This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, March 21st, 2012. 2 SANDHILL CRANES were seen in Rochester on March 18th, but they have not been relocated. An ICELAND GULL was reported from Manchester on March 14th. 20 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were reported from Hanover on March 19th. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen at the Wildlife Management Area on Old Mill Road in Lee on March 17th. A COMMON REDPOLL was seen in Lee on March 17th, and 1 was reported from Penacook on the 18th. A SNOW BUNTING was reported from Hampton on March 18th. 15 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, over 100 PINE SISKINS, and over 30 PURPLE FINCHES were seen by a hiker on Mount Clinton in the White Mountains on March 19th. 2 EVENING GROSBEAKS were reported from Penacook on March 18th, and 5 were seen visiting a birdfeeder in Jefferson on the 21st. A flock of 6 AMERICAN PIPITS was reported from Lebanon on March 21st. A flock of over 25 SNOW GEESE was seen in Pittsburg on March 15th. 6 SNOW GEESE, 9 AMERICAN WIGEON, 3 NORTHERN PINTAILS, and 65 GREEN-WINGED TEAL were all seen at a farm field in East Kingston on March 17th. A SNOW GOOSE was seen flying with a flock of CANADA GEESE in Walpole on March 17th, and 6 GREEN-WINGED TEAL and a NORTHERN PINTAIL were seen in farm fields along Route 12 in Walpole on the 18th. A pair of GADWALL and 2 WILSON'S SNIPE were seen at Morrill's Farm in Penacook on March 17th, and 2 WILSON'S SNIPE were seen in Derry on the 21st. A pair of NORTHERN SHOVELERS was seen at the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant on March 17th. A HORNED GREBE, a pair of AMERICAN WIGEON, 8 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 3 COMMON GOLDENEYE, 3 BUFFLEHEADS, and 3 unidentified SCAUP were seen on the Connecticut River near the Wilder Dam on March 17th, and a pair of AMERICAN WIGEON was reported from Mink Brook in Hanover on March 19th. 2 AMERICAN WIGEONS, over 50 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 4 BUFFLEHEADS, 2 COMMON GOLDENEYE, over 70 COMMON MERGANSERS, and at least 113 HOODED MERGANSERS were all seen on Turtle Pond in Concord on March 16th. 3 AMERICAN WIGEON were seen in the fields behind the Post Office on Loudon Road in Concord on March 16th, and 8 AMERICAN WIGEON were seen on the Greenland side of Great Bay on March 19th. 2 LESSER SCAUP were seen on Horseshoe Pond, and 5 GREATER SCAUP were seen on Long Pond, all in Concord on March 16th. 8 GREEN-WINGED TEAL were seen on West Portsmouth Street in Concord on March 16th, and 8 were seen in Boscawen on the 17th. 4 BUFFLEHEADS were reported from Kingston on March 19th, and 3 were reported from Stumpfield Pond in Hopkinton on the 18th. 117 RING-NECKED DUCKS were reported from the Deer Hill Wildlife Management Area in Brentwood on March 18th. A PIED-BILLED GREBE was reported from Nottingham on March 20th, 1 was reported from the Connecticut River near Hanover on the 19th, and 1 was reported from Brentwood on March 18th. 20 PURPLE SANDPIPERS were reported from Rye Harbor on March 18th. A CAPE MAY WARBLER that was found at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye on January 14th, has been continuously seen since then, and was last reported on March 18th. It is usually seen near the shore path that goes north from the Seacoast Science Center, beyond the Settler's Monument and towards the beach, and is often seen feeding on brine flies in the wrack. An OVENBIRD that was discovered in the yard of a private residence in Derry on December 31st, continues to be seen and was last reported on March 17th. A LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH was reported as "heard-only" along a stream in Hollis on March 20th. An EASTERN TOWHEE was reported from Portsmouth on March 16th, and one was reported from Barrington on March 17th. A NORTHERN HARRIER was reported from East Kingston on March 19th. A MERLIN was reported from Keene on March 20th. An AMERICAN KESTREL was seen in Stratham on March 17th, one was seen in Lebanon on the 18th, and one was reported from Nashua on the 19th. A pair of PEREGRINE FALCONS is nesting in Manchester and has already begun laying eggs. Check this link for a webcam view! http://www.spectraaccess.com/falcon2/ 3 FISH CROWS were reported from Manchester on March 21st, 1 was reported from Durham on the 20th, 1 was reported from Nashua on the 19th, and 3 were reported from Newmarket on the 18th. Numerous TURKEY VULTURES were reported during the past week, including a flock of 17 in Concord on March 19th. Waterfowl migration is in full swing with many reports of CANADA GEESE, COMMON MERGANSERS, WOOD DUCKS, HOODED MERGANSERS, RING-NECKED DUCKS, AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, and MALLARDS during the past week. There were a few reports of BALD EAGLE, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, KILLDEER, WILSON'S SNIPE, WILD TURKEY, GREAT BLUE HERON, NORTHERN FLICKER, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, CAROLINA WREN, WINTER WREN, FOX SPARROW, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, and many sightings of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and COMMON GRACKLES during the past week. 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.