Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:45:00 Total observation time: 9.58 hours
Official Counter: Caroline Fegley, Mark Timmerman
Observers: Cameron Johnson, Glen Chretien, Mark Timmerman, Nora Hanke
Visitors: 77 and another visit from Mac, a raptor enthusiast from Maine.
Weather: A vast difference in weather from this week's earlier warm temperatures. Light variable/NW winds. Full cloud coverage. Visibility was better in the afternoon when the low cloud ceiling lifted and rainstorms were over. No heavy rain on the hawkwatch, but some intermittent drizzles. 3-5 C (37-41 F)
Raptor Observations: Someone pinch me and wake me up from this hawkwatching dream! The cold temperatures and NW winds brought with it not one, but TWO golden eagles, another goshawk, and the count's very first late-day snowy owl! After missing the first barely-seen sub adult golden eagle, Cameron Johnson finally got his lifer when a second golden flew through. As the sun was almost set, three hawkwatchers persisted past the normal end-time for a chance at a third golden... And were instead gifted a snowy owl. First spotted by Glen Chretien over the western horizon around 5:15pm, then also found in a second spotting scope by Caroline Fegley. It was a large white raptor with a barrel shaped body and noticeably round head. Powerful downstroke and quick upstroke in flight. Wings broad versus narrow gull wings. No markings that would indicate any other white bird such as a gull/tern, and no long neck of a snow goose. Followed south from Sunapee to Stratton (most of the length of our western viewshed).
Non-raptor Observations: Just like the raptors, the non-raptors did not disappoint! 268 canada geese bringing the season total to 2,758 160 purple finches in 15+ flocks 31 white-winged scoters 2 herring gulls 1 red-breasted nuthatch continuing to tackle our chickadees by the suet feeder
Predictions: Sunny with NNW winds. Come prepared for The Big Soup!
On this day in Pack history... "2022: Site record late Broad-winged Hawk! Mark Timmerman got the photo of our first (and to date only) November record for this species. It capped off a day that was already fantastic for special birds. Mark Timmerman: ""Ready for a change? How does 3 Goshawk looks (from 2 immatures-1 a local) and 2 Golden eagles sound? Wish you were here, too! Will spotted his immature Golden at 12:25, and 2 minutes after calling for a pair of Goldens at 3:36 I got half of my wish just over the peak of Crotched Mtn."" ======================================================================== Report submitted by Caroline Fegley (<cgfegley...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.harriscenter.org
