An adult and a juvenile MISSISSIPPI KITE were seen near their nesting area in Stratham on September 7th.

2 SANDHILL CRANES were seen at Lackie Farm in Bath on September 11th.

A RED PHALAROPE and a BAIRD’S SANDPIPER were seen at Surry Mountain Lake on September 9th and 10th. Also present were 2 LEAST SANDPIPERS.

3 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS were reported from River Road in Hollis on September 10th and 11th.

3 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS were seen at the Isles of Shoals during the past week.

2 WESTERN SANDPIPERS were seen at Plaice Cove (North Side Park) in Hampton on September 4th.

A WILLET was reported from Eel Pond in Rye on September 10th, and 1 was reported from the Isles of Shoals on the 5th.

A FRANKLIN’S GULL was photographed at Berry Bay in Freedom on September 4th.

A PARASITIC JAEGER, a MANX SHEARWATER, a GREAT SHEARWATER, a LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 2 LAUGHING GULLS, and 152 WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS were seen by birders on a boat cruise in offshore NH waters on September 5th.

A flock of 14 COMMON TERNS was seen at Merrymeeting Lake in New Durham on September 10th.

A WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and a RUDDY DUCK were seen at the Rochester Wastewater Treatment Plant on September 8th. The treatment plant is gated and the hours of operation are 7:30-2:00 on weekdays. If you visit, please park in a designated spot at the main building and be out of the plant by 1:45 so that plant personnel do not have to ask birders to leave. Do not drive on the dikes and do not block the road. The Trails at Pickering Ponds, located east of the plant, are not gated, and are always open during daylight hours.

A female KING EIDER continues to be seen in coastal Rye, often from the second pullout just south of Odiorne Point State Park. It was last reported on September 4th.

A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen on Lake Winnipesauke in Meredith on September 6th, and a LESSER SCAUP was seen at Pickering Ponds in Rochester on September 10th.

A juvenile LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen in the salt marsh west of Wallis Sands State Beach in Rye on September 5th.

A GREAT COMORANT was seen at Pontook Reservoir in Dummer on September 5th, and 1 was seen on Squam Lake on the 11th.

3 BLACK VULTURES were seen in Westmoreland on September 5th, 1 was seen at the UNH Campus in Durham on the 8th, and 1 was seen at Pack Monadnock on the 9th.

RED CROSSBILL sightings continued to be reported from scattered statewide locations, all during the past week.

A LARK SPARROW was photographed on Star Island, one of the Isles of Shoals, on September 11th.

A CONNECTICUT WARBLER was seen at a private residence in Hancock on September 10th.

A HOODED WARBLER was reported from a private residence in Keene on September 11th.

A MOURNING WARBLER was heard in Durham on September 8th.

About 30 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS, 2 CHIMNEY SWIFTS, and an EASTERN KINGBIRD were all seen hawking insects in the evening at the Concord Community Gardens on September 9th.

Hawk migration observation has started and observers have already counted over 230 raptors from the Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory. Be sure to visit and help the official counters!

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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