This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, December 
26th, 2012.



An immature RED-HEADED WOODPECKER has been coming to a feeder in Alexandria 
since December 13th, and was last reported on the 24th.



An immature BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen in coastal Rye on December 25th.



2 ICELAND GULLS were seen at the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant, and a 
GLAUCOUS GULL was seen at Hampton Harbor, all on December 23rd.



A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was discovered among nearly 800 CANADA GEESE 
in the Suncook River off of School Street in Pembroke on December 13th. It 
has been reported several times since then, most recently on the 23rd.



A CACKLING GOOSE was seen flying in Durham on December 20th.



2 DOVEKIES and an unidentified JAEGER were seen along the coast in North 
Hampton on December 21st.



A RAZORBILL was reported from the coast on December 23rd.



A possible HOARY REDPOLL was seen with a flock of about 50 COMMON REDPOLLS 
in Goffstown on December 25th. Additional COMMON REDPOLL SIGHTINGS during 
the past week included: 19 in Rochester on December 17th, 12 in New London 
on the 20th, 69 in Penacook on the 22nd, 150 in Stratham on the 23rd, 7 in 
Barrington on the 24th, and 6 in Effingham on the 24th.



PINE GROSBEAK sightings during the past week included: 35 in Rochester on 
December 18th, 10 in Pembroke on the 19th, 10 in Concord on the 20th, 14 in 
Stratham on the 23rd, and 3 in Salem on the 24th.



2 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS and a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET were reported from 
Penacook on December 22nd.



A FISH CROW was reported from Manchester on December 24th.



A NORTHERN PINTAIL was seen in the Suncook River in Pittsfield on December 
20th, and 2 were seen at Eel Pond in Rye on the 24th.



Over 40 RUDDY DUCKS and a LESSER SCAUP were seen at Beaver Lake in Derry on 
December 21st.



8 SNOW BUNTINGS were seen in Dummer on December 24th.



10 BALD EAGLES were seen in Dummer on December 24th.



A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen at Horseshoe Pond in Concord on December 21st.



A BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was seen at Hampton Beach State Park, and 33 LESSER 
SCAUP were seen at Eel Pond in Rye, all on December 21st.



12 PURPLE SANDPIPERS were seen at Hampton Beach State Park on December 23rd.



A late-migrating HERMIT THRUSH was seen in Rochester on December 18th, and 1 
was reported from Etna on the 26th.



A late-migrating GRAY CATBIRD was seen in Westmoreland on December 22nd.



The annual Pittsburg Christmas Bird Count was held on December 18th, and 
tallied 36 species. Highlights included: 4 COMMON LOONS, 2 BALD EAGLES, 1 
BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER, 2 NORTHERN SHRIKES, 11 GRAY JAYS, 52 BOREAL 
CHICKADEES, 100 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, 5 NORTHERN CARDINALS, 27 PINE 
GROSBEAKS, 6 RED CROSSBILLS, 221 COMMON REDPOLLS, and a HOARY REDPOLL.



The annual Errol Christmas Bird Count was held on December 19th, and tallied 
34 species. Highlights included: 1 COMMON GOLDENEYE, 6 BALD EAGLES, 1 
NORTHERN SHRIKE, 20 GRAY JAYS, 6 BOREAL CHICKADEES, 63 RED-BREASTED 
NUTHATCHES, 4 NORTHERN CARDINALS, 55 PINE GROSBEAKS, 6 RED CROSSBILLS, 24 
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, 172 COMMON REDPOLLS, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, and a 
TUFTED TITMOUSE.



The annual Lee/Durham Christmas Bird Count was held on December 22nd, and 
tallied 79 species. Highlights included: 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER, 1 
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, 2 RED CROSSBILLS, 4 RUDDY DUCKS, 3 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 
1 EASTERN SCREECH OWL, 1 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, 3 TURKEY VULTURES, 3 
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, 1 BOHEMIAN WAXWING, 2 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, 1 
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, 3 AMERICAN PIPITS, 2 HERMIT THRUSHES, 1 FIELD 
SPARROW, 2 CHIPPING SPARROWS, 36 PINE GROSBEAKS, and an EVENING GROSBEAK.



The annual Littleton Christmas Bird Count was held on December 23rd, and 
tallied 41 species. Highlights included: 1 AMERICAN KESTREL, 1 BLACK-BACKED 
WOODPECKER, 1 NORTHERN SHRIKE, 1 GRAY CATBIRD, 75 PINE GROSBEAKS, 6 
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, 160 COMMON REDPOLLS, 30 PINE SISKINS, and an 
EVENING GROSBEAK.



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.