NH.Birds for Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Messages are displayed in the order they were received.  Subject  From  Time   Rochester & NH Coast (CLAY-COLORED SPARROW)   Steve Mirick    5:43pm   Very late RWBB   Jon Woolf    6:33pm   Re: Rochester & NH Coast (CLAY-COLORED SPARROW)   PAMELA HUNT   7:44pm   Isles of Shoals Christmas Bird Count   Benjamin Griffith    8:56pm

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Subject: Rochester & NH Coast (CLAY-COLORED SPARROW)
From: Steve Mirick <smirick(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 15 Dec 2009 5:43pm

I visited the Rochester WWTP plant late this morning.  Then a quick trip 
down the coast.  Overcast with light winds made for nice conditions.

Rochester WWTP
-------------------
Green-winged Teal - 1 female
Northern Pintail - 1 female
Iceland Gull - 3 (1 adult, 2 1st winter).  Seemed to be relatively few 
gulls today.  Hardly any toward landfill.
Horned Lark - 18 fly overs.
Dan Hubbard - 1.  Distant views, but pretty sure of ID.

Portsmouth area
-----------------
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW - 1 in the grassy/brushy area between the abandoned 
(??) railroad tracks between North Mill Pond and McDonough Street in 
Portsmouth.  Behind the large brick industrial building where there is 
Safe Way Self-storage.  The bird appeared to be loosely associating with 
3 or so American Tree Sparrows or perhaps the large group of House 
Sparrows in this area.  I got there by walking down tracks from Union 
Cemetery, but probably better accessed off McDonough Street.   Here is a 
map and some photos.  Apparently the bird is in the "Portsmouth-West" 
area of the Coastal CBC.  Hopefully it will stick around.

http://home.comcast.net/~smirick//claycoloredsparrowmap.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~smirick//photos/claycoloredsparrow2.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~smirick//photos/claycoloredsparrow3.jpg

New Castle
------------
Pileated Woodpecker - 1 off Wild Rose Lane.  A rare sighting for this 
island community?
Carolina Wren - 2 vociferous birds off Rt. 1B.  One belted out a song.
Hermit Thrush - 1 off Rt. 1B.

NH Coast
-----------
Barrow's Goldeneye - 1 male.  Today off Bicentennial Park.
Black-legged Kittiwake - 2 adults.  One fairly close off northern end of 
Foss Beach.
Razorbill - 2.  Off Seal Rocks and Concord Point.
Black Guillemot - 2

Steve Mirick
Bradford, MA


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Subject: Very late RWBB
From: Jon Woolf <jsw(AT)jwoolfden.com>
Date: 15 Dec 2009 6:33pm

This bird was at the feeders at Massabesic Audubon Center this afternoon.

http://www.jwoolfden.com/bird_photos/Late_RWBB_1.jpg
http://www.jwoolfden.com/bird_photos/late_RWBB_2.jpg

Anybody know the latest-date for a Red-winged Blackbird in NH?

Other birds at MAC's feeders over the last few days:

Blue Jay
Hairy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
White-breasted Nuthatch
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-throated Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Song Sparrow
House Sparrow
Northern Cardinal (a surprising number of these -- at least 3 adult 
males and as many females)
Junco
Mourning Dove

-- Jon Woolf
Manchester, NH


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Subject: Re: Rochester & NH Coast (CLAY-COLORED SPARROW)
From: "PAMELA HUNT" <biodiva(AT)myfairpoint.net>
Date: 15 Dec 2009 7:44pm

Hey Steve,

I might send Ben and Lauren poaching in the event Portsmouth W doesn't find 
the sparrow.
Where on 1B were the wrens and thrush? Most of it is out of the circle, but 
if not, we'll check there also!

