Date: 10/5/26 1:55 pm From: Mark Suomala <suomalamark...> Subject: [NHBirds] Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, October 5, 2026,
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for October 5, 2026.
6 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, 2 ATLANTIC PUFFINS, and a COMMON MURRE were seen
by birders on a boat out of Hampton on September 30th.
A CORY’S SHHEARWATER, 5 LEACH’S STORM-PETRELS and 70 WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS
were seen in offshore waters between the Isles of Shoals and Old Scantum on
September 30th.
2 LITTLE GULLS were seen at Peirce Island in Portsmouth on October 3rd, and
1 was seen between the Isles of Shoals and Old Scantum on September 30th.
A COMMON TERN was seen from Great Island Common in New Castle on October 1st.
3 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS were seen at the Isles of Shoals during the past
week.
A SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was seen at Tullando Farm in Orford on September 28
th.
A GREAT CORMORANT was seen at Crescent Lake in Wolfeboro on October 3rd.
A GREAT EGRET was seen in Woodsville on September 29th.
A BLACK VULTURE was seen at the Contoocook Cemetery on September 29th.
A BLUE GROSBEAK was seen in Hampton Harbor on September 30th.
There was an unconfirmed report of a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT seen on private
property in Manchester on October 4th.
There was an unconfirmed report of a CONNECTICUT WARBLER from Rye Harbor
State Park on October 2nd and 4th.
A MOURNING WARBLER was seen at Odiorne Point State Park on October 4th.
A LARK SPARROW was seen at Goss Farm in Rye on October 2nd, and there was
an unconfirmed report of 1 from Wilson Hill Road in New Boston on October 1
st.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen at Goss Farm in Rye on September 30th, and
1 was seen at Woodridge Park in Durham on October 1st.
There was an unconfirmed report of 5 CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS mixed in with a
flock of CHIPPING SPARROWS seen along East Side Road in Sanbornville on
October 1st.
A GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was seen along Arboretum Drive across from Pease
International Tradeport in Newington on September 30th.
2 DICKCISSELS were seen at Goss Farm in Rye during the past week.
A CHIMNEY SWIFT was seen at Pack Monadnock on October 3rd. Getting late!
A few lingering RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS were reported during the past
week.
A flock of 9 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS was seen flying overhead in Portsmouth on
September 28th, and single birds were reported from Concord, New Castle,
and Rye on September 29th.
A YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO was reported from Second College Grant on September
30th. A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was seen in Twin Mountain on September 28th,
and 1 was seen in Dixville on October 30th. Getting late!
Lingering species reported during the past week included: BLACKBURNIAN
WARBLER, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER. NORTHERN YELLOW WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE
WARBLER, TENNESSEE WARBLER, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE,
GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, EASTERN WARBLING VIREO, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER,
TREE SWALLOW, MARSH WREN, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, VEERYS, and WOOD THRUSHES.
Species reported from birders visiting Star Island, one of the Isles of
Shoals, during the past week included:
Fall season hawk migration observation has started and observers have
counted over 15,700 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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