This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Tuesday, February 18th, 2014. Birders on a boat cruise out of Rye on February 12th reported the following sightings, mainly in New Hampshire waters: 25 NORTHERN FULMARS, over 700 DOVEKIES, 20 COMMON MURRES, 14 ATLANTIC PUFFINS, and over 150 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES. A SPOTTED TOWHEE was spotted in Rye on January 25th, and has been seen many times since then. It was last reported on February 15th. It has been seen foraging on the ground in the scrub on the corner nearest the traffic island at the intersection of Central Road and Route 1A. At least 3 SNOWY OWLS continued to be reported in New Hampshire during the past week including 1 along the coast in Rye, 1 in the Hampton and Seabrook marsh areas, and an unconfirmed sighting in Barrington. A male HARLEQUIN DUCK was seen along the coast at Ragged Neck in Rye on February 11th. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen behind the town hall in Surry on February 16th, and another was seen on Blueberry Hill in Hanover on the 15th. A flock of 48 SNOW BUNTINGS was seen in Surry on February 16th, a flock of about 24 was seen in Derry on the 18th, and a flock of 25 was seen in Charlestown on the 11th. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen in Hampton on February 15th, and a MERLIN was seen in Hanover on the 18th. RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS were reported from Rye, Salem, and Derry during the past week. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen in Lyme and a COOPER’S HAWK was seen in Hanover, both during the past week. 8 BALD EAGLES were tallied in Manchester along the Merrimack River on February 16th. 8 TURKEY VULTURES were seen in Exeter on February 15th. A HORNED GREBE was seen on the Merrimack River in Nashua on February 16th, and a GREAT CORMORANT was seen on the Merrimack River in Manchester on February 17th. A NORTHERN PINTAIL was seen at the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant during the past week. 5 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS were seen visiting a birdfeeder at a private residence in Penacook, and a BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD was reported from Mont Vernon, all on February 15th. A RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET was seen in Manchester on February 14th and again on the 17th. A flock of 10 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS was seen in Kingston on February 13th. A possible PINE GROSBEAK was reported from Hanover on February 15th. 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 ****************************************************************