This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, February 6th, 2013. . A GREAT GRAY OWL was seen and photographed in Hanover on February 3rd and 4th. It was not seen on the 5th, or the 6th. The owl was initially seen along Trescott Road about halfway to Etna, near the Water Company land, and then later seen in a wetland area located about ¾ of a mile from the Appalachian Trail parking lot. The owl could be anywhere nearby but has not been relocated. A VARIED THRUSH was reported visiting a birdfeeder at a private residence in Nashua on February 6th, and another one was reported from a private residence in Bartlett on January 28th where it was seen again and photographed on February 4th. An immature RED-HEADED WOODPECKER has been coming to a birdfeeder on Grafton Road in Alexandria since December 13th, and was last reported on February 6th. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen near Old Hancock Road in Hancock on February 3rd, and 1 was seen along River Road in Stratham on February 2nd. A flock of over 40 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS was seen eating crabapples off of a tree at the School House Motel on Route 16 in North Conway on February 6th, about 30 were seen feeding in fruit trees along High Street in Plymouth on February 2nd, and 1 was seen along Mountain Road in Concord on the 3rd. PINE GROSBEAK sightings during the past week included 30 in Manchester on February 2nd, and 3 in Conway on January 31st. HOARY REDPOLLS reported during the past week included 1 in Stratham, and several in Strafford, all on February 2nd. COMMON REDPOLL sightings during the past week included: an estimated 800 in a flock in Strafford, 100 in Stratham, and 16 in Penacook, all on February 2nd. A THICK-BILLED MURRE was seen from Little Boar's Head in North Hampton, and 20 RAZORBILLS were seen along the coast, all on February 2nd. A male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was seen off of Great Boar’s Head in Hampton, and a female BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was seen at Sewall’s Falls in Concord, both on February 2nd. A GLAUCOUS GULL and 10 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES were seen in the Hampton Harbor area on February 2nd. An ICELAND GULL and 17 LESSER SCAUP were seen at the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant on February 2nd. 16 PURPLE SANDPIPERS were reported from along the coast on February 2nd. An EASTERN SCREECH-OWL was seen at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye on February 2nd. A pair of PEREGRINE FALCONS was seen in Manchester on January 31st, and 1 was seen in Concord on February 3rd. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen in Hancock on February 3rd. A TURKEY VULTURE was seen in Portsmouth on February 4th, and 4 were seen in Exeter on January 31st. A NORTHERN PINTAIL was seen in Ashland on January 31st and February 1st. 9 HORNED LARKS were seen in Hampton on February 2nd. A BELTED KINGFISHER was seen in Dublin on February 2nd. A HERMIT THRUSH was seen in Newmarket on February 2nd. 3 AMERICAN PIPITS were seen in Hampton on February 2nd. A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was seen along Commercial Street in Boscawen on February 2nd. 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.