Not nearly as many species as last year and generally rather slow for birding, but we still managed to get some nice birds, and had a great trip today along the NH coast.  Light to moderate westerly winds and lots of sun with seasonable temperatures.  A nice fall day!  Still no major frost yet on the coast and still lots of flowers and a lot of insect activity.   LOTS of butterflies and a few dragonflies noted.

Birds – 53 Species
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Brant – 2 migrating birds offshore.
Canada Goose
Green-winged Teal – Flock of 7 over the ocean (landing briefly with White-winged Scoters!) off Ragged Neck.
Common Eider
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Red-breasted Merganser
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Greater Yellowlegs
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Northern Gannet
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
GREAT EGRET – 2 lingering birds at Philbrick Marsh.
Northern Harrier – One at Hampton Beach SP.
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk – Lots along the coast.
Downy Woodpecker
Merlin – 1 at Eel Pond.
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark – Small flock at Hampton Beach SP.
Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird
European Starling
House Sparrow
House Finch
American Goldfinch
LAPLAND LONGSPUR – 1 seen well by all at Hampton Beach State Park with flock of Horned Larks.
Chipping Sparrow – 1 at Goss Farm in Rye.
Savannah Sparrow – Including 2 “Ipswich Sparrows” at Hampton Beach SP and one at Ragged Neck.
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird – Odd female in American Beach Grass at Hampton Beach SP.
PALM WARLBER – 1 “western” type Palm in the short grasses at Ragged Neck in Rye.
PINE WARBLER – 1 relatively bright male in gardens at Goss Farm.
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Northern Cardinal

Butterflies (6+ species)
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Cabbage White – 1 at Ragged Neck
Clouded/Orange Sulphur – 1 at Goss Farm and 1 at Odiorne.
Monarch – 10 (!!) estimated for the day with some migrating along the shoreline.
Question Mark  – 2+ plus another anglewing sp. possibly an Eastern Comma.
Red Admiral – 1 in apples at Goss Farm.
American Lady – At least 2 clearly Americans.  A 3rd possible Painted Lady.

Dragonflies (2+ species)
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Common Green Darner – 1 at Goss Farm
Possibly Mosaic Darner – 1 at Goss Farm
Autumn Meadowhawk – Several including pairs in tandem.

Steve & Jane Mirick