This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, April 9th, 2014. A SPOTTED TOWHEE was spotted in Rye on January 25th, and has been seen many times since then. It was last reported on April 3rd. It has been seen foraging on the ground on the corner nearest the traffic island at the intersection of Central Road and Route 1A. 8 SNOWY OWLS were seen in New Hampshire during the past week, including 2 in coastal Seabrook on April 5th, 1 in coastal Hampton on the 5th, 1 at the Pease International Tradeport near McIntyre Road in Newington on the 5th, 1 in Rye near Rye Harbor State Park on the 5th, 1 at Woodmont Orchard in Hollis on the 5th, 1 along River Road in North Charlestown on the 4th, and 1 was seen from Route 113A in Wonalancet on the 3rd. A SHORT-EARRED OWL was seen in Seabrook Marsh from the end of Cross Beach Road on April 3rd. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen at the Pease International Tradeport near Short Road in Newington on April 5th and 6th. A ROSS’S GOOSE and 16 SNOW GEESE were seen at Charlestown Meadows near the Wastewater Treatment Plant on April 6th and 7th. A YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was seen here along with an estimated 500 BLACBIRDS on April 7th. A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen from Intervale Road in Gilford on April 7th, and a lone SNOW GOOSE was seen on Hutchins Street in Berlin on April 6th. A CACKLING GOOSE was seen at Chapman’s Landing in Stratham on April 5th, 1 was reported from Charlestown on the 7th, and 2 were seen in Rochester on the 9th. 2 SNOW GEESE, 8 NORTHERN PINTAILS, and an AMERICAN WIGEON were seen along the Connecticut River in Westmoreland on April 3rd. An ICELAND GULL, 70 RING-NECKD DUCKS, and 190 LESSER SCAUP were seen at the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant on April 6th. An ICELAND GULL was seen along the coast at Rye Ledge on April 6th. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen along Ossipee Mountain Road in Moultonborough on April 3rd, and 4 SNOW BUNTINGS were seen from the same road on March 31st. A single SNOW BUNTING was reported from the coast on April 6th. 2 PIPING PLOVERS and 2 GLOSSY IBIS were seen in Hampton, and 2 GREAT EGRETS and 3 SNOWY EGRETS were seen in Rye, all on April 6th. An AMERICAN BITTERN has been seen frequenting a stream located adjacent to West Portsmouth Street in Concord during the past week. It is sometimes quite close to and visible from the street. There were several PIED-BILLED GREBES reported from scattered locations during the past week. 2 male NORTHERN SHOVELERS were seen at Horseshoe Pond in Concord on April 6th, and 115 RING-BILLED GULLS were seen here on the 8th. 2 AMERICAN WIGEON and 25 GREEN-WINGED TEAL were seen in the flooded fields at Bodwell Farm in Exeter on April 3rd. 4 AMERICAN WIGEON were reported from the coast on April 6th. 2 AMERICAN COOTS were seen on Eel Pond in Rye on April 3rd, and 2 GADWALL were seen here on the 5th. A LONG-TAILED DUCK was seen on Lake Winnisquam on April 5th. 2 pairs of NORTHERN PINTAILS, and an AMERICAN COOT were reported from World End Pond in Salem on April 5th. 35 WOOD DUCKS were tallied at Morrill’s Farm in Penacook on April 6th, and over 75 were seen in the fields at West Portsmouth Street in Concord on the 4th. 90 RING-NECKED DUCKS were reported from the Deer Hill Wildlife Management Area in Brentwood on April 6th. 6 EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen at a birdfeeder, and a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was seen at the Pondicherry National Wildlife Refuge, all in Jefferson on April 3rd. 3 EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen in Lyme on the 5th. RUSTY BLACKBIRD sightings during the past week included 12 at Moore Fields along Route 155A in Durham on April 3rd, and a flock of 14 was seen near the New Hampshire Audubon McLane Center in Concord on the 8th. 2-3 FISH CROWS were heard near Horseshoe Pond in Concord, and several were reported from the coast, all during the past week. A PALM WARBLER was seen at Powderhouse Pond in Exeter on April 6th. 2 AMERICAN PIPITS were reported from the Concord Community Gardens near Clinton Street in Concord on April 4th. There were multiple reports of raptors during the past week, including: AMERICAN KESTRELS, MERLINS, PEREGRINE FALCONS, NORTHERN HARRIERS, OSPREYS, RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, RED-TAILED HAWKS, SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, COOPER’S HAWKS, and TURKEY VULTURES. Early-spring songbird reports during the past week included: more EASTERN PHOEBES, TREE SWALLOWS, and FOX SPARROWS, several PINE WARBLERS and EASTERN MEADOWLARKS, many KILLDEER and AMERICAN WOODCOCKS, several WILSON’S SNIPE, a few FIELD SPARROWS and CHIPPING SPARROWS, and 2 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKRS. 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 ****************************************************************