This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, December 18th, 2013. A GYRFALCON was discovered in Hampton Marsh north of the Route 101 causeway on December 14th during the annual Coastal Christmas Bird Count. It has been seen in various sections of that area of the marsh since then and was last reported on the 17th. At least 1 PEREGRINE FALCON and 1 MERLIN have also been seen in Hampton Marsh during the past week. SNOWY OWLS continued to be reported in New Hampshire during the past week including 1 at the Kollsman Sports Fields Complex in Merrimack on December 14th and 15th, 1 at Chickering Farm on River Road in Walpole on the 15th, 1 in Rye near Petey’s Seafood Restaurant on the 17th, and several reports of up-to 8 in the Hampton and Seabrook area during the past week. The TOWNSEND’S WARBLER previously reported was again seen along the shoreline north of the Seacoast Science Center at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye and was last reported on December 14th. It was most easily seen foraging in the wrack line on the beach sometimes in the company of several YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen along River Road in Stratham on December 14th, and 16th. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen in Hampton Marsh on December 16th. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen in Chatham on December 13th. A SNOW GOOSE was seen flying over Hampton on December 12th. An ICELAND GULL was seen in Hampton on December 18th. 3 LAPLAND LONGSPURS were seen at the Nashua Airport on December 14th. 3 NORTHERN PINTAILS were seen migrating south along the coast on December 15th. Additional highlights of the annual Coastal Christmas Bird Count included: a REDHEAD and a EURASIAN WIGEON on Great Bay, a female KING EIDER in Hampton, 2 GLAUCOUS GULLS, a DOVEKIE, a THICK-BILLED MURRE, a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, a LAPLAND LONGSPUR, an AMERICAN PIPIT, and 26 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen in Pittsfield on December 12th. A GREAT EGRET was seen along the coast in North Hampton on December 12th. Late-migrating songbirds reported during the past week included a BALTIMORE ORIOLE, 2 EASTERN TOWHEES, and 4 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS. 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 ****************************************************************