Date: 5/25/26 8:42 am From: Mark Suomala <suomalamark...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, May 25, 2026
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for May 25, 2026.
A male KING EIDER continues to be seen along coastal Rye and was last
reported on May 25th.
A BRIDLED TERN has returned to the Isles of Shoals on May 9th, after
spending the winter to the south, and was last reported on the 23rd. Access
is limited and the best viewing possibility is by boat out of Rye Harbor.
2 CASPIAN TERNS were seen at Elm Brook Park Recreation Area in Hopkinton on
May 20th.
A SOOTY SHEARWATER was seen in offshore waters at Old Scantum on May 20th.
2 HORNED GREBES were seen in Hampton, and a RED-NECKED GREBE was seen at
Rye Ledge, all on May 22nd.
An AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER was seen on Star Island, one of the Isles of
Shoals, on May 22nd.
A pair of WILSON’S PHALAROPES was seen from Huckleberry Lane in Hampton on
May 18th, and was last seen on the 21st.
2 HUSONIAN WHIMBRELS were seen at Seal Rocks in Rye on May 22nd.
A SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER was seen along Antrim Road in Hancock on May 20th.
A BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was seen in Strafford on May 21st.
2 COMMON MURRES were seen in Rye Harbor, and 1 was seen in offshore waters,
all on May 23rd.
A LITTLE GULL was seen at Great Boar’s Head in Hampton on May 20th.
A GLAUCOUS GULL was seen at Rye Harbor on May 23rd.
At least 2 adult LITTLE BLUE HERONS were seen along the coast on multiple
days during the past week.
A LEAST BITTERN was seen in Parson’s Creek Salt Marsh and Marsh Road Pond
in Rye on May 23rd and 24th.
A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was heard vocalizing over Hancock on May 19th.
A GREEN HERON was seen at the Upper Coos Recreational Trail in Colebrook on
May 23rd.
A SANDHILL CRANE was seen in the fields along Birch Street and Iron Works
Road in Concord, on May 19th.
MISSISSIPPI KITES were reported from Dover, Durham, Portsmouth, and
Newmarket during the past week.
BLACK VULTURES were reported from Manchester, Goffstown, Concord, Dover,
Exeter, Contoocook, Haverhill, Newfields, Newmarket, Durham, all during the
past week.
A male PAINTED BUNTING was seen at Annett State Forest in Rindge on May 21st
.
An adult male ORCHARD ORIOLE was seen at Horseshoe Pond in Concord May 23rd
A WHITE-EYED VIREO was seen at the Merrimack River Conservation Area in
Concord on May 19th.
A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was seen at the Panorama Golf Course in Colebrook on
May 18th.
A CERULEAN WARBLER was seen at the Wantastiquet Natural Area in Hinsdale on
May 17th- 23rd.
A HOODED WARBLER was seen at Gilman Park in Exeter on May 19th., and 2 were
reported from Monson Village in Hollis/Milford on May 23rd.
A LAWRENCE’S WARBLER (Hybrid) was seen at the Deer Hill Wildlife Management
Area in Brentwood on May 23rd and 24th.
A GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH was reported from Candia on May 19th. A BICKNELL’S
THRUSH was reported from Mt Washington and 1 was reported from Twin
Mountain, both on May 23rd.
2 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were seen at the Concord Airport, 1 was seen at the
Hinsdale Raceway, and 1 was seen at the Cemetery Field in Amherst, all
during the past week.
A DICKCISSEL was seen at the Lebanon Airport on May 18th.
A few FOX SPARROWS have been seen on-territory in the White Mountains.
There have been several colonies of PURPLE MARTINS established during the
past weeks.
A SPRUCE GROUSE was seen on the Baldface Circle Trail in the White
Mountains in Carroll on May 19th.
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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