This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, February 13th, 2013. A GREAT GRAY OWL was seen and photographed in Hanover on February 3rd and 4th. It was seen again on the 7th, but has not been reported since then. 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 has been seen visiting a birdfeeder at a house on Maple Street in West Hopkinton every day since February 9th, one 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 in Hanover on February 8th, and 1 was seen in Stratham on the 7th. A HOARY REDPOLL was reported from River Road in Stratham on February. 7th. COMMON REDPOLL sightings during the past week included a flock of 80 in Jefferson on February 9th, a flock of 75 in Roxbury on the 8th, a flock of 12 in Peterborough on the 9th, and a flock of 75 in Stratham on the 7th. A flock of 12 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS was reported from the coast on February 7th, and a lone WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL and a lone RED CROSSBILL were seen in Peterborough on February 9th. PINE GROSBEAK sightings during the past week included a flock of 8 in fruit trees in front of The Greens on Lyme Road in Hanover on February 9th, and a flock of 10 PINE GROSBEAKS in trees near Chili's in West Lebanon on the 12th. A male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was seen off of Great Boar’s Head in Hampton on February 9th. A GLAUCOUS GULL was seen off of Great Boar’s Head in Hampton, and 1 was seen in Hampton Harbor, both on February 10th. An ICELAND GULL was seen at Hampton Harbor on February 10th. 4 RAZORBILLS were seen along the coast on February 10th. 5 PURPLE SANDPIPERS were seen at the inlet to Hampton Harbor on February 10th. 99 COMMON MERGANSERS, 73 HOODED MERGANSERS, and 2 COMMON GOLDENEYES were tallied on the Connecticut River below the Wilder Dam on February 6th. A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was seen with a flock of 12 HORNED LARKS at the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant on February 10th. An estimated 100 SNOW BUNTINGS and 100 HORNED LARKS were seen at the Nashua Airport on February 10th, and flock of 30 SNOW BUNTINGS was seen in Lyme on the 11th. A GRAY JAY and 3 BOREAL CHICKADEES were seen in Pittsburg on February 6th. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen in Hampton on February 10th, and 1 was seen in Hanover on the 7th. A TURKEY VULTURE was seen in Exeter on February 10th. A PINE WARBLER was seen in Durham on February 9th. An AMERICAN PIPIT was seen at Ragged Neck in Rye on February 10th. A CAROLINA WREN was seen in Hanover on February 9th. HERMIT THRUSH sightings during the past week included 1 in Etna on February 9th, 1 in Merrimack on the 12th, 1 in Pittsfield on the 12th, and 1 in Durham on the 10th. 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.