WhenToBird

Birding spots

Best Birding Spots in New Hampshire

By species reported, the top birding spots in New Hampshire are Odiornes Point, Pickering Ponds Recreation Area, and Cocheco River Reservoir. Odiornes Point has the longest list (259 species), and its best season is fall.

Species counts are birds reported at least three times in that season at that spot, 2016–2025. Busy spots list more species simply because more people look, so compare the checklist counts. Spot names come from public map data and hotspot listings.

SpotCountySpeciesChecklistsWinterSpringSummerFall
Odiornes PointRockingham County2595,375112210167213
Pickering Ponds Recreation AreaStrafford County2145,06476183155174
Cocheco River ReservoirStrafford County1902,28167134137146
Horseshoe PondMerrimack County1822,0885716595124
Town of Exeter Sewerage Lagoons ReservoirRockingham County1752,29366131103124
Wilson PondCheshire County1731,34360157110111
Gosport HarborRockingham County1735832512490125
Wilson Pond (Spragueville)Cheshire County1721,14564157103125
Pine Road SiteRockingham County1661,1053315694114
Elm Brook Recreation AreaMerrimack County1661,09044146112113
Great Bay National Wildlife RefugeRockingham County1588826513488107
Surry Mountain LakeCheshire County15646225111103111
Ragged Neck PointRockingham County1542,1797010466102
UNH - Horticulture FarmStrafford County1547154413481115
World End PondRockingham County1514081912210098
Adams Point Wildlife Management AreaStrafford County1501,107721098288
Haydens MillpondHillsborough County1501,099619690118
Hale CoveCarroll County1492,61140128109129
Airport Marsh ReservoirCoos County1491,437513511263
Alice Bemis Thompson Wildlife RefugeCarroll County1488882312810890
Hoyl BrookMerrimack County145235461147498
UNH PropertyStrafford County14490546976896
Copps PondCarroll County1444730102111106
Lubberland Creek PreserveRockingham County143262331229255
Father Lawless Fields Town ParkStrafford County1411,274471288992
Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife RefugeCoos County1407861310811392
Sandy PointRockingham County140696561098771
Seabrook Town ForestRockingham County140324301256594
Cherry PondCoos County1384141969585
Little Cherry PondCoos County138287161029675

By county