Date: 5/11/26 2:40 pm From: Mark Suomala <suomalamark...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, May 11, 2026
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for
May 11, 2026.
A BRIDLED TERN has once again returned to Star Island, one of the Isles of
Shoals, on May 9th.
2 CASPIAN TERNS were seen at the Fish Pond Boat Launch in Columbia on May 6
th. and 1 was seen at the Hinsdale Setbacks on the Connecticut River on May
9th. 4 COMMON TERNS were seen at the Scammell Bridge in Dover, and 2
ROSEATE TERNS were seen on the Isles of Shoals all during the past week.
A male KING EIDER that had previously been seen at Four Tree Island and at
Peirce Island in Portsmouth was relocated at Odiorne Point State Park and
was last reported on May11th.
4 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS were seen on Star Island, one of the Isles of
Shoals, on May 9th
A BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was seen at Bartlett Beach in Laconia on May 9th. An
AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER and 4 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS were seen in Hampton
Harbor on May 10th.
A PECTORAL SANDPIPER was seen in Parsons Creek Salt Marsh on May 5th, and a
SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was seen in Hampton Marsh on May 10th.
A WHITE-FACED IBIS continued to be seen at Parsons Creek salt marsh, Wallis
Sands State Beach, and Marsh Road Pond in Rye during the past week and was
lasted reported on May 9th.
A LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen on Huckleberry Creek in Hampton,1 was seen at
Massacre Marsh in Rye, 1 was seen at Boulter’s Cove from Appledore Avenue,
1 was seen at Parsons Creek salt marsh, and 1 was seen at Wallis Sands
State Beach, all during the last week. Some if these sightings my be of the
same individuals.
There was an unconfirmed report of a LAUGHING GULL from off of New Castle
on May 8th.
A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen in Nashua, 1 was seen in Holderness,
and 1 was seen in Success, all during the past week.
A SANDHILL CRANE was seen in the fields on the north side of Langley
Parkway in Concord on May 11th.
A WHITE-EYED VIREO was seen at the NH Audubon McLane Center property along
Silk Farm Road in Concord and also along the bike path that goes west
toward Little Turkey Pond on May 1st. It was last reported on May 5th.
Another was seen at Seabrook Town Forest and Wellfield also on May 5th.
2 WHITE-EYED VIREOS have been seen at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, and
2 more were seen at the Piscassic River Wildlife Management Area, all
during the past week. They were last seen on May 10th.
A SUMMER TANAGER, and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT were seen on Star Island, one
of the Isles of Shoals, on May 10th’
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was seen at the Concord Airport on May 8th-11th, and
1 was seen at Odiorne Point State Park on May 11th.
A PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was reported from Kensington on May 7th.
A LAWRENCE’S WARBLER (Hybrid) was seen at the Deer Hill Wildlife Management
Area in Brentwood on May 6th.
Several GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were seen at the Concord Airport during the
past week.
BLACK VULTURES were reported from Manchester, Concord, Dover, Exeter,
Contoocook, Haverhill, and Durham, all during the past week.
There was an unconfirmed report of 2 GOLDEN EAGLES seen in Troy on May 10th.
There was an unconfirmed report of 4 HARLEQUIN DUCKS from coastal Rye on
May 10th.
Additional species arriving during the past week, included: CANADA WARBLER,
BLACKPOLL WARBLER, and BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, EASTERN WOOD PEWEE, WILLOW
FLYCATCHER, LINCOLN’S SPARROW, AMERICAN PIPIT, and SWAINSON’S THRUSH.
A flock of about 50 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS was seen in Bow, and a flock of about
20 was seen in Rochester, all during the past week.
An archive of rare bird alerts is available at nhaudubon.org/rba. If you
have seen any rare birds recently you can leave a voicemail at (603)
224-9909, following the prompts on how to report a rare bird. You can also
send your sightings via email to <birdsetc...> Please put “Rare
Bird” in the subject line and include the location of the sighting and your
phone number.
*What is the Rare Bird Alert?*
The New Hampshire Rare Bird Alert is a list of birds that is posted,
usually on a weekly basis on NH Audubon’s website, and several public
websites. The primary goal of the list is to help bird watchers find
uncommon or rare birds that occur within the geographical boundaries of NH.
*What makes a bird rare?*
A bird may be considered rare if it’s outside its usual range, present at
an unusual time of year, or found in an unexpected part of the state. For
example, a Red-bellied Woodpecker in southern NH is expected, but one in
Coos County would be unusual. A Black-throated Blue Warbler in summer is
normal but in winter it would be rare. While a Roseate Spoonbill would be
rare in any season. To learn more, read “So You Think You Found a Rare
Bird? A Quick Guide to What Counts and How to Report It”
<https://joyofbirding.nhaudubon.org/what-is-a-rare-bird-and-how-to-report-it/> on the *Joy of Birding.*
Thanks very much and good birding!
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