This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Monday, October 5th, 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 SNOW GOOSE, 16 BLACK SCOTERS, and 6 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were seen at Cherry Pond in Pondicherry National Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson on October 3rd, and a female GADWALL was seen there earlier in the week.

An immature male KING EIDER was seen offshore in Rye on October 2nd.
At least 5 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen along the coast on September 30th.
4 CORY’S SHEARWATERS, 23 GREAT SHEARWATERS, 21 NORTHERN GANNETS, a LAUGHING GULL, and 40 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were seen in offshore waters on October 3rd, and 3 POMARINE JAEGERS and a NORTHERN FULMAR were seen in offshore waters on the 2nd.
12 COMMON TERNS were seen along the coast on October 2nd, and a RED-THROATED LOON was seen on the coast on September 30th.
A STILT SANDPIPER was seen at Lake Massebesic in Auburn on September 30th, and 1 was seen in Rochester on the 5th.
8 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS were seen along the coast on October 1st.
A GREAT CORMORANT was seen at Oliverian Pond in Benton on October 1st.
There was an unconfirmed report of a LEAST BITTERN from the Edward MacDowell Reservoir in Peterborough on October 4th.
6 YELLOW-CROWNED HERONS were seen along Glade Path in Hampton on October 3rd, and a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was reported from Hinsdale on September 28th.
A BLUE GROSBEAK was seen at the South Street Cemetery in Portsmouth on October 1st and 2nd, and 1 was seen in Sandwich on the 2nd and 3rd.
A CONNECTICUT WARBLER was seen at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye on October 3rd and 4th, and 1 was seen at Beaver Brook in Hollis on the 5th.
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was seen in Hampton and 1 was seen in Portsmouth, both on October 4th.
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen in Durham on October 3rd and 4th, 1 was seen in Lebanon on the 3rd, 1 was seen in Bartlett on the 2nd, 1 was seen in Glen on the 2nd, and 1 was seen in Sandwich on the 1st.
Many migrating songbirds were reported during the past week including 70 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye on October 1st, and 12 TENNESSEE WARBLERS in Penacook on the 4th.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen at Goss Farm in Rye on October 2nd, and a DICKCISSEL was seen there on the 3rd.
A DICKCISSEL was seen at the Concord Community Gardens on Birch Street in Concord on October 4th.
A NELSON’S SPARROW was seen in Hinsdale near the Connecticut River on September 30th.
A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was seen at the Alpine Gardens on Mount Washington on October 5th.
A FOX SPARROW was seen in Jackson on October 1st.
2 BOREAL CHICKADEES were identified near the summit of Pack Monadnock on September 29th, and at least 1 was found there again on October 1st and 3rd. This is far south of their usual range.
A GRAY-CHEEKED/BICKNELL’S THRUSH was reported from Hinsdale on October 4th, and 1 was reported from Lyman on the 1st.
6 GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES were identified from recordings of their nocturnal flight calls in Hancock on October 1st.
A late-migrating RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD was seen in Bartlett on October 4th and 5th, 1 was seen in Lincoln on the 3rd, and 1 was seen in Wilton on the 2nd.
7 late-migrating COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were seen in Merrimack, 5 were seen in Brookline, and 3 were seen in Amherst, all on September 28th.
Numerous RED CROSSBILLS continued to be reported from appropriate habitat during the past week.
Southbound raptor migration for the fall-season is taking place and observers have already counted thousands from various locations throughout the state. Raptor totals to-date for Pack Monadnock are over 10,000! If you want to join the hawk-watchers on Pack Monadnock, check with Miller State Park for visitation requirements.
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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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