This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012.
A SNOWY OWL was seen at Fort Constitution in New Castle on May 17th, but has not been relocated. Also present at the same time were a number of nesting CLIFF SWALLOWS, which nest at this site annually.
A male KING EIDER was seen from Star Island, one of the coastal Isles of Shoals on May 20th.
A MISSISSIPPI KITE was seen in Newmarket on May 19th. A few MISSISSIPPI KITES have been nesting in this town for the past several years. In past years, one of the best sites to watch from for these birds is in front of the elementary school located on South Main Street. Scan high in the sky on warm mornings and afternoons.
A SANDHILL CRANE was seen several times during the past week in the open grassy habitat in the center of Alexandria and may still be present.
A CATTLE EGRET was seen in Portsmouth on May 22nd, but has not been relocated.
A CLAPPER RAIL was reported from Hampton Marsh behind Little Jack’s restaurant on the west side of Route 1A on May 19th.
2 LEAST BITTERNS and an AMERICAN BITTERN were reported from Surry Lane Marsh in Durham on May 19th.
A male RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was seen at the Exeter Wastewater Treatment Plant on May 19th.
An ACADIAN FLYCATCHER was seen along railroad tracks north of Horseshoe Pond in Concord on May 23rd. Directions: If you do not know where Horseshoe Pond is on Commercial Street off I-393, search Mapquest on your computer and enter “1 Horseshoe Pond Place.” Walk the railroad track that bisects Horseshoe Pond at the western end of the pond, NOT the tracks behind the office buildings. The track goes straight for about a mile (heading north), then curves to the right and goes through some woods. You will come to a field on the right after about 1.5 miles. Be aware that these are the NH State Prison fields, and respect any No Trespassing signs. Look for a row of planted red pines at the edge of the field, and where the row ends at a small pond, listen for the unique “pizza” call. The bird favors an elm adjacent to this small pond and a nearby leafless tree..
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW continues to be seen from Arboretum Drive in Newington, and was last reported from May 19th.
A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was seen at Morrill’s Farm in Penacook on May 19th.
A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW and 3 UPLAND SANDPIPERS were seen on McIntyre Road in Newington on May 17th.
A GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER was seen in Hampton on May 18th, but has not been relocated.
A CAPE MAY WARBLER was seen at the Pondicherry National Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson on May 18th, and 1 was reported from Durham on the 19th.
3 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS were seen in Waterville Valley on May 18th.
6 NORTHERN SHOVELERS were seen at Airport Marsh in Whitefield on May 18th.
88 BRANT were seen in Hampton Harbor on May 17th.
A RED KNOT was seen in Hampton Harbor on May 19th.
A YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was seen in Exeter on May 23rd.
A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was reported from Westmoreland on May 18th, 1 was reported from Keene on the 18th, and 1 was heard in Pittsfield on May 23rd.
2 ORCHARD ORIOLES were seen along the Trails at Pickering Ponds in Rochester Road on May 17th, and 1 was seen at Horseshoe Pond in Concord on May 23rd.
An AMERICAN PIPIT was seen in Seabrook on May 17th.
An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was seen in Durham on May 16th, and 1 was seen in Exeter on the 19th.
A ROSEATE TERN, 2 ARCTIC TERNS, over 200 COMMON TERNS, 16 BLACK GUILLEMOTS, 12 PURPLE SANDPIPERS, and 2 RUDDY TURNSTONES were seen on and around the Isles of Shoals on May 19th.
A SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 3 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, 4 LEAST SANDPIPERS, and 2 SEMIPAMATED PLOVERS were seen in a flooded cornfield in Charlestown on May 17th.
A COMMON NIGHTHAWK was reported from Hanover on May 21st.
A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was reported from Webster on May 18th.
4 EVENING GROSBEAKS were reported from Pawtuckaway State Park, and 1 was reported from New Hampton, all on May 19th.
Over 425 CHIMNEY SWIFTS were tallied in Concord on May 19th.
A pair of PEREGRINE FALCONS is nesting in Manchester and has already begun hatching eggs. Webcam link: http://www.spectraaccess.com/falcon2/
Thanks very much and good birding.
