Observation start time: 10:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 5 hours
Official Counter: Bill Rasku, Eric Mueller
Observers: Bill Rasku, Eric Mueller, Tom Gottschang
Visitors: Approx 50 hikers and sightseers. Aidan sat in with us for several hours.
Weather: Another day that started with low clouds that fogged in the mountain several humdred feet below the summit. The clouds cleared the North Rd overlook around 10 am EST (11 am EDT), and the summit around 10:30. The solid cloud base rose slowly until around 1 pm when the base rose to 4500 ft and the clouds began open up to partial blue sky. Winds were very light from the E & ENE. Some haze in the air due to high humidity, but visibility improved in the early afternoon as the humidity dropped a bit and more sunshine broke through. Most landmarks were visible, including Mt Greylock and Boston.
Raptor Observations: The light wind and lack of thermal warming kept the birds low until about 1 pm EST (2 pm EDT.) Bill started the day at the North Rd overlook and counted many of the morning birds there. Non-migrating raptors: TV - 7 Bald Eagle - 4 (2 Ad, 2 Imm) Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 Cooper's Hawk - 1
Non-raptor Observations: Non-raptors: Canada Goose - 8 Blue Jay - 7 (4 migrants) Amer Crow - 1 Comm Raven - 14 BC Chickadee - 3 T Titmouse - 1 DE Junco - 6 Amer Robin - 2 N Flicker - 1 Amer Goldfinch - 1 Swamp Sparr - 1 E Towhee - 2 Comm Yellowthroat - 1
Predictions: Thursday's weather should include more sunshine than today (partly to mostly cloudy), somewhat warmer temps (upper 60's) and 5-8 mph winds from the WSW. Hopefully the increased sunshine and stronger winds will give the birds an easier ride up despite the non-optimal wind direction. ======================================================================== Report submitted by ERIC MUELLER (<ericmueller1912...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
