This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, October 3rd, 2012. 2 SANDHILL CRANES were seen migrating over the Hanover Country Club on September 29th, and another one was reported from Epsom on the 28th. A CONNECTICUT WARBLER was reported from Hinsdale on September 29th. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen at the entrance to Hampton Beach State Park on October 2nd. An immature COMMON GALLINULE was seen at World End Pond in Salem on September 26th, and again on the 27th and 30th, and an AMERICAN COOT was seen at the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant on September 29th, and again on October 2nd. A CASPIAN TERN was seen in Hampton Harbor on September 27th, and another one was seen there on October 2nd. 10 FORSTER'S TERNS were seen in Hampton Harbor on September 29th. A BLACK-HEADED GULL was reported from the coast on October 2nd. A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen in Hampton Harbor, and 1 was seen in coastal Rye, both on September 29th. 20 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were seen at World End Pond in Salem on September 29th, and 5 were seen at Copps Pond in Tuftonboro on October 2nd. A GADWALL was reported from the coast on September 29th. A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was reported from Pittsfield on September 29th, and a SORA and 4 WILSON'S SNIPES were seen at World End Pond in Salem on September 30th. 12 PIED-BILLED GREBES were counted at Copps Pond in Tuftonboro on October 2nd. A flock of nearly 50 AMERICAN PIPITS was seen in Rumney on September 30th and 32 were reported from the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant on the 29th. 4 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen at NH Audubon's Ponemah Bog Sanctuary in Amherst on September 29th, 6 were reported from Westmoreland on the 30th, and 2 were seen at Eel Pond in Rye on the 29th. A flock of 6 EVENING GROSBEAKS was reported from Hancock on October 2nd. A TENNESSEE WARBLER was seen in Webster on September 3rd. 26 PALM WARBLERS and over 120 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were tallied at Parker Pond in Hollis on October 3rd. A late-migrating COMMON NIGHTHAWK was reported at Greeley Park in Nashua on September 30th. A late-migrating RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD was reported from Manchester on September 28th, and one was seen in Nashua on the 30th. There have been several reports of PINE SISKINS, PURPLE FINCHES, and LINCOLN'S SPARROWS during the past week. RAPTOR migration is under way with over 10,400 raptors(including a SWAINSON'S HAWK on September 10th) already reported from the Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory in Peterborough, and nearly 5,000(including a BLACK VULTURE on September 21st) reported from the Carter Hill Observatory in Concord, all since August 25th. Be sure to visit these observatories this fall season to help out with the count! 25 THRUSHES were heard migrating at night and identified by their flight-calls, including 18 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, 2 possible BICKNELL'S THRUSHES, 2 VEERYS, a HERMIT THRUSH, and 2 WOOD THRUSHES, all in Pittsfield on September 29th. A deceased YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was found in Hampton on September 28th. 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.