Observation start time: 08:15:00 Observation end time: 14:30:00 Total observation time: 6.25 hours
Official Counter: Bill Rasku, Eric Mueller
Observers: Bill Rasku
Visitors: Julie Reade and Randy Yuen were a big help to Eric in spotting birds at the summit for two hours.
Around 50 hikers and sightseers came to the summit. Few stayed very long on the windy platform.
Weather: A bright, cold, blustery day with 7-8 mph average winds from WNW, but frequent gusts over 20 mph. The visibility wasn't as good as yesterday, but was still very good. Temperatures ranged from 46 to 55 F. Clear skies for the first two hours, and then cumulus clouds quickly filled the sky.
Raptor Observations: A poor count from the summit - only 2 birds braved the stiff winds where we could see them. Bill Rasku set up down at the North Rd overlook and had much better luck. All of the birds except one imm Bald Eagle and one UR were seen at the overlook.
Non-migrating raptors: TV - 8 Bald Eagle - 7 (3 Ad, 2 Imm, 2 Juv) - all of the adults were flying together at one point. Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1 (hunted around the mountain, and harassed two migrating eagles) Red-tailed Hawk - 2 (1 Ad, 1 Juv) accipiter - 1 (possible Cooper's Hawk)
Non-raptor Observations: Non-raptors: Blue Jay - 2 Amer Crow - 5 (North Rd overlook) Comm Raven - 6 DE Junco - 2 E Towhee - 1
Predictions: Thursday will be another bright, cold, windy day but with better cloud coverage to start the day, temps only reaching the low 50s and solid (12-15 mph) winds from the NW. If the winds are steadier and less gusty than today, the birds may get up where we can see them from the summit. ======================================================================== Report submitted by ERIC MUELLER (<ericmueller1912...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
