Songbird migration is picking up and the species diversity is growing quickly. Recent sightings include EASTERN KINGBIRD, PRAIRIE WABLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, WOOD THRUSH, and YELLOW-THROATED VIREO. A SORA was heard at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye on April 30th, and 1 was heard at the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant on May 1st. There were several reports of FISH CROWS during the past week, including 4 in Epping, 1 in Manchester, and 1 in Concord. Over 500 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were tallied on the coast on April 30th. A pair of MERLINS was reported from Squam Lake on April 30th. 60 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS were seen migrating over Hollis on April 28th. 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 ****************************************************************