2/7 - NH and MA (Hawk-Owl, Hoaries, etc)

Last weekend I made a trip north with Glenn Williams and Phil Rusch. Our main target was the Northern Hawk-Owl that has been wintering in Center Harbor, NH. We pulled up to find the bird right along the road. The owl flew from perch-to-perch and even chowed down on a juicy vole.

From there we headed to Tony Vazzano's house in nearby Sandwich where he had been visited by a large flock of redpolls that included 2-3 Hoaries. Tony invited us indoors where we were treated to nice views of at least 2 Hoaries through his living room windows. The flock also contained multiple rostrata (aka "Greater") Common Redpolls.

Three redpoll taxa in one shot. Note the exilipes Hoary Redpoll at center, and a rostrata Common Redpoll in the upper right.

Head-on view of one of the Hoaries.

Flashing its white rump

We took a detour on our way home by birding Salisbury and Plum Island, MA. Salisbury treated us to great looks at over a dozen White-winged Crossbills, plus distant looks at a Snowy Owl.

Newburyport Harbor held a first-winter Black-headed Gull and an adult Iceland Gull. On Plum Island we were able to turn up two Northern Shrikes and two more Snowy Owls.

Overall it was a fantastic day of birding. Every place we visited held great northern birds.

- Nick