This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Monday, May 11th, 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 COMMON GALLINULE was seen at the Deer Hill Wildlife Management Area in Brentwood on May 6th and 7th, 1 was seen at Hoit Marsh in Concord on May 10th, and 1 was seen in the marshes along Airport Road in Swanzey on May 10th.
A male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE continues to be seen near the dam on the Androscoggin River in Errol, and was last reported on May 10th.
A few late-season ducks were reported during the past week, including a pair of GADWALL in Hampton, a pair of RING-NECKED DUCKS in Durham, a pair of GREATER SCAUP in Great Bay, and BUFFLEHEADS in Gilmanton Iron Works, Lyman, Littleton, Madison, and Rochester. 10 RING-NECKED DUCKS were seen at Cherry Pond in Jefferson on May 9th.
A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen on the Connecticut River near the Kilowatt South Park on May 9th.
A LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, 2 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and 7 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS were seen on the coast on May 9th, and a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was seen there on the 8th.
A WILLET was reported from Adam’s Point in Durham on May 7th.
3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS and 2 LESSER YELLOWLEGS were seen at a gravel pit in Sandwich on May 4th. A GREATER YELLOWLEGS was seen at Airport Marsh in Whitefield, and 19 were seen at Adams Point in Durham, all on the 9th.
3 COMMON TERNS were seen at Adams Point in Durham on May 9th.
A GREAT EGRET was seen at Reed’s Marsh in Orford on May 10th.
There was an unconfirmed report of a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK seen flying in Merrimack on May 10th.
A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen in Hancock on May 10th.
A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was discovered along North River Road near Burley Farm in Epping on October 5th, and was last reported on May 9th. To look for the bird, locate the SELT trailhead north of Burley Farm on North River Road and walk the trail east to a mixed-age forest overlooking a large wetland. Listen for a dry-rattle. A pair of RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continues to be seen at Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown and was last reported on May 10th. Another RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues to be seen along Meloon Road in Greenland, and was last reported on May 9th. Another RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was reported from Derry on May 7th.
2 RED CROSSBILLS were reported from Mountain Road in Newbury on May 11th.
A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was reported from the Concord Airport on May 10th.
2 HORNED LARKS were seen near the Concord Airport on May 10th.
A few AMERICAN PIPITS were reported from Hollis on May 10th.
A CLIFF SWALLOW was seen in Hancock, 1 was seen in Orford, 1 was seen in Durham, and 1 was seen in Concord, all on May 10th.
A CAPE MAY WARBLER was seen in Pittsfield on May 5th, 1 was seen in Penacook on the 7th, and 1 was seen in Amherst on the 8th.
A BOBOLINK was seen in Piermont on May 6th, and 4 were seen in Lyme on the 10th.
A late-season snowstorm led to a roadside gathering of HERMIT THRUSHES. About 100 were reported from dirt roads in Warren and 32 were reported from the Upper Valley, all on May 9th.
More migrant birds arrived during the past week. Species reported included: RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, CHIMNEY SWIFT, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, BANK SWALLOW, GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHER, LEAST FLYCATCHER, EASTERN KINGBIRD, HOUSE WREN, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, WARBLING VIREO, WOOD THRUSH, VEERY, SWAINSON’S THRUSH, NASHVILLE WARBLER, NORTHERN PARULA, YELLOW WARBLER, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, PRAIRIE WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, AMERICAN REDSTART, OVENBIRD, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, ORCHARD ORIOLE, BOBOLINK, GRAY CATBIRD, INDIGO BUNTING, VESPER SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, and LINCOLN’S SPARROW.
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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