This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Monday, August 31st, 2020.
During the Corona virus outbreak NH Audubon encourages you to enjoy birding safely; please follow travel and social distance recommendations from state and federal authorities.
A SABINE’S GULL and a BLACK TERN were seen at Rye Harbor State Park on August 29th.
12 CASPIAN TERNS, 13 FORSTER’S TERNS, 30 COMMON TERNS, 11 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, and 5 LAUGHING GULLS were seen along the coast on August 29th.

A LITTLE GULL was seen along the coast in Rye on August 26th.
2 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS, a BAIRD’S SANDPIPER, and a STILT SANDPIPER were all seen at the Rochester Wastewater Treatment Plant during the past week. The treatment plant is gated and the hours of operation are 7:30-2:45 on weekdays only. If you visit, YOU MUST be out of the plant by 2:45 so that plant personnel do not have to ask birders to leave. Park in an assigned space, and do not drive on the dikes or block the roads. Be aware of on-going construction and do not obstruct any workers. Due to Covid-19, you do not need to check-in. The Trails at Pickering Ponds, located east of the plant, are not gated, and are always open during daylight hours.
A WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER was seen at Surrey Lane marsh in Durham on August 29th. A WESTERN SANDPIPER was seen in coastal Hampton on August 27th, and 29th.
2 RED KNOTS and 4 WHIMBRELS were seen in coastal Hampton on August 29th.
A LITTLE BLUE HERON was reported from the Copps Pond Wildlife Management Area in Tuftonboro on August 26th, 1 was seen at the Deer Hill Wildlife Management Area in Brentwood on the 27th, and 1 was seen in coastal Rye on the 28th.
A TRICOLORED HERON was seen in coastal Hampton during the past week, and was last reported on August 29th.
22 YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were seen in Hampton Marsh and 1 was seen along Route 1A in Seabrook, all on August 29th. 5 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were seen along the coast on the 29th, and 1 was seen in Hollis on the 25th.
There was an unconfirmed report of a GOLDEN EAGLE in Errol on August 30th.
2 MISSISSIPPI KITES were reported from Stratham on August 24th.
A family of 3 SANDHILL CRANES was seen in fields from Plains Road in Monroe on August 25th, and a family of 3 was seen in a field near the intersection of Routes 16 and 26 in Errol on the 28th.
5 NORTHERN SHOVELERS were seen on Pleasant Lake in New London on August 28th, and an AMERICAN WIGEON was seen at Thorne Pond in Bartlett on the 26th.
11 BLUE-WINGED TEAL were seen at the Hanover Center Reservoir, and 7 were seen at the Unsworth Preserve in Sandwich, all on August 31st.
A family of up to 6 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS (2 broods) continues to be seen at Bear Brook State Park and was last reported on August 30th.
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen and a DICKCISSEL was heard, both at The Glen at the First Connecticut Lake in Pittsburg on August 27th.
Numerous RED CROSSBILLS continue to be reported from appropriate habitat.
COMMON NIGHTHAWKS have been reported migrating south from several locations during the past week with high counts of 723 in Hancock on August 29th, and 355 in Concord on the 28th.
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New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert is sponsored by Bangor Savings Bank.
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 email. Please put either “bird sighting” or “Rare Bird Alert” in the subject line and be sure to include your mailing address and phone number.
Thanks very much and good birding.
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