Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:45:00 Total observation time: 6.75 hours
Official Counter: Eric Mueller
Observers: Chris Eddy, Christine Restell, David Brown, Evan Lipton, Greg McGuane, Jack Miano, Janet Kovner, John Edmondson, Mark Morris, Ted Purcell, Tom Gottschang
Visitors: We had a really good turnout of observers today. Many thanks to everyone for contributing to a fine day.
Several hundred sightseers and elementary school students came up to the summit today. Our friend Carl stopped by to spend some time with us.
Weather: A warm day for late October (56 - 60F) but still about 10 degrees cooler than the past few days. The day started with almost full cloud coverage, thick enough to really darken the landscape. Then the predicted mild cold front moved through between 9 and 10 am EST, giving us two very quick, light rain showers. The sky cleared up greatly, and the northerly winds picked up into the 8-12 mph range (with gusts to 18 mph) for two hours which coincided with the heaviest movement of the day. The winds subsided into the 4-7 mph range for the rest of the day and the bird count eased off, but stayed pretty steady for the rest of the session. Visibility was very good and there was much less haze than the last 3 days.
Raptor Observations: A very nice count for late October with 104 birds passing through. As expected, TVs were the most numerous but Sharpies and Coops made nice showings as well. The bird of the day was an adult American Goshawk which made a quick pass along the north edge of the summit and then plunged down to the west. This was the 2nd Goshawk of the season here, exactly 1 week after a juvenile was spotted here by two of the same spotters, Mark Morris and Evan Lipton. You guys are encouraged to come back as often as possible! Christine and John were also on the summit both times and undoubtedly added to the good mojo. This was the first time since 2018 that we've had more than one Goshawk in a season up here.
The better weather brought out the local non-migrating raptors as well: TV - 7 Bald Eagle - 6 (minimum number. 2 Ad, 3 Imm, 1 Juv) Cooper's Hawk - 1 Red-tails - 4 (including the continuing adult that always holds its tail at a 45 degree angle "/" and its wings at slightly different angles from each other.)
Non-raptor Observations: Non-raptors: Canada Goose - 5 waterfowl sp - 12 shorebirds sp - 3 Hermit Thrush - 1 Blue Jay - 7 Amer Crow - 14 (4 groups migrating) Comm Raven - 9 (all in one kettle) T Titmouse - 2 WB Nuthatch - 1 DE Junco - 15 Purple Finch - 9 (2 groups) GC Kinglet - 2 Yellow-rump Warb - 2
Predictions: We're expecting that today's passage of the cold front and much lower temperatures overnight (into the 30s) will get the birds moving again tomorrow. Daytime temps should get into the much more seasonable 50s, along with sunny skies and 4-7 mph winds that stay in the NNW to NW direction until noon and then drift over to W by mid-afternoon. All of this is just right for a good flight. We're hoping for at least one more big push of Turkey Vultures in the next few days. ======================================================================== Report submitted by ERIC MUELLER (<ericmueller1912...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
