This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Monday, June 1, 2026.
A PARASITIC JAEGER, 2 NORTHERN FULMARS, a GREAT SHEARWATER, a SOOTY SHEARWATER, and 2 ARCTIC TERNS were seen at Jeffrey’s Ledge on May 28th. 6 WILSON’S STORM-PETRELS were seen here on May 27th, and a NORTHERN FULMAR, and a SOOTY SHEARWATER were seen here again on May 31st.
A THICK-BILLED MURRE, a LITTLE GULL, 2 BLACK TERNS, 7 ARCTIC TERNS, and 3 RED-THROATED LOONS were seen at Rye Harbor State Park on May 30th.
A LEACH’S STORM-PETREL, and 5 ARCTIC TERNS were seen in Hampton Harbor, and a CASPIAN TERN was seen at North Hampton State Beach, all on May 30th. A LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was seen in Hampton Harbor on June 1st.
A BONAPARTE’S GULL was seen at Surry Mountain Lake on May 26th.
2 COMMON TERNS were seen at Spofford Lake in Chesterfield on May 25th.
A GLAUCOUS GULL was seen at Rye Harbor on May 23rd.
2 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS were seen at the Isles of Shoals on May 29th.
A HUSONIAN WHIMBREL was seen at the Walpole Town Common on May 29th.
A flock of 112 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS was seen at Magill Bay along the Androscoggin River in Dummer on May 25th.
A flock of 39 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and 3 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS were seen at Boggy Meadow Farm along River Road in Walpole on May 25th, 5 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and 3 DUNLIN were seen at/or near the Charlestown Wastewater Treatment Plant, on May 30th, 2 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 7 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, and 2 DUNLIN were seen at Surry Mountain Lake in Surry on the 25th, 2 SEMI-PALMATED SANDPIPERS (on May 30th), and 1 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was reported from Cherry Pond in Jefferson on the 27th.
A GLOSSY IBIS was seen in Peterborough on May 30th.
At least 3 adult LITTLE BLUE HERONS were seen along the coast on multiple days during the past week. They were mainly seen at Huckleberry Lane in Hampton, and Parson’s Creek Salt Marsh in Rye.
A LEAST BITTERN was seen in Meadow Pond in Hampton on May 26th, and 1 was heard at the Rockingham Rail Trail in Newfields on May 31st.
A pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL and an AMERICAN COOT were seen at the Groveton Wastewater Treatment Plant during the past week.
A male KING EIDER continues to be seen along coastal Rye and was last reported on May 27th.
A SANDHILL CRANE was seen on Sam Hill Road in Andover on May 26th.
MISSISSIPPI KITES were reported from Dover and Durham during the past week.
BLACK VULTURES were reported from Rochester, Barrington, Dover, Newfields, Newmarket, and Durham all during the past week.
There were 2 unconfirmed reports of ACADIAN FLYCATCHER during the past week – 1 at Deer Hill WMA in Brentwood on May 27th, and 1 at 60 Fourth Street in Dover on May 30th.
A PHILADELPHIA VIREO was seen at Bedell Bridge State Park in Haverhill on May 30th.
A CERULEAN WARBLER was seen at the Wantastiquet Natural Area in Hinsdale on May 17th- 23rd, and last reported on the 29th.
A HOODED WARBLER that was discovered at Monson Village in Hollis/Milford on May 23rd, was last reported on May 31st.
A LAWRENCE’S WARBLER (Hybrid) was seen at the Deer Hill Wildlife Management Area in Brentwood on May 23rd and 24th, and last reported on the 27th.
4 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were seen at the Concord Airport, 7 were seen at the Keene Airport in Swanzey, 2 were seen at High Mowing School in Wilton, and 1 was seen at the Cemetery Field in Amherst, all during the past week.
There have been several colonies of PURPLE MARTINS established during the past few weeks.
8 BICKNELL’S THRUSHES were reported from the White Mountains 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.