This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Monday, February 22, 2021.

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.

2 SHORT-EARED OWLS, possibly a pair, were seen hunting over fields and marshes from Airport Road in Swanzey on February 21st.

A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW continues to be seen in Concord and was last reported on February 19th.

A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues to be seen in trees along fields on Old Concord Road in Henniker, and was last reported on February 20th. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues to be seen in trees along Jordan Road between #175 and #205 in Keene and was last reported on the 20th.

A NORTHERN SHRIKE was reported from Strafford on February 19th, and 1 has been seen in Hancock during the past week.

A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen along Route 63 in Hinsdale on February 22nd.

A pair of PEREGRINE FALCONS was reported from Concord on February 19th.

A THICK-BILLED MURRE was seen off of Great Boar’s Head in Hampton, and 2 were seen off of Pulpit Rocks on Rye, all on February 21st. Several RAZORBILLS and BLACK GUILLEMOTS were seen at the coast during the past week.

A BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was seen at Stark Landing on the Merrimack River in Manchester on February 17th and again nearby on the 20th, and 2 were seen from the River Walk on the 21st. A female was seen at Sewall’s Falls in Concord on the 21st.

3 GADWALLS were seen at Jackson’s Landing in Durham, and a WOOD DUCK and a LESSER SCAUP were seen in Laconia, all on February 20th.

A flock of about 40 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS was seen near Main Street in New London on February 20th and 21st. Also, a flock of 18 was seen in Sunapee, and a flock of about 20 was seen in Enfield, all on the 16th.

A flock of 73 EVENING GROSBEAKS was seen in Jefferson on February 18th.

Recent PINE GROSBEAK sightings included 25 at Trudeau Road in Bethlehem on February 21st, 14 in Concord on the 19th, and scattered reports of small numbers during the past week.

There were only a few WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL sightings reported during the past week. Recent RED CROSSBILL sightings included 12 in Swanzey, and 9 in Keene.

2 HOARY REDPOLLS were reported from the south side of Brick Yard Pond at Keene State College on February 22nd, and scattered sightings of COMMON REDPOLLS, including flocks of 10-50 were reported from around the state during the past week.

2 SNOW BUNTINGS were seen at the Marston Elementary School grounds in Hampton on February 19th.

A TOWNSEND’S WARBLER that was first reported at birdfeeders in Derry on December 30th, continues to be seen there, and was last reported on February 14th.

A PINE WARBLER was seen in Auburn on February 17th, and 20th.

A BALTIMORE ORIOLE was seen in Stratham on February 19th.

An EASTERN PHOEBE and a WINTER WREN were seen at NH Audubon’s Abe Emerson Marsh Wildlife Refuge in Candia on several days during the past week.

A flock of about 65 COMMON GRACKLES was seen in Exeter on February 21st.

Late-migrating species reported during the past week included; SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, MERLIN. RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, TURKEY VULTURE, NORTHERN FLICKER, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, HERMIT THRUSH, GRAY CATBIRD, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, EASTERN TOWHEE, CHIPPING SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, SAVANNAH SPARROW, RUSTY BLACKBIRD, and FISH CROW.

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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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