This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Thursday, January 15th, 2009. A probable GLAUCOUS WINGED GULL was seen at the Rochester Wastewater Treatment Plant on January 10th. A THAYER'S GULL was seen here on the 12th, and several LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, and over 10 GLAUCOUS GULLS, and over 10 ICELAND GULLS are being seen here regularly. 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. A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen at the town landing on the Lamprey River in Newmarket on January 12th, and one was seen at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye on the 10th. A NORTHERN HAWK OWL was found near 181 Coe Hill Road in Center Harbor on January 12th, and was last reported on the 15th. To try to see the owl take Coe Hill Road from Main Street near the Post Office, and follow this road about 0.9 miles. The owl has been seen in different trees mainly just past the house at 181. The location is on a curve on a hilly snow-covered road so park on a straight section of road and walk to the site. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen here on the 12th. A SNOWY OWL was located in Milford on December 27th and has been seen several times since then with the most recent report from January 10th. The owl has been seen in the fields located behind Hayward's Ice Cream on Elm Street in Milford. A SNOWY OWL continues to be seen near Ragged Neck along Route 1A in Rye, with the most recent report being from January 10th. There was an unconfirmed report of a GOLDEN EAGLE in Nashua on January 10th. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen in Concord on January 13th, and a MERLIN was seen in Rye on the 10th. 4 RAZORBILLS and a probable THICK-BILLED MURRE were seen from Fort Stark in New Castle, and 3 BLACK GUILLEMOTS were seen from Pulpit Rocks in Rye, all on January 10th. A male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE continues to be seen from Great Boar's Head in Hampton and was last reported on January 9th, and one was seen on Lake Wantastiquet in Hinsdale on the 10th. 4 SNOW GEESE were seen in New Castle on January 11th. 2 LESSER SCAUP and 2 GREATER SCAUP were seen at the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant, and 3 NORTHERN PINTAILS were seen in downtown Exeter, all on January 10th. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen in North Conway on January 15th, and one was seen in Keene on the 9th. 8 PINE GROSBEAKS were seen along Route 16 near 73 Main Street in Conway on January 14th, and 2 were seen in Dummer on the 11th. 40 EVENING GROSBEAKS, a PINE GROSBEAK, 2 COMMON REDPOLLS and a NORTHERN SHRIKE were reported from a feeder in Jefferson on January 12th. 10 EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen in Gilsum on January 13th, 12 were reported from Surry on the 9th, and 12 were seen in Enfield Center on the 8th. A RED CROSSBILL was reported from Hancock on January 14th, and 2 were reported from Rochester on the 10th. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS continue to be reported from scattered locations with high numbers of 56 in New Castle on the 11th, and 25 in Keene on the 9th. BOHEMIAN WAXWING sightings rose dramatically during the past week with high numbers of 400 in North Conway on January 11th, 300 in Plymouth on the 13th, 50 in Conway on the 14th, 40 in Wolfeboro on the 15th, and 20 in Hanover on the 9th. 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS were reported from River Road in Walpole on January 14th, and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was seen in New Castle on January 11th. An immature GREAT CORMORANT was seen at the end of Water Street in Laconia, actively diving at the mouth of the Winnipesaukee River on January 13th. 2 CAROLINA WRENS were seen in Epping, and a HERMIT THRUSH was seen in Gilsum, all on January 13th. There has been a large invasion of PINE SISKINS reported from throughout the state during the past week, and there have also been scattered sightings of COMMON REDPOLLS, SNOW BUNTINGS, and HORNED LARKS from coastal and inland sites. There have also been scattered sightings of PURPLE SANDPIPERS along the coast during the past week. 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. 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