This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Monday, May 18, 2026.
There was an unconfirmed report of a MISSISSIPPI KITE from Tammany Park in Dover on May 14th.
At least 700 COMMON TERNS and 3 ROSEATE TERNS were seen on the Isles of Shoals during the past week.
There was an unconfirmed report of a LAUGHING GULL from Dover on May 16th.
A pair of WILSON’S PHALAROPES was seen from Huckleberry Lane in Hampton on May 18th.
8 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS were seen on Star Island, one of the Isles of Shoals, on multiple days during the past week.
A BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was seen at Bartlett Beach in Laconia on May 15th, and 1 was seen in freshly turned earth in fields on West Locke Road in Concord on the 16th.
5 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS were seen on Wetherby in Charlestown on May 15th.
A RUDDY TURNSTONE was seen at Hampton Beach State Park on May 14th.
A flock of 20 GLOSSY IBIS were seen at Elm Brook Park in Hopkinton on May 15th.
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 17th.
There was an unconfirmed report of a LEAST BITTERN from East Kingston on May 15th.
A LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen at Parsons Creek salt marsh on May 16th, and 1 was seen at Concord Point on the 14th.
A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen near the Squam Lakes Science Center in Holderness on May 11th.
A GREEN HERON was seen at Fort Hill WMA in Stratford on May 12th, and 1 was seen at Back Pond in Stewartstown on the 13th.
A SANDHILL CRANE was seen in the fields on either side of Langley Parkway and in the fields along Birch Street in Concord, on multiple days during the past week.
A WHITE-EYED VIREO continued to be seen at Odiorne Point State Park and 1 was seen on Star Island in Rye, all during the past week.
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT first found on May 8th, was last seen at the Concord Airport on May11th, and 1 seen at Odiorne Point State Park was also last reported on May 11th.
A first-year male ORCHARD ORIOLE was seen in Errol on May15th.
A CERULEAN WARBLER was seen at the Wantastiquet Natural Area in Hinsdale on May 16th, and 1 was seen on Star Island in Rye on the 11th.
A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER was seen in Sanbornville on May 13th-15th.
A HOODED WARBLER was seen at Odiorne Point State Park on May 17th.
A PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was seen in Epping on May17th.
A LAWRENCE’S WARBLER (Hybrid) was seen at the Deer Hill Wildlife Management Area in Brentwood on May 17th.
There was an unconfirmed report of an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER from Sandwich on May 15th.
3 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were seen at the Concord Airport and 3 were seen at the Keene Airport, all during the past week.
There was an unconfirmed report of a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW from Pickering Ponds in Rochester on May 17th.
BLACK VULTURES were reported from Manchester, Goffstown, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Contoocook, Haverhill, and Durham, all during the past week.
Additional species arriving during the past week, included: PALM WARBER, TENNESSEE WARBLER, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, ALDER FLYCATCHER, YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, and HORNED LARK.
A few north-bound migrating ducks have been reported during the past week, including:5 GREEN-WINGED TEAL were seen in Lyme, 2 RING-NECKED DUCKS were seen in Lee, and 1 was seen in Hinsdale, a GREATER SCAUP was seen in Concord, 2 BUFFLEHEADS were seen in New London, and 1 was seen in Lebanon, a COMMON GOLDENEYE was seen in Bedford, and 1 was seen in Rye, and 5 COMMON EIDER were seen in Dover, 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@nhaudubon.org. 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” on the Joy of Birding.
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Thanks very much and good birding.