Thanks for scouting, and keep up the good work!
Pam

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Mirick" <smirick(AT)comcast.net>
To: "New Hampshire Birds" <NH.Birds(AT)lists.unh.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 5:43 PM
Subject: Rochester & NH Coast (CLAY-COLORED SPARROW)

>I visited the Rochester WWTP plant late this morning.  Then a quick trip 
>down the coast.  Overcast with light winds made for nice conditions.
>
> Rochester WWTP
> -------------------
> Green-winged Teal - 1 female
> Northern Pintail - 1 female
> Iceland Gull - 3 (1 adult, 2 1st winter).  Seemed to be relatively few 
> gulls today.  Hardly any toward landfill.
> Horned Lark - 18 fly overs.
> Dan Hubbard - 1.  Distant views, but pretty sure of ID.
>
> Portsmouth area
> -----------------
> CLAY-COLORED SPARROW - 1 in the grassy/brushy area between the abandoned 
> (??) railroad tracks between North Mill Pond and McDonough Street in 
> Portsmouth.  Behind the large brick industrial building where there is 
> Safe Way Self-storage.  The bird appeared to be loosely associating with 3 
> or so American Tree Sparrows or perhaps the large group of House Sparrows 
> in this area.  I got there by walking down tracks from Union Cemetery, but 
> probably better accessed off McDonough Street.   Here is a map and some 
> photos.  Apparently the bird is in the "Portsmouth-West" area of the 
> Coastal CBC.  Hopefully it will stick around.
>
> http://home.comcast.net/~smirick//claycoloredsparrowmap.jpg
>
> http://home.comcast.net/~smirick//photos/claycoloredsparrow2.jpg
>
> http://home.comcast.net/~smirick//photos/claycoloredsparrow3.jpg
>
> New Castle
> ------------
> Pileated Woodpecker - 1 off Wild Rose Lane.  A rare sighting for this 
> island community?
> Carolina Wren - 2 vociferous birds off Rt. 1B.  One belted out a song.
> Hermit Thrush - 1 off Rt. 1B.
>
> NH Coast
> -----------
> Barrow's Goldeneye - 1 male.  Today off Bicentennial Park.
> Black-legged Kittiwake - 2 adults.  One fairly close off northern end of 
> Foss Beach.
> Razorbill - 2.  Off Seal Rocks and Concord Point.
> Black Guillemot - 2
>
> Steve Mirick
> Bradford, MA


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Subject: Isles of Shoals Christmas Bird Count
From: Benjamin Griffith <bgriffith(AT)gmail.com>
Date: 15 Dec 2009 8:56pm

There are still a few spots open for the Isles of Shoals CBC on
December 20th.  Last weekend we had 5 species of alcids, as well as
great looks at Kittiwakes, Iceland and Glaucous Gulls, and Gannets
aboard the same boat.  The price is $40.  There are also plenty of
spots available for the weather date of December 27.  I've copied the
original announcement below.

Ben

Attention CBCer's:

I am the compiler for the Isles of Shoals Christmas Bird Count.  The
count will be held aboard UNH R.V. Gulf Challenger on Sunday, December
20th, with a tentative weather date of December 27th (pending crew
availability).  Steve Mirick has agreed to narrate the trip (Steve
won't be able to attend on the 27th, so Lauren Kras will be dutifully
filling in).  Conditions permitting, we will be landing on Star
Island, NH for about an hour. We will then circle Boone Island in York
County, Maine for Purple Sandpipers and larids.  We will be chumming
for seabirds as well.  Some species which we have observed on previous
endeavors have been multiple Snowy Owls and Harlequin Ducks as well as
close views of Black-legged Kittiwakes, Black Guillemots, and
Razorbills.  The price of the trip is $40 per person ($35 for the boat
and $5 for CBC fee).

We will meet at the Coastal Marine Lab pier in New Castle between 7:00
and 7:30am and the UNH Gulf Challenger will leave at 8:00am and will
return by 1:00pm or 2:00pm on December 20th, a Sunday. Please inform
others who may be interested. I will provide directions to the dock
upon confirmation of the reservation.

To reserve a spot please email me with the name(s) of the
participants, contact information (phone and email), and whether
you're able to attend the 20th, 27th, or both.  You can also call me
at 603-801-1856, however, I would prefer email reservations.

Ben Griffith