This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Monday, August 17th, 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 SWALLOW-TAILED KITE first reported in Webster on July 24th, and again on August 9th, has been seen almost daily since the 12th, and was last reported on the 16th. It has been seen most often in fields behind #253 Deer Meadow Road and from the dam on Pilsbury Lake. Please park on the same side of the road as #253, and view the bird from the road. Please respect private property.
MISSISSIPPI KITES continued to be reported from Durham, Newmarket, Stratham, and Greenland, all during the past week. They have been successfully nesting in several of these towns for a number of years. The nests are located on private property, so please respectfully view the birds from the road.
3 SANDHILL CRANES were seen in fields from Plains Road in Monroe on August 17th.
A BLACK TERN was seen at the coast on August 17th.
3 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS were seen at Lunging Island, one of the Isles of Shoals, on August 10th.
A WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER was seen at Surrey Lane marsh in Durham on August 14th, and 1 was reported from the coast on the 17th.
Up to 5 LEAST BITTERNS continue to be seen at the Cranberry Ponds located behind the Price Chopper and the Walmart garden center in West Lebanon, and they were last reported on August 12th. GREEN HERONS have also been seen here.
3 LITTLE BLUE HERONS were reported from the Birch Brook/Heron Pond area in Milford on August 17th, 1 was seen at the Copps Pond Wildlife Management Area in Tuftonboro on the 17th, 2 were seen at the Deer Hill Wildlife Management Area in Brentwood on the 16th, 1 was seen at World End Pond in Salem on the 13th, and 1 was seen from the Great Bay Discovery Center in Greenland on the 12th.
2 GREAT EGRETS were seen at Powder Mill Pond in Hancock on August 16th.
A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen along Route 1A in Seabrook on August 14th, and 3 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were seen along the Nashua River in Nashua on August 13th.
A family of 4 RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continues to be seen at Bear Brook State Park and was last reported on August 10th.
RED CROSSBILLS continue to be reported from appropriate habitat with high counts of 33 in Deerfield on August 17th, 18 in Nottingham on the 15th, 13 in Brookline on the 15th, 20 at the Harris Center in Hancock on the 14th, and 12 in Surry on the 11th.
2 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were seen at the Cemetery Fields in Amherst on August 14th.
There was an unconfirmed report of a YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD from Moore Fields in Durham on August 10th.
Several YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS were again reported during the past week – a good year for them. They are helping to protect our forests from caterpillar damage.
A COMMON NIGHTHAWK was seen migrating south in New Hampton on August 15th.
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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