Rare Bird Alert, New Hampshire, November 17, 2025
Mark Suomala
This is New Hampshire Audubon's Rare Bird Alert for Monday, November 17th, 2025.
A PURPLE GALLINULE was seen at the Cranberry Ponds located behind the Walmart in the Valley Square Shopping Center in Lebanon on November 15th. It appeared to be fatigued and was captured and taken to a rehabilitation center.
A WESTERN CATTLE-EGRET was seen in recreational fields at UNH in Durham on November 9th, and a GREAT EGRET was seen in the Hampton Salt Marsh Conservation Area on the 14th.
There was an unconfirmed report of a CACKLING GOOSE seen at the Charlestown Wastewater Plant on November 16th, and a BRANT was seen in a field in Hancock on November 14th.
A HARLEQUIN DUCK continues to be seen at Bicentennial Park in Hampton and was last reported on November 11th.
3 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS were seen at Hampton Beach State Park on November 10th.
2 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS were seen at Meadow Pond in Hampton on November 11th.
2 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were seen at the Rochester Wastewater Treatment Plant on November 12th. The treatment plant is gated and the hours of operation are 7:30-2:00 on weekdays. If you visit, there is no vehicle access - please park at the office and walk in. Do not drive on the dikes and do not block the road. Be out of the plant by 1:45 so that plant personnel do not have to ask birders to leave. The Trails at Pickering Ponds, located east of the plant, are not gated, and are always open during daylight hours.
A LAUGHING GULL was seen along the coast in Rye on November 9th, and an ICELAND GULL was seen at Tuscan Village in Salem on the 15th.
A GREAT CORMORANT was seen at the Ledyard Bridge on the Connecticut River in Hanover on November 11th.
A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen at Call Road in Webster on November 12th.
4 BLACK VULTURES were seen in West Lebanon, 4 were seen in Newmarket, and 3 were seen in Manchester, all during the past week.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen on Cavender Road in Hancock on November 14th.
At least 4 CAVE SWALLOWS and at least 9 BARN SWALLOWS were seen along the coast in Hampton, and Rye on several days during the past week.
A WHITE-EYED VIREO was seen at Odiorne Point State Park in Rye from November 11th-15th.
A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was seen at Ragged Neck in Rye Harbor State Park on November 15th-16th, and a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was seen on Reed Road in Colebrook on November 16th.
2 DICKCISSELS were seen at Witch Island in Hampton on November 16th, 1 was seen in Bedford on the 10th, and 1 was seen at 26 Main Street in Ashland on the 10th.
An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was seen at Great Island Common in New Castle on November 16th, 1 was seen off Route B in New Castle on the 16th 1 was seen at the Hampton Wastewater Treatment Plant on the 16th, 2 were seen at Odiorne Point State Park on the 13th, 1 was seen at Straw Point in Rye on the 14th, and 1 was seen at UNH in Durham on the 10th.
A PINE GROSBEAK was reported from Pack Monadnock on November 15th.
A LAPLAND LONGSPUR was reported from Woodmont Orchard in Hollis on November 15th.
80 SNOW BUNTINGS were seen at Hampton Beach State Park on November 11th, 11 were seen in Exeter on the 15th, and 12 were seen in Springfield on the 14th.
2 MARSH WRENS were seen at the Hinsdale Setbacks on the Connecticut River on November 13th.
A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was seen in Lancaster (far north) on November 15th.
Lingering migrating species that were reported from various locations during the past week included: YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, EASTERN PHOEBE, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, GRAY CATBIRD, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, LINCOLN’S SPARROW, CHIPPING SPARROW, SWAMP SPARROW, EASTERN TOWHEE, HERMIT THRUSH, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, OVENBIRD, NASHVILLE WARBLER, AMERICAN REDSTART, PALM WARBLER, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER.
Fall season hawk migration observation continues and observers have counted over 8,500 raptors so far (mainly BROAD-WINGED HAWKS) from the Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory. Be sure to visit and help the official counters!
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 e-mail to: bird...@nhaudubon.org. Please put either "bird sighting" or "Rare Bird Alert" in the subject line and be sure to include your mailing address and phone number. The RBA is also available on-line at the New Hampshire Audubon web site, www.nhaudubon.org
Thanks very much and good birding!
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