This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, April 2nd, 2014. A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen in the area of the Vernon Dam on the Connecticut River on March 24th and 25th, and again on March 29th. A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen in Walpole on March 30th, but it was thought to be a different individual than the one seen near the Vernon Dam. Possibly as many as 8 SNOWY OWLS were seen during the past week, including 1 in coastal Seabrook on March 29th, 4 in coastal Hampton on the 29th, 1 at the Pease International Tradeport near McIntyre Road in Newington on the 29th, 1 in Rye near Rye Harbor State Park on the 29th, and 1 in Sandwich on April 2nd. The SNOWY OWL in Rye was also seen on several other days. An unusually early spring-season sighting of 2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS was reported from the fields adjacent Horseshoe Pond in Concord on March 30th. A GLAUCOUS GULL was seen in Salem on March 30th, 1 was seen in Seabrook on the 29th, and 1 was seen in Hampton on the 29th. A RAZORBILL and 4 BLACK GUILLEMOTS were seen along the coast on March 29th. A male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was seen in Hampton marsh on March 29th. A REDHEAD was seen on Great Bay from the Great Bay Discovery Center in Greenland on March 27th. A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen on the Merrimack River in Boscawen on March 21st, 23rd, and 29th. A PIED-BILLED GREBE and a BUFFLEHEAD were seen in Nashua on April 1st. 2 LESSER SCAUP were reported from Nashua on April 2nd. An estimated 40 SNOW GEESE and over 7,000 CANADA GEESE were reported from the Connecticut River area between Hinsdale and Walpole on March 30th, and 31st. Other waterfowl tallied on March 29th from the same area included: a GADWALL, a NORTHERN PINTAIL, 3 AMERICAN WIGEON, 2 GREATER SCAUP, 5 BUFFLEHEADS, 50 WOOD DUCKS, 50 RING-NECKED DUCKS, 82 COMMON GOLDENEYES, and 49 HOODED MERGANSERS. Also present were 4 BALD EAGLES, 2 PEREGRINE FALCONS, a MERLIN, and a NORTHERN HARRIER. A possible GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE x CANADA GOOSE hybrid was reported at Moore Fields on Route 155A in Durham on April Fool’s Day. A NORTHERN PINTAIL was seen on the Merrimack River in Concord, and a pair of AMERICAN WIGEON was seen in Rye on March 29th. About 70 COMMON MERGANSERS were seen on the Squamscott River in Exeter during the past week. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen in Salem, and 1 was reported from Plainfield, both on March 28th. 2 SNOW BUNTINGS were reported from Hanover on April 1st. 2 EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen in Etna on April 2nd. A YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was seen in Durham on April 2nd. 2 FISH CROWS were reported from Rochester on March 27th, 1 was seen in Somersworth on the 28th, and 2 were reported from Nashua on April 2nd. 2 GREAT EGRETS and a GREATER YELLOWLEGS were seen in marshes along the coast on March 29th. A PEREGRINE FALCON was seen in Concord, and 2 were seen along the coast, all on March 29th. A pair of PEREGRINE FALCONS is nesting on the Brady-Sullivan Tower in Manchester. They can be viewed via webcam at: http://www.spectraaccess.com/?page_id=494 The camera times-out after 2-minutes, but you can re-access it whenever you want. With the change of months and the seasonable weather has been a flood of reports of returning migrants, including: TREE SWALLOW, EASTERN PHOEBE, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, HERMIT THRUSH, WINTER WREN, FOX SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, KILLDEER, BELTED KINGFISHER, GREAT BLUE HERON, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, COMMON GRACKLE, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, and TURKEY VULTURE. Also, sightings of raptors and inland waterfowl are on the rise as the snow and ice disappear. 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. To contact the list owner: [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------- Web based archives and subscription management are available at: http://listserv.dartmouth.edu/Archives/uv-birders.html ****************************************************************