This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Friday, April 6th, 2007.
The SANDHILL CRANE that has been spending the past few summers in Monroe has
returned. Traditionally, it has been seen in fields near Plains Road, and
along the CT River.
A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen at the Junction of Routes 12 and 12a
in Charlestown on March 31st. About 50 SNOW GEESE were reported here on
April 4th.
4 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, 2 NORTHERN PINTAILS, 4 AMERICAN WIGEON, 30
GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and numerous MALLARDS, AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, and CANADA
GEESE were seen at the Charlestown Great Meadows on Route 12 on April 3rd. A
EURASIAN COMMON TEAL was seen here on March 31st. Please restrict your
viewing here to the roadside and do not venture on to this private land.
The area above and below the dam on the Connecticut River in Hinsdale has
been a roost site for waterfowl during the past few weeks. The most recent
sightings have included 140 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 2 GADWALL, 10 AMERICAN
WIGEON, 40 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, a LESSER SCAUP, 2 GREATER SCAUP, and 60 TREE
SWALLOWS on April 3rd, and 62 COMMON GOLDENEYE on April 1st. The best way to
view the roost is from the bluff above the Connecticut River at the Vernon
dam. To reach the area, coming from Brattleboro on Rt. 119, make a sharp
right onto River Road 6.7 miles from the bridge. Follow River Rd. to the
end. Park on the right where the road ends and there is a gate for the
shooting range. Walk under the railroad trestle and up onto the shooting
range then scramble down the bank opposite the river to the old railbed.
Heading north along the railbed, watch for a gate on your left after about 2
tenths of a mile. There's a gate on the right too. Take the left at the gate
and follow that road for about 8 tenths of a mile. This road leads you right
out onto the bluff. A telescope is almost a necessity. At about 6:30 pm
waterfowl usually begin flying in from the fields to the south, increasing
in numbers until dark. The numbers have been diminishing as the ice has
melted on the river.
6 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, 90 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 6 GREEN-WINGED TEALS, and an
ICELAND GULL were reported from the Exeter Waste Water Treatment Plant on
April 5th.
A female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE continues to be seen in the ocean opposite the
stone-angel statue pull-off in Rye, and was last reported on March 31st.
About 150 SNOW GEESE were reported from a cow pasture on Route 28 in Epsom
near Webster Park on April 3rd.
The first winter BLACK-HEADED GULL that has been frequenting the Rochester
Wastewater Treatment plant was seen again on April 4th, along with 2 ICELAND
GULLS, and 35 WOOD DUCKS. 2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen among a
large gathering of over 2,000 HERRING and GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS in fields
east of the plant on Pickering Road, also on April 4th. The treatment plant
is gated and the hours of operation are 7:30-3:00 on weekdays. If you visit,
please check in at the office and be out of the plant by 2:45 so that plant
personnel do not have to ask birders to leave. Do not drive on the dikes and
do not block the road. The Trails at Pickering Ponds, located east of the
plant, are not gated, and are always open during daylight hours.
An ICELAND GULL was seen in Seabrook in a parking lot near the Yankee
Fisherman's Coop on April 4th.
17 BRANT were seen on rocks off of Great Boars Head in Hampton on April 3rd.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was reported from Warren Farm in Barrington on March 31st,
and again on April 5th.
A red-morph EASTERN SCREECH-OWL was discovered in Greenland on March 30th,
and was last reported on April 4th. It has been seen near a driveway at 109
Portsmouth Avenue just north of the intersection with Newington Road. It
roosts in an oak tree on the south side of road, and can sometimes be seen
when looking northeast from southwest of the driveway. Be careful of the
traffic here.
24 WILSON'S SNIPE were seen on Krif Road in Keene on April 5th, 36 were seen
in fields off Newington Road in Greenland on April 4th, and 14 were seen in
fields south of Great Bay farm on Newington Road in Greenland on March 31st.
A MERLIN was reported from Goose Pond Forest in Keene on April 2nd.
9 EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen visiting a feeder in Warner on April 4th.
Over 100 TREE SWALLOWS were seen at the Granite Street Bridge in Manchester
on March 31st.
A PINE WARBLER was seen in Concord on April 1st, and one was reported from
Madbury on April 3rd.
An early returning EASTERN KINGBIRD was reported from Gilmanton on April
4th.
Good numbers of waterfowl have continued to be reported from many ponds,
lakes and rivers around the state, including RING-NECKED DUCKS, COMMON and
HOODED MERGANSERS, WOOD DUCKS, COMMON GOLDENEYE, and BUFFLEHEADS.
Other sightings of early returning migrants during the past week included
OSPREY, BROAD-WINGED HAWK, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, AMERICAN KESTREL, TURKEY
VULTURE, KILLDEER, EASTERN PHOEBE, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, GREATER YELLOWLEGS,
NORTHERN FLICKER, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, HERMIT THRUSH, EASTERN
MEADOWLARK, EASTERN TOWHEE, FOX SPARROW, and CHIPPING SPARROW.
This message is also available by phone recording: call 224-9900 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 tape 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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