This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, December 18th, 2017. A VARIED THRUSH was seen in Hancock on December 16th. It was seen associating with AMERICAN ROBINS in a wetland along Route 123 about a quarter of a mile south of the Antrim town line. The birds appeared to be foraging on winterberry. Parking is roadside only or you could park at the junction with Willard Pond Road and walk north. A WESTERN TANAGER was seen at a private residence in Dover on December17th. A BLACK VULTURE was seen soaring over Westmoreland on December 16th. A male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was seen at Stark Landing on the Merrimack River in Manchester on December 16th and 17th. A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen on Lake Sunapee on December 16th. A PIED-BILLED GREBE was seen in Errol on December 15th and 17th. A flock of over 200 COMMON MERGANSERS was seen on Paugus Bay in Laconia on December 17th. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen in Concord on December 14th, and again on the 17th. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen in Amherst on December 18th. An immature RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was seen in Hampstead on December 13th. An EASTERN SCREECH-OWL was seen in Derry on December 16th. A flock of about 150 CEDAR WAXWINGS was seen in Bedford on December 12th. An estimated 24 HORNED LARKS were seen foraging in exposed grass at Pinnacleview Equipment in Walpole on December 13th. A YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was seen at a birdfeeder in Errol on December 15th. Small flocks of RED CROSSBILLS were reported from Dublin, Hancock, Lempster, Sunapee, and New London during the past week. 5 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were seen at the summit of Mount Potash on December 17th. A FOX SPARROW was seen in Hanover on December 16th. 29 FISH CROWS were reported from Salem on December 12th. The Coastal Christmas Bird Count was held on December 16th. Highlights included: 4 SNOW GEESE, 2 EURASIAN WIGEONS, a RUDDY DUCK, 3 NORTHERN PINTAILS, a NORTHERN SHOVELER, 8 LESSER SCAUP, 3 GADWALL, 2 REDHEADS, a MERLIN, 3 PEREGRINE FALCONS, 4 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 12 RAZORBILLS, 4 SNOWY OWLS, 2 SHORT-EARED OWLS, 18 EASTERN SCREECH-OWLS, 5 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS, 17 HERMIT THRUSHES, a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 53 TURKEY VULTURES, 7 FOX SPARROWS, 3 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, a KILLDEER, 2 CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, 10 AMERICAN PIPITS, 4 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, a DICKCISSEL, a PINE GROSBEAK, 3 RED CROSSBILLS, a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, 7 GRAY CATBIRDS, 2 YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS, a CAPE MAY WARBLER, an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, a YELLOW WARBLER, and a PINE WARBLER. The Manchester Christmas Bird Count was held on December 16th. Species highlights included: BALD EAGLE, COOPER’S HAWK, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, PEREGRINE FALCON, BARRED OWL, EASTERN SCREECH-OWL, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, NORTHERN FLICKER, CAROLINA WREN, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, HERMIT THRUSH, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, GRAY CATBIRD, and FOX SPARROW. The Lee/Durham Christmas Bird Count was held on December 17th. Highlights included: a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, 2 CHIPPING SPARROWS, 2 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, a WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL, 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, 6 TURKEY VULTURES, a RING-NECKED DUCK, a PINE WARBLER, a WOOD DUCK, and a DICKCISSEL. The Concord Christmas Bird Count was held on December 17th. Highlights included: a BELTED KINGFISHER, a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, a PEREGRINE FALCON, 14 HORNED LARKS, a HERMIT THRUSH, a GRAY CATBIRD, a SWAMP SPARROW, over 70 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, a RED CROSSBILL, and a PINE SISKIN. 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. 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] To unsubscribe: E-mail this command to [log in to unmask] UNSUBSCRIBE UV-Birders To change your e-mail address: E-mail this command from your old address to: [log in to unmask] CHANGE UV-Birders [new e-mail address] Web based archives and subscription management are available at: http://listserv.dartmouth.edu/Archives/uv-birders.html