Date: 1/25/26 12:04 pm From: Ducky Darrick <dadams...> Subject: Re: [NHBirds] Vultures at Hurd Farm in Hampton
I\nWonder if they are eating dead fish that wash up on the beaches
On Sun, Jan 25, 2026, 10:12 AM 'Steve Mirick' via NHBirds <
<nhbirds...> wrote:
> The winter (December-January) Vulture roost has been a remarkable annual
> event in Rockingham County. My earliest record for this roost dates
> back to the winter of 2006-2007 when they were spending the night in
> pine trees near downtown Newmarket. Prior to this, Vultures in
> mid-winter were very rare. Since then, the roost was reported off and
> on in Newmarket, but it shifted into Exeter and has been there at least
> since the winter of 2015-2016. These roosts have grown in numbers over
> the years and my personal maximum count is 80 on 1/14/24. There have
> been a couple of distinct locations where these birds have roosted in
> tall white pine trees off Linden Street and off Rt. 27 in Exeter.
>
> This winter, they seemed to have vanished from the Exeter roost spots
> with very few or no Vultures present. Had they left for roosts further
> south in this frigid winter?!?! Apparently not! The Vultures have
> apparently shifted over to the Hurd Farm in Hampton. We first observed
> 16 here two weeks ago. Then we saw a report of 40 Turkey Vultures (with
> 2 Black Vultures!) by Susan Wrisley and Jenna Rosen two days ago!
>
> So Jane and I drove over there yesterday and were astonished to see a
> whirlwind of Vultures flying around us (with Bald Eagles and a Raven) at
> about 11:30 AM! It was crazy with birds. I pulled over and looked up
> and saw an astonishing group of 9 (!!!) Black Vultures. A personal high
> count for me and possibly a record high count for NH. The Blacks and a
> group of Turkey Vultures circled above us through the trees and
> incredibly vanished with 5 minutes, drifting with the strong NW winds.
> Another big group of 43 (counted) Turkey Vultures settled down and
> landed on the ground and low in the trees to the south of the farm. I
> wonder if there is some carrion in this area that has sustained them.
>
> We returned late in the afternoon and the Vultures (smaller numbers)
> were seen settling into the tall white pines to spend the evening on the
> opposite side of the Taylor River from Hurd Farm in Hampton Falls. Here
> we had at least 4 Black Vultures settling in with the Turkey Vultures.
>
> So.....it appears that the Vultures have found a new favorite spot! At
> least for now. Here's a photo of one of the Black Vultures from yesterday:
>
>
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevemirick/55059344345/in/photostream/lightbox/ >
> Steve Mirick
> Bradford, MA
>
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