-RBA *New Hampshire *December 26, 2016 *NHNH1226.16 This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, December 26th, 2016. A female HARLEQUIN DUCK was seen in Rye Harbor on December 24th. A male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was seen between the Granite Street Bridge and the Notre Dame Bridge on the Merrimack River in Manchester on December 26th. A CACKLING GOOSE was seen at Fox Hill Point in North Hampton on December 26th. A GADWALL was seen in Seabrook Marsh from Route 286 on December 25th. A female WOOD DUCK was seen at Horseshoe Pond in Merrimack on December 23rd. A GLAUCOUS GULL continues to be seen in Seabrook, and was last reported from near Hampton Harbor on December 25th. This may be the same bird that has over-wintered here for the last 9-10 years. An ICELAND GULL was seen on the Merrimack River north of the Bridge Street parking lot on December 25th, and 1 was seen at Rye Harbor on the 24th. A BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE and 16 NORTHERN GANNETS were seen off the coast on December 24th, and 28 BONAPARTE’S GULLS were seen off the coast of Rye on the 25th. 49 RAZORBILLS were tallied along the coast in Rye on December 25th with the majority being seen from the south end of Odiorne Point State Park. 2 RAZORBILLS were seen off of Seabrook Beach on the 24th. 3 BLACK GUILLEMOTS were seen off the coast in Rye on December 25th. 31 PURPLE SANDPIPERS were seen at Rye Ledge in Rye on December 24th. An immature NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen in Sunapee on December 21st and again on the 23rd. It was seen in the marshy section of the Sugar River that runs parallel to Route 11 between Treatment Plant Road and Sleeper Road. 7 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen along Route 10 in Orford on December 23rd. A flock of 9 SNOW BUNTINGS was seen near the ER parking lot at the Monadnock Community Hospital in Peterborough on December 26th, and 5 were seen flying over Hampton Marsh on the 25th. 23 EVENING GROSBEAKS and 32 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS were seen visiting bird feeders at a private residence in Jefferson on December 25th. A male EVENING GROSBEAK was seen visiting a birdfeeder in Lempster on December 20th. 2 AMERICAN PIPITS were seen at Rye Harbor State Park on December 25th. A PINE WARBLER was seen at a private residence in Litchfield on December 25th. A YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was seen in Nashua on December 25th. A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was seen at Pickering Ponds in Rochester on December 23rd. A FIELD SPARROW was seen at the Strafford County Farm in Dover, and a CHIPPING SPARROW was seen at Woodmont Orchard in Hollis, both on December 20th. A BELTED KINGFISHER was seen in Seabrook on December 24th. An AMERICAN KESTREL was seen at Woodmont Orchard in Hollis on December 22nd, and a NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen in Etna on the 24th. A NORTHERN HARRIER was seen in Seabrook on December 23rd, and a COOPER’S HAWK was seen in Seabrook on the 25th. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen on the water tower in Hampton on the 24th. Highlights from the Keene Christmas Bird Count held on December 18th included: a possible VARIED THRUSH, a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, a MERLIN, a RING-NECKED DUCK, a HERMIT THRUSH, and a NORTHERN FLICKER. Highlights from the Manchester Christmas Bird Count held on December 18th included: a BARROW’S GOLDENEYE, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, a NORTHERN FLICKER, and an EASTERN TOWHEE. Highlights from the Concord Christmas Bird Count held on December 18th included: a MERLIN, 5 BALD EAGLES, 2 BELTED KINGFISHERS, 32 HORNED LARKS, 7 CAROLINA WRENS, 44 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, and a GRAY CATBIRD. Highlights from the Littleton Christmas Bird Count held on December 20th included: a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, a BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, a BOREAL CHICKADEE, a CAROLINA WREN, a BOHEMIAN WAXWING, a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, 41 PINE GROSBEAKS, and 28 EVENING GROSBEAKS. The Christmas Bird Count takes place every year in designated areas called “count circles”. These circles are 15 miles in diameter and stay the same from year to year. International in scope, the Christmas Bird Count is organized and compiled by the National Audubon Society, who coordinates all count circles so they don’t overlap. There are 21 counts in New Hampshire, and participation is open to all interested birders, from beginners to experts. Many count circles are coordinated by NH Audubon Chapters. Each count circle is surveyed on its own particular day, between December 14 and January 5. Teams go outside and survey sections of the count circle, but there are also feeder watchers within the circle who tally the birds in their backyards. A list of the state’s Christmas Bird Counts and who to contact if you are interested in participating can be found at this link: http://nhbirdrecords.org/new-hampshire-birding-resources/new-hampshire-christmas-bird-count/ This message is also available by phone recording: call (603) 224-9909 and press 4 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. 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