This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Monday, August 2nd, 2021.

A ROSEATE SPOONBILL was discovered near the dam on the Androscoggin River located behind the Transfer Station in Gorham on July 30th. It was seen again on July 31st and August 1st. To look for the bird, park outside of the entrance to the transfer station (there are about 6 parking spaces), walk to the river’s edge and then walk upstream. The bird has been seen near the buoys near the dam and as far upstream as an active Osprey nest on the opposite shore.

The SNOWY OWL that was reported last week has been rescued and is now with a wildlife rehabilitator. Hopefully it will recover completely and will be able to be released at a later date.

MISSISSIPPI KITES continue to be seen in Durham, Newmarket, Greenland, and Stratham, where they have nested in past years.

A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen at the Rochester Wastewater Treatment Plant on July 30th. The treatment plant is gated and the hours of operation are 7:30-3:00 on weekdays. If you visit, please be out of the plant by 2:45 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.

There was an unconfirmed report of 4 RED-NECKED GREBES from Forest Lake in Dalton on July 31st.

A WHIMBREL and a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER were reported from the coast on August 1st.

4 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 were last reported on August 2nd. 2 LEAST BITTERNS were reported from World End Pond in Salem on August 1st, and 1 was reported from Beaver Brook Great Meadow in Hollis on August 1st.

An immature LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen at Meadow Pond in Hampton on August 2nd, and a GREEN HERON was seen in Groveton on August 1st.

2 GREAT EGRETS were seen in Whitefield, 1 was seen in Orford, and 1 was seen in New London, all on August 1st.

4 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS, 5 BLACK GUILLEMOTS, a RUDDY TURNSTONE, a GREAT CORMORANT, and a LONG-TAILED DUCK were seen at the Isles of Shoals during the past week by field biologists working for the Shoals Marine Lab Tern Conservation Program, and birders on passing boats.

Several PIPING PLOVER and LEAST TERN chicks continue to be reported from Hampton Beach and Seabrook Beach. If you visit those beaches, tread carefully as these birds can be difficult to see and are sensitive to disturbance.

A RED CROSSBILL was reported from Warner on July 30th.

A FOX SPARROW was reported from the Franconia Ridge Trail in the White Mountains on July 28th.

3 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS were reported from the Glencliff Trail on Mount Moosilauke on August 1st.

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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