This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Monday, March 15th, 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.

A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen at Mount Monadnock in Jaffrey on March 11th, and 1 was seen at Pitcher Mountain in Stoddard on the 12th.

2 SHORT-EARED OWLS, possibly a pair, were first seen hunting over fields and marshes from Airport Road in Swanzey on February 21st. They have been seen several times since then and a third SHORT-EARED OWL joined them on March 6th. 2 were last reported on March 10th. 2 NORTHERN HARRIERS were seen in the same area on the 11th. Another SHORT-EARED OWL was seen in coastal Rye on March 13th.

A SNOWY OWL was seen at Hampton Beach State Park on March 11th.

A BLACK VULTURE was reported from Dover on March 15th. A flock of 17 TURKEY VULTURES was seen in Plymouth on the 12th, and a flock of 18 was seen in Keene on the 10th.

A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues to be seen in trees along Jordan Road in Keene, and was last reported on March 10th.

A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen in Newington on March 14th, 1 was seen in Cornish on the 12th, and 1 was seen in Sandwich on the 10th.

A THICK-BILLED MURRE was seen off of the coast in Rye on March 10th.

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was seen at the boat launch on the Connecticut River in Westmoreland on March 14th.

A SNOW GOOSE was reported from Hinsdale on March 13th, and 1 was seen in coastal Rye on the 13th and 14th.

A BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was seen at Stark Landing on the Merrimack River in Manchester on March 13th, and 1 was seen along the coast in Rye on the 13th.

A EURASIAN WIGEON was reported from the south end of Great Bay on March 7th and 9th. A CANVASBACK was seen on March 9th, and 3 REDHEADS were seen on the 11th, also at the south end of Great Bay.

A LESSER SCAUP and a pair of NORTHERN PINTAILS were seen on the Merrimack River in Concord on March 12th, and 718 RING-NECKED DUCKS were counted on Powwow Pond in Kingston on March 14th.

A RED-THROATED LOON and a WHITE-WINGED SCOTER were seen near Hilton Park in Dover during the past week.

Single PIED-BILLED GREBES were reported from Salem, Brentwood, and Kingston during the past week.

A PIPING PLOVER was seen at Hampton Beach State Park on March 13th.

A flock of over 35 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS was seen in New London on March 13th, and a flock of 25 was seen in North Conway on the 10th.

9 PINE GROSBEAKS and 30 EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen at a private residence in Jefferson on March 13th.

Recent WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS sightings included 25 in Swanzey on March 11th, 13 in Penacook on the 11th, and 10 at Mount Monadnock on the 9th.

Recent RED CROSSBILL sightings included 15 in Portsmouth on March 10th, 14 in Rye on the 13th, 20 in Auburn on the 13th, 11 in Lempster on the 8th, and 14 in Keene on the 8th. Small numbers of both CROSSBILL species continue to be reported from scattered locations.

A HOARY REDPOLL was seen in Marlborough on March 12th.

2 AMERICAN PIPITS were seen along the Connecticut River in Hinsdale on March 12th, and 1 was seen in Rye on the 14th.

A PINE WARBLER was reported from Hollis on March 9th.

EASTERN PHOEBE sightings reported during the past week included 1 in Candia,1 in Exeter, 1 in Newington, 1 in Hollis, 1 in Kingston, and 1 in Seabrook.

Several returning AMERICAN WOODCOCK and KILLDEER were reported during the past week. A WILSON’S SNIPE was seen in Portsmouth on March 9th.

Over-wintering species reported during the past week included; GREEN-WINGED TEAL, BLACKED-BELLIED PLOVER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, AMERICAN KESTREL, MERLIN, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, NORTHERN FLICKER, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, HERMIT THRUSH, GRAY CATBIRD, WINTER WREN, EASTERN TOWHEE, CHIPPING SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, SWAMP SPARROW, SAVANNAH SPARROW, 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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