Observation start time: 08:15:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 Total observation time: 7.25 hours
Official Counter: Eric Mueller
Observers: Bill Rasku, Christine Restell, Cindy Rost, Janet Kovner, Jean Hampel, Lisa Burwell, Marilyn Cugini, Marty McNamara, Tom Gottschang
Visitors: In addition to the great crew listed above, we got excellent help from Ramee Duncan and Erik Schiff. Many thanks to all of you!
Hundreds of hikers and leaf-peepers today. Scott and Marion stopped by during their hike to check on our progress.
Weather: A clear, cool day with wind out of the NNE and NE, starting at 8-10 mph with gusts to 20 mph (which surprised us), then easing off around noon time to 4-7 mph with occasional gusts to 12, and then down to 2-3 mph at the end. There were no nearby clouds, only distant smudges on the horizon that gave us some little measure of call out points for locating the birds' positions. Very low humidity, but a touch of haze in the air. Still we were able to make out the snowy peak of Mt Washington, as well as all of our other landmarks.
Raptor Observations: A very nice turnout of migrating raptors today. However, the strong morning winds kept many birds low even though they were tail winds, and our observers down at the North Rd overlook spotted quite a few birds that couldn't be accounted for in the count from the summit. The count totals increased at the summit as the day progressed and the thermals strengthened. We had a nice mix of birds, with 10 different species represented including all 3 regular falcon species. The TV migration is in full swing now, and the Red-shoulders are starting to appear more frequently. We continue to get good numbers of Sharpies and Coops, and Bald Eagles are improving. The favorite bird of the day for several of us was the Gray Ghost male Northern Harrier that rose up around 3:15 and whose plumage just popped in the rich sunlight.
Non-raptor Observations: Non-raptors: Canada Goose - 93 waterfowl sp - 50 Blue Jay - 3 local + 28 migrating Comm Raven - 4 BC Chickadee - 2 WB Nuthatch - 1 DE Junco - 4 Chimney Swift - 1 (2nd day in a row for this late rarity)
Predictions: Saturday should be another clear, cloudless day with low humidity and good visibility. Temps are expected to rise from the high 40s to the mid 60s, with mild 4-6 mph winds from the WNW to W. Thermals should develop well and bring the birds up to us. Clarry Hill in Maine counted over 170 birds today, so our pipeline should be well stocked. ======================================================================== Report submitted by ERIC MUELLER (<ericmueller1912...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
