This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Monday, August 17, 2026.
A BRIDLED TERN was seen off of the coast of Odiorne Point State Park in Rye on August 16th. A FORSTER’S TERN was seen in the Back Channel in New Castle and Portsmouth on the 17th, and an ARCTIC TERN was seen in Rye Harbor on the 13th.
A SOUTH POLAR SKUA was seen at Jeffrey’s Ledge on August 10th.
Birders on a research vessel visiting offshore waters recorded the following highlights: 22 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, a PARASITIC JAEGER, a LEACH’S STORM-PETREL, 4 CORY’S SHEARWATERS, and 5 GREAT SHEARWATERS.
A BAIRD’S SANDPIPER was seen off of the coast of Odiorne Point State Park in Rye on August 16th, and 1 was seen in a beaver pond in Peterborough on the 10th. A DUNLIN was seen at Plaice Cove in Hampton on August 11th.
2 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS were seen at the Isles of Shoals on August 12th, and a GREAT CORMORANT was seen here on the 15th.
A MARBLED GODWIT was seen at the Durham Town Landing and Jackson’s Landing on the Oyster River all during the past week.
2 HUDSONIAN GODWITS were seen along the Lamprey River in Newmarket on August 11th.
A HUDSONIAN WHIMBREL was seen at the Durham Town Landing on Oyster River on August 16th.
3 LESSER YELLOWLEGS and 2 BANK SWALLOWS were seen at the Charlestown Wastewater Treatment Plant on August 12th.
2 “WESTERN” WILLETS were seen in Little Harbor in New Castle and Rye on August 15th and 2 were seen at Odiorne Point State Park on the 15th.
A BLACK-HEADED GULL was seen off of the coast of Odiorne Point State Park in Rye on August 16th.
2 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS were seen in Manchester on August 15th.
A YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen in Hampton Harbor on August 12th.
A juvenile BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen at the Oxbow Pond in Mine Falls Park in Nashua on August 16th.
5 LITTLE BLUE HERONS were seen in the Parson’s Creek salt marsh located west of Route 1A and across from Wallis Sands State Beach on August 16th, 1 was seen at Amazon Park Pond in Somersworth on the 16th, and 2 were seen along Marsh Pond Road in Rye on the 16th.
A GLOSSY IBIS was seen at Fort Eddy Pond and the adjacent fields in Concord on August 12th.
5 SNOWY EGRETS were seen at Adams Point WMA in Durham on August 12th.
A LEAST BITTERN was heard at the Rockingham Recreation Trail off of the Piscassic Road in Newfields on August 13th.
An AMERICAN WIGEON was seen at the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Colebrook on August 15th.
A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen in coastal Rye and 1 was seen at the Hinsdale Setbacks, both on August 17th.
2 SANDHILL CRANES were seen in fields along Plains Road in Monroe on August 15th, 3 were seen in fields in East Conway on August 13th, and 1 was seen at Eaton Pond in Barnstead on August 11th.
A MISSISSIPPI KITE was seen in Dover on August 14th.
A BLACK VULTURE was seen in Claremont on August 12th.
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was seen along Northridge Road in Durham on August 12th.
COMMON NIGHTHAWK migration has already begun with 144 recorded by observers at Franklin Falls, and 55 by observers in Concord. Volunteer-observers are welcome!
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.