Date: 8/31/26 10:06 am From: Mark Suomala <suomalamark...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, August 31, 2026
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for August 31st, 2026.
A CASPIAN TERN was seen in Hampton Harbor on August 27th, and 1 was seen at
Odiorne Point State Park in Rye on the 27th and 29th.
2 FORSTER’S TERNS were seen at Peirce Island in Portsmouth, 1 was seen from
Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, and 2 were seen in Hampton Harbor, all on
several days during the past week.
A LITTLE GULL was seen at Odiorne Point State Park on August 23rd, and
2 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen on the Merrimack River in Manchester
on August 27th.
A RED-NECKED PHALAROPE was seen in Akers Pond in Errol on August 25th, and
2 were seen at the Balsams property in Dixville (currently closed to public
access) on the 26th.
4 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS were seen at the Isles of Shoals on August 30th.
A MARBLED GODWIT was seen at the Durham Town Landing and Jackson’s Landing
on the Oyster River all during the past week, and it was last reported on
the 25th.
A HUDSONIAN GODWIT was seen in Hampton Harbor on August 24th-30th.
2 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were seen in the Hampton Salt Marsh Conservation
Area on August 27th-29th.
2 “WESTERN” WILLETS were seen at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye on August
24th-30th.
An “EASTERN” WILLET was seen in Hampton Harbor, and 1 was also seen on Star
Island, both during the past week.
3 WESTERN SANDPIPERS were seen in Plaice Cove in Hampton on August 27th,
and a DUNLIN was seen here on the 26th.
A juvenile YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen roosting in a tree along
Route 1A across from the St. Elizabeth Church in Seabrook on several days
during the past week.
A juvenile BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen at Bedell Bridge State
Historic Site in Haverhill on several days during the past week.
A few LITTLE BLUE HERONS were seen in the Parson’s Creek salt marsh located
west of Route 1A and across from Wallis Sands State Beach, 3 were seen in
pools just south of Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, 1 was seen at Amazon
Park Pond in Somersworth, and 1 was seen at Pickering Ponds in Rochester,
all on several days during the past week.
248 GREAT EGRETS, and 25 SNOWY EGRETS were all seen roosting along Route
107 in Seabrook on August 29th.
A SNOWY EGRET was seen at the Bellamy River Wildlife Management Area in
Dover on August 24th.
A hybrid between a TRICOLORED HERON and a SNOWY EGRET was seen in Philbrick
Marsh in North Hampton on August 24th.
3 GREEN HERONS were seen along the Upper Coos Recreational Trail in
Colebrook on August 24th.
2 SANDHILL CRANES continue to be seen in fields along Plains Road in Monroe
and were last reported from Coppermine Road on August 24th.
A BLACK VULTURE was seen in Stratham on August 24th.
A DICKCISSEL was seen at Goss Farm in Rye on August 30th.
A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was seen in Freedom Town Forest. 1 was seen in
Grantham, and 1 was seen in Unity, all during the past week.
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen at Green Wagon Farm in Keene on August 30
th.
3 CAPE MAY WARBLERS were seen in Croydon on August 24th.
An ORCHARD ORIOLE was seen at Blackberry Way in Manchester on August 30th.
An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was seen at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye on
August 25th.
2 BANK SWALLOWS and a NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW were seen at Powder
Mill Pond in Hancock on August 25th.
COMMON NIGHTHAWK migration has already begun with over 9,000 (about 3,000
each site) recorded by observers at Storrs Street in Concord, Franklin
Falls in Franklin, and Powder Mill Pond in Hancock since August 17th.
Volunteer-observers are welcome to assist!
Fall season hawk migration observation has started and observers have
counted over 70 raptors so far (mainly BROAD-WINGED HAWKS) from the Pack
Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory. Be sure to visit and help the
official counters!
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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