This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Monday, August 30th, 2021.

A MAGNIFICENT FRIGATEBIRD was photographed along the coast in Hampton and Rye, and also at the Isles of Shoals on August 19th and was photographed again in Hampton on the 25th.

There was an unconfirmed report of 3 BLACK SKIMMERS seen flying offshore on August 26th.

A CASPIAN TERN was seen on August 25th and another one was seen on the 29th, both in coastal Hampton.

A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, a BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER, a BAIRD’S SANDPIPER,

2 WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, a SANDERLING, and a NORTHERN PINTAIL were all reported from the Rochester Wastewater Treatment Plant during the past week. The treatment plant is gated and the hours of operation are 7:30-2:00 on weekdays. If you visit, there is no vehicle access – please park at the office and walk in. Do not drive on the dikes and do not block the road. Be out of the plant by 1:45 so that plant personnel do not have to ask birders to leave. The Trails at Pickering Ponds, located east of the plant, are not gated, and are always open during daylight hours.

A CURLEW SANDPIPER was photographed in Hampton Harbor on August 30th.

A BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER was seen at Pease International Tradeport on August 28th.

A BAIRD’S SANDPIPER was seen at Tullando Farm in Orford on August 28th and 29th, and 2 were seen at the Exeter Wastewater Plant on the 27th (NO VEHICLE ACCESS, park in main lot and walk-in).

2 WESTERN SANDPIPERS were seen at Rye Ledge, and 2 were seen in Hampton Marsh, all during the past week.

An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER was seen at Rye Ledge on August 24th.

A SHORT-BILLED DOWTCHER was seen on the Magalloway River in Errol on August 29th.

LEAST BITTERNS continue to be seen in the Cranberry Pond wetlands located behind the Price Chopper shopping center on Route 12A in West Lebanon and 1 was last reported on August 24th.

2 YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were seen in Hampton Marsh on August 28th and 29th. A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen at Reed’s Marsh in Orford, and 1 was seen at Horseshoe Pond in Concord, both during the past week.

A GREAT EGRET was seen in Keene, and an AMERICAN BITTERN was seen in Dorchester, both on August 29th.

3 SANDHILL CRANES were seen from Plains Road in Monroe on August 24th and 25th.

A BLACK VULTURE was seen in Pelham on August 25th.

A family of 3 MISSISSIPPI KITES continues to be seen in Stratham.

A family of RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS was again reported from Bear Brook State Park on August 28th. An adult and 3 juveniles were seen.

A LARK SPARROW was seen along Cross Beach Road in Seabrook on August 24th.

A DICKCISSEL was seen at Woodmont Orchard in Hollis on August 24th, and 1 was seen at Concord Community Gardens on Birch Street on the 25th.

2 RED CROSSBILLS were reported from Mount Monadnock in Jaffrey on August 28th.

COMMON NIGHTHAWKS have been seen migrating on non-rainy evenings during the past week, with high counts of 620 in Concord on August 26th, and 760 in Hancock on the 25th.

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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