I was home for only a brief time this morning.  A small flock of
redpolls came twice, but I did not note the Hoary among them.  There
was one possible suspect, but I saw it for only a second as the flock
was flushed by a Blue Jay.

I have been reading with interest about Hoary Redpolls being seen in NH
and MA. It seems that there are more reports than I can remember
reading before. I have noted two from MA and four from NH in the past
month. There is a lengthy article with illustrations written by a Keene
area birder and some stunning shots of a possible Hoary from a
terrrific bird photographer from Ossipee.  If anyone is interested in
the URLs for these, I can forward them to the list.

More detail on the bird I observed:

Red cap rounder, smaller and surrounded by greyish-white feathering in
comparison with Commons
Head appeared flatter with sloping forhead
Face had a "scrunched" look (Ted described it as "pushed-in")
The bill was perfectly symmetrical, culmen identical to upper mandible,
coming to a distinctly sharp point
Mantle was whitish-grey and had a more fluffed aspect
Breast had light pink wash
Scapulars, coverts and secondaries showed more white than Commons with
greater coverts distinctly white,larger
Feathering overall on sides black-white-grey in tone/no brownish color
apparent
Side streaking charcoal in color and less prominent
Rump solid white in upper part (observed as bird flew--did not have the
closer look I had the 14th)
Undertail coverts had one faint streak with some faint greyish wash at
the tail area

Total impression of the bird--irridescent and brilliant white, looked
like a "puff-ball", a bit larger than the Commons, not given to feeding
on the ground with the Commons but stayed with the flock feeding in the
tree.

I will be watching for this bird tomorrow and will post to the list if
I relocate it.

Paula Gills
Brookfield/Northfield