This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Monday, December 30, 2024.

Birders on a boat trip to the NH waters of Jeffrey’s Ledge on December 28th reported the following highlights: 1,484 DOVEKIES, 5 ATLANTIC PUFFINS, 77 COMMON MURRES, 25 RAZORBILLS, 40 NORTHERN FULMARS, 83 BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, and 4 ICELAND GULLS.

A THICK-BILLED MURRE was seen at Rye Harbor State Park on December 27th.

There was an unconfirmed report of a SNOWY OWL seen at Rye Harbor State Park on December 28th.

A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen at Sunset Farm in Greenland on December 29th.

Up to 5 BLACK VULTURES were seen at Donna Drive in Exeter during the past week.

A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen at the Bellamy River Wildlife Management Area in Dover on December 28th.

A BULLOCK’S ORIOLE that was first seen along Hackett Hill Road in Hooksett on November 14th, continues to be seen and was last reported on December 24th.

At least 1 BALTIMORE ORIOLE continues to be seen visiting a bird feeder at Pine Meadow Drive in Exeter and was last reported on December 29th.

A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was seen at Woodmont Orchard in Hollis on December 28th.

A flock of 4 LAPLAND LONGSPURS, 15 SNOW BUNTINGS, and 25 HORNED LARKS was seen at Hampton Beach State Park on December 29th.

A flock of 13 AMERICAN PIPITS was seen at Rye Harbor State Park on December 26th, and a flock of 8 (possibly the same birds) was reported along the coast just south of Odiorne Point State Park in Rye on the 28th.

An “OREGON” DARK-EYED JUNCO was seen in Wilton on December 24th.

A flock of 18 EVENING GROSBEAKS was seen along Bailey Road in Jefferson on December 29th.

A RUSTY BLACKBIRD was seen at the Riverlands Conservation Area in Canterbury on December 24th.

At least 2 BARROW’S GOLDENEYES were seen on the Merrimack River in Manchester during the past week. They were reported from Stark Landing, Arms Park, Notre Dame Bridge, and Moore’s Crossing. A BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was seen from Lower Bay Road on Lake Winnisquam in Sanbornton on December 28th.

3 HARLEQUIN DUCKS were seen at the Isles of Shoals on December 28th.

A CANVASBACK was seen at Rye Harbor State Park on December 28th and 29th.

2 GADWALLS were seen the Connecticut River in Walpole on December 25th, and 1 was seen at Horseshoe Pond in Merrimack on the 28th.

A GREEN-WINGED TEAL was seen at the Milford Fish Hatchery on December 30th.

3 NORTHERN PINTAILS were seen in Penacook on December 28th.

3 SURF SCOTERS and a LONG-TAILED DUCK were seen from Hilton Park at Dover Point on December 26th.

2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were seen on Great Bay from Adams Point in Durham on December 27th.

Lingering species reported during the past week included: WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN KESTREL, NORTHERN HARRIER, MERLIN, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, RED-TAILED HAWK, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, WINTER WREN, NORTHERN HOUSE WREN, CAROLINA WREN, EASTERN PHOEBE, HERMIT THRUSH, BROWN THRASHER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, FOX SPARROW, SWAMP SPARROW, CHIPPING SPARROW, and FIELD SPARROW.

This message is also available by phone recording: call (603) 224-9909 and press 4 as directed or ask to be transferred. To leave a message about a rare bird without listening to the recording first, press 2.

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.

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Learn more about birds and birding in New Hampshire with New Hampshire Bird Records (read a free article in each issue). This quarterly publication is produced by NH Audubon thanks to the work of many volunteers. It is available for free in digital format to all NH Audubon members, and also by print for an additional fee.

Thanks very much and good birding.