This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Monday, May 11, 2026.
A BRIDLED TERN has once again returned to Star Island, one of the Isles of Shoals, on May 9th.
2 CASPIAN TERNS were seen at the Fish Pond Boat Launch in Columbia on May 6th. and 1 was seen at the Hinsdale Setbacks on the Connecticut River on May 9th. 4 COMMON TERNS were seen at the Scammell Bridge in Dover, and 2 ROSEATE TERNS were seen on the Isles of Shoals all during the past week.
A male KING EIDER that had previously been seen at Four Tree Island and at Peirce Island in Portsmouth was relocated at Odiorne Point State Park and was last reported on May11th.
4 AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHERS were seen on Star Island, one of the Isles of Shoals, on May 9th
A BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was seen at Bartlett Beach in Laconia on May 9th. An AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER and 4 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS were seen in Hampton Harbor on May 10th.
A PECTORAL SANDPIPER was seen in Parsons Creek Salt Marsh on May 5th, and a SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER was seen in Hampton Marsh on May 10th.
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 9th.
A LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen on Huckleberry Creek in Hampton,1 was seen at Massacre Marsh in Rye, 1 was seen at Boulter’s Cove from Appledore Avenue, 1 was seen at Parsons Creek salt marsh, and 1 was seen at Wallis Sands State Beach, all during the last week. Some if these sightings my be of the same individuals.
There was an unconfirmed report of a LAUGHING GULL from off of New Castle on May 8th.
A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was seen in Nashua, 1 was seen in Holderness, and 1 was seen in Success, all during the past week.
A SANDHILL CRANE was seen in the fields on the north side of Langley Parkway in Concord on May 11th.
A WHITE-EYED VIREO was seen at the NH Audubon McLane Center property along Silk Farm Road in Concord and also along the bike path that goes west toward Little Turkey Pond on May 1st. It was last reported on May 5th. Another was seen at Seabrook Town Forest and Wellfield also on May 5th.
2 WHITE-EYED VIREOS have been seen at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye, and 2 more were seen at the Piscassic River Wildlife Management Area, all during the past week. They were last seen on May 10th.
A SUMMER TANAGER, and a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT were seen on Star Island, one of the Isles of Shoals, on May 10th’
A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was seen at the Concord Airport on May 8th-11th, and 1 was seen at Odiorne Point State Park on May 11th.
A PROTHONOTARY WARBLER was reported from Kensington on May 7th.
A LAWRENCE’S WARBLER (Hybrid) was seen at the Deer Hill Wildlife Management Area in Brentwood on May 6th.
Several GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were seen at the Concord Airport during the past week.
BLACK VULTURES were reported from Manchester, Concord, Dover, Exeter, Contoocook, Haverhill, and Durham, 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.