Observation start time: 05:30:00 Observation end time: 17:30:00 Total observation time: 11.25 hours
Official Counter: Caroline Fegley, Levi Burford
Observers: Andre Moraes, Cameron Johnson, Chuck Carlson, Glen and Alan Chretien, Katrina Fenton, Levi Burford, Mark Timmerman, Mike Gebo, Tom Warren, with many more...
Visitors: 304 - not including comet C/2023 A3 which Caroline stayed late hoping to see... Hopefully Levi, Katrina, and another friendly comet-seeker had more luck later
Weather: Heavy WNW/W winds 29-49 kph (19-31 mph) with stronger gusts carrying loose dirt, hats, and papers. Windswept cumulus clouds including one that for a moment Mark Timmerman said looked "like an elephant" and Caroline Fegley said looked "like a Pegasus jumping". 10-13 C (50-55 F)
Raptor Observations: The Big Sit! Levi Burford and Katrina Fenton arrived bright and early to count species present. 17 migrating raptors were seen before the standard 8am start time. As per usual for an October day, fantastic species diversity was recorded.
Non-raptor Observations: We are thankful to have volunteers who were persistent in counting migrating waterfowl. The total number of Canada (not Canadian) Geese totalled 1535! Glen Chretien was excited that the total number of geese might surpass our record low broad-winged hawk count by the end of the season. Other birds include 1 mallard, 11 american (not Canadian!) black ducks, 1 northern pintail, 2 bluejays, 2 crows, 18 ravens, 3 chickadees, 1 ruby-crowned kinglet, 1 golden-crowned kinglet, 1 winter wren, 3 juncos, 1 palm warbler, 5 yellow-rumped warblers
Predictions: Chance of rain all day. If clear enough to hawkwatch, calm E winds
On this day in Pack history... "2017:Turkey Vultures blew away their old singe-day record in style, counting for 146 of the day's 240 migrants. Katrina Fenton: ""Oh, no. A Turkey Vulture, really? I may as well go home!"" The Turkey Vulture, ignored for most of September, picked on by young sharpies and peregrines, called ""ugly"" and ""scary"" by those who can't see beauty in unfeathered heads and see them only as signs of death. However, Turkey Vultures proved that minds can be changed. It began with Nancy finding a kettle of 37 swirling over the Camel Humps in a gentle dance of darkened ""v's"". As we approached the single-day record (set last year with 50 vultures), everyone on the platform agreed that we'd trade seeing a Golden Eagle for breaking the record, and break it we did! Another kettle of 36 came rising over North Pack and streamed high over the hawk watch. Little groups of 3-14 and single vultures followed, and by the time the day was over the old record had almost been tripled and we had to laugh at finding ourselves wanting to see nothing but more vultures."" ======================================================================== Report submitted by Caroline Fegley (<cgfegley...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.harriscenter.org
