This is New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert for Monday, May 18th, 2020.
During the Corona virus outbreak NH Audubon encourages you to enjoy birding safely; please follow travel and social distance recommendations from state and federal authorities.
A MISSISSIPPI KITE was seen in Durham and 1 was seen in Newmarket, where they have been breeding for the past several years, on May 17th.

A SANDHILL CRANE was seen on private property in Errol on May 13th, and 1 was seen at the Pondicherry National Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson on the 14th.
A LITTLE BLUE HERON was seen at the Lubberland Creek Preserve in Newmarket on May 14th.
A COMMON GALLINULE was seen along Airport Road in Swanzey on May 17th, and 1 was seen at the Unsworth (Koenig) Preserve in Moultonborough on May 16th.
2 CASPIAN TERNS were seen flying north along the Connecticut River in Orford and Monroe on May 16th.
4 LEAST TERNS were seen at Meadow Pond in Hampton, 9 ROSEATE TERNS and about 60 COMMON TERNS were seen in Hampton Harbor, and flock of about 75 COMMON TERNS was seen in Great Bay, all on May 16th.
20 RUDDY TURNSTONES, 8 DUNLINS, 20 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 5 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, and 4 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS were all seen in Hampton Harbor on May 15th.
A male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE continues to be seen near the dam on the Androscoggin River in Errol, and was last reported on May 12th.
A flock of 38 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS was seen at Lake Waukewan, and 2 were seen on the Connecticut River near Hanover, all on May 16th.
A flock of 37 BRANT was seen migrating north along the Connecticut River in Orford on May 15th, and 2 were heard migrating overhead at night in Ashland on the 17th.
A number of BUFFLEHEADS were reported during the past week, including 17 at Cherry Pond in Jefferson on May 12th, 8 at Conway Lake on the 14th, 5 at the Groveton Wastewater Treatment Plant on the 12th, and 5 on Mile Long Pond in Errol on the 13th.
3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 2 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 2 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, and 3 LEAST SANDPIPERS were seen at mudflats in the Connecticut River floodplain in Orford on May 14th, and 7 LESSER YELLOWLEGS were seen at the Charlestown Wastewater Treatment Plant on May 16th.
A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was discovered along North River Road near Burley Farm in Epping on October 5th, and was last reported on May 15th. To look for the bird, locate the SELT trailhead north of Burley Farm on North River Road and walk the trail east to a mixed-age forest overlooking a large wetland. Listen for a dry-rattle. A pair of RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continues to be seen at Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown and was last reported on May 17th. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER continues to be seen along Wednesday Hill Road in Durham near the Lee town line.
A SUMMER TANAGER was reported from Sunapee on May 16th.
A BLUE GROSBEAK was photographed in Sutton Mills on May 12th.
A HOODED WARBLER was photographed on the rail trail along the Connecticut River in Hinsdale on May 14th.
A WORM-EATING WARBLER was seen at the Army Corps of Engineers flood-control lands on East Weare Road in Weare on May 12th.
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen in Laconia on May 13th, and 1 was seen in Gilsum on the 14th.
There was a recent unconfirmed report of a LAZULI BUNTING visiting a birdfeeder in Fitzwilliam. The bird was photographed but no further information is available.
3 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were reported from the Cemetery Fields in Amherst on May 17th, 8 were reported from the Concord Airport on May 16th, 1 was reported from the old Hinsdale Raceway grounds on the 16th, 1 was reported from near the Hinsdale Walmart parking lot on the 17th, and 1 was seen at Moore Fields in Durham on the 17th.
An ORCHARD ORIOLE was seen in West Lebanon on May 15th.
A COMMON NIGHTHAWK was seen in Brookline on May 16th.
An AMERICAN PIPIT was seen at Moore Fields in Durham on May 17th.
A COMMON REDPOLL was reported from Groveton on May 12th.
A NORTHERN GOSHAWK was seen in Sutton on May 15th.
An AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was reported from Somersworth on May 16th.
A flock of about 25 CLIFF SWALLOWS was seen at a bridge in Milan on May 17th.
A flock of about 24 BOBOLINKS was seen at Airport Marsh in Whitefield on May 15th.
2 BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS were seen at the Pondicherry National Wildlife Refuge in Jefferson on May 15th.
More migrant birds arrived during the past week. Species reported included: GREEN HERON, RED-EYED VIREO, YELLOW-THROATED VIREO, CAPE MAY WARBLER, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, TENNESSEE WARBLER, BLACKPOLL WARBLER, WILSON’S WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, CANADA WARBLER, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, MARSH WREN, TRAIL’S FLYCATCHER, WILLOW FLYCATCHER, and YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER.
New Hampshire Audubon’s Rare Bird Alert is sponsored by Bangor Savings Bank.
This message is also available by phone recording: call (603) 224-9909 and press 4 as directed or ask to be transferred. If you have seen any interesting birds recently, you can leave a message at the end of the recording or send your sightings to the RBA via email. Please put either “bird sighting” or “Rare Bird Alert” in the subject line and be sure to include your mailing address and phone number.
Thanks very much and good birding.
Subscribe to New Hampshire Bird Records – learn more about birds and birding in New Hampshire (read a free article in each issue). This quarterly publication is produced by NH Audubon thanks to the work of many volunteers.