Common Murre at Odiorne Point State Park

March 17, 2026

While walking along the coastal path just south of the monument at Odiorne Point State Park on the afternoon of February 6, 2026, we saw what looked like a Common Murre bobbing in the ocean some distance from shore. It was a cold, sleety, overcast, windy day, and so it was initially hard to tell with just binoculars, but I had seen on eBird that a Thick-billed or Common Murre had been sighted at Odiorne earlier in the day. As the murre came into better view, it came close to a group of about eight Common Eiders, the only other birds visible in the churning waves. Then, a gull hovering over the eiders descended on the Common Murre and appeared to chase it off. As a result, the murre drifted away and was carried very close to shore where there was a channel between some large rocks. The rough waves dashed the little murre onto the rocks several times until it finally managed to find some purchase on a ledge of rock. It looked almost like a penguin as it clamored up the side until it was atop one of the highest rocks. It rested there for a few minutes, looking around constantly. Then it slipped back into the water and swam out towards the ocean. My hands were almost frozen from snapping pictures, but our hearts warmed to see it return seemingly okay to its element.

Photos by Diane Karstrap on 2-6-2026 at Odiorne Point, State Park, Rye, NH.