Date: 9/14/26 12:24 pm From: Mark Suomala <suomalamark...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, September 14m 2026
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for September 14th, 2026.
A CHILEAN SKUA was seen at Jeffrey’s Ledge in NH waters on September 8th.
This sighting appears to be the first record for North American and perhaps
the first for the Northern Hemisphere! Perhaps the rarest bird ever
reported in New Hampshire! Many photographs were taken of this bird,
allowing extensive study of this rarity.
A LONG-TAILED JAEGER and a POMARINE JAEGER were seen at Jeffrey’s Ledge
seen at Jeffrey’s Ledge in NH waters on September 8th.
A CASP:IAN TERN was seen in Plaice Cove in Hampton on September 14th, and
10 COMMON TERNS were seen in Squam Lake-West on September 10th’
3 EARED GREBES were seen in Hampton Harbor on multiple days during the past
week.
3 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS were seen at the Isles of Shoals on September 8th.
7 BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPERS were seen at the southeastern end of the Pease
International Tradeport on September 10th.
A HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL was seen at Elm Brook Recreational Area in Hopkinton
on September 12th.
A HUDSONIAN GODWIT and a LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER were seen in Hampton Harbor
on a few days during the past week.
3 RED PHALAROPE S were seen at Jeffrey’s Ledge in NH waters on September 8th
.
A STILT SANDPIPER was seen in Rochester on September 11th.
A BAIRD’S SANDPIPER a WESTERN SANDPIPER, and 2 DUNLINS were seen in Plaice
Cove in Hampton on several days during the past week.
A GREAT CORMORANT was seen at Crescent Lake in Wolfeboro
on September 12th.
A juvenile YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen at Star Island, one of the
Isles of Shoals, on September 12th.
A LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen at Parsons Creek in coastal Rye on September 9
th.
2 GREEN HERONS were seen along the Upper Coos Recreational
Trail in Colebrook on September 12th.
A BLACK VULTURE was seen in Northwood, 1 was seen at Stratham, 1 was seen
in Barnstead, and 2 were seen in Ashland, all during the past week.
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen in Wentworth’s Location on September 8th.
GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERS were reported from Durham, Newmarket, Pittsfield,
East Kingston, Concord, and Strafford, all during the past week
EASTERN KINGBIRDS were reported from Keene, Whitefield, and Rye, during the
past week.
2 BANK SWALLOWS were seen at Hampton Beach on September 10th.
A LARK SPARROW was seen along Middle Road in Hancock on September 11th.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen at Goss Farm in Rye on September 14th and 12
th.
A WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was seen on Mt, Tom in the White Mountains on
September 9th.
2 ORCHARD ORIOLES were seen along Mountain Pond Road in Errol on September
12th.
There was an unconfirmed report of a SEDGE WREN from Woodmont Orchard in
Hollis on September 7th.
A DICKCISSEL was heard at South Street cemetery in Portsmouth on September
11th.
Several BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS were reported on September 12th including 1
from Fort Hill Wildlife Management Area in Stratford, 1 at Bedell Bridge
State Historic Site in Haverhill, and 1 at Airport Marsh in Whitefield.
5 late-migrating CHIMNEY SWIFTS were seen along Market Street in Portsmouth
on September 12th’
COMMON NIGHTHAWK migration has already begun with over 10,000 (about 4,000
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 2,000 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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