This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, March 6th, 2017. A GREAT GRAY OWL was discovered in Newport on February 25th, was relocated on March 1st, and has been seen every day since then. To look for the bird, take Route 10 to Oak Street and drive about 0.3 miles to the rail trail located on the north side of Oak Street just past Kyle Drive. The bird has been seen hunting in the fields located on the east side of the rail trail about 0.1-0.2 miles north of Oak Street, and the most reliable viewing time is late afternoon. When you park, be sure not to block driveways and respect privacy. Please do not approach the owl too closely, do not play recordings, and do not disturb it. For more about owl viewing etiquette, open this link (originally written to apply for Snowy Owls, but also applicable to Great Gray Owls): http://www.nhaudubon.org/snowy-owl-viewing-observe-without-disturbing/ An immature RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was reported from a birdfeeder located behind a house in Epping on February 12th, and it has been seen nearly every day since then, and was last reported on March 6th. A MEW GULL was reported from the parking lot near the Sears store at the Mall at Rockingham Park on March 1st and 2nd. A GLAUCOUS GULL continues to be seen on the Seabrook side of Hampton Harbor and was last reported on March 5th. An ICELAND GULL was seen at Rockingham Park in Salem on March 1st, and 1 was seen flying over Great Bay in Stratham on the 5th. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen at NH Audubon’s Thompson Sanctuary in North Sandwich on March 2nd, 1was seen in fields north of Oak Street in Newport on the 2nd, 4th, and 6th, 1 was seen at the Keene Airport in Swanzey on the 5th, and there was an unconfirmed sighting of one in Epping on March 3rd. A male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was seen on the Oyster River from Jackson Landing in Durham on March 6th. A CACKLING GOOSE was reported from Great Meadow in Charlestown, and 3 BRANT were seen in coastal Hampton, all on February 28th. An estimated 7,000 CANADA GEESE were tallied in the lower Connecticut River valley on March 1st. Also present was a SNOW GOOSE, and a NORTHERN PINTAIL. A pair of AMERICAN WIGEON was seen in the upper Connecticut River valley on the 2nd. A NORTHERN PINTAIL was seen on Horseshoe Pond in Merrimack on February 28th. 9 RAZORBILLS were seen off of Seabrook Beach on March 5th. 3 PURPLE SANDPIPERS were seen in coastal Rye on March 5th. BOHEMIAN WAXWING sightings during the past week included: 120 in Plymouth on February 28th, 14 in North Sandwich on the 28th, 60 in Hanover on the 27th, 300 in New London on March 4th, 17 in Hooksett on the 3rd, 25 in Moultonborough on March 5th, and a large flock was reported from Etna on the 4th. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen in Dummer on March 4th. A pair of MERLINS was seen in Hanover on February 28th. A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was seen in Durham on March 5th. There were several FISH CROW sightings during the past week. There were numerous FOX SPARROW sightings during the past week, and an over-wintering CHIPPING SPARROW continues to be seen in Pittsfield. A GREAT BLUE HERON was seen in Peterborough on March 1st. Many early-returning migrants including COMMON GRACKLES, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS, BELTED KINGFISHERS, AMERICAN WOODCOCK, and KILLDEER have been reported during the past week. Raptor activity is on the rise as many are courting and establishing territories. Species reported during the past week included: AMERICAN KESTREL, MERLIN, PEREGRINE FALCON, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, NORTHERN HARRIER, and BALD EAGLE. 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