Observation start time: 09:30:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Eric Mueller
Observers: Christine Restell, Marty McNamara, Tom Gottschang
Visitors: Many thanks to Christine Restell and her husband Alan, Tom Gottschang and Marty McNamara for helping me out today. Your company was just as welcome as your eyes!
A slow day for hikers - probably no more than 20 today.
Weather: Moderate winds from the NE to E which we barely felt at the North Rd overlook. After he returned from his hike up to the top, Tom said that the wind was much more evident at the summit. Temps ranged from 34 to 40 F. Slight haze in the air, but very good visibility. Bone dry air. Clear blue sky (ugh.) The ski area has started to make snow on several trails now that the temperature is below freezing at night.
Raptor Observations: Observed from the North Rd overlook. A slow day for raptors with only 7 migrating birds and 5 non-migrating/locals. We started a bit earlier (9:30 am), and stayed later (3:30 pm) than usual, but it didn't help on either end. I'm puzzled by the lack of migrating Red-tails and eagles lately. Did some of them move in the heavy N winds yesterday?
Non-raptor Observations: Lots of crows (migrating?) and migrating geese today.
Canada Goose - approx 214 goose sp - approx 250 (likely all CANGs) Comm Merganser - 8 (single group) duck sp - 3 (headed north) Snow Bunting - 8 (seen by Tom at the summit) Blue Jay - 2 Amer Crow - 201 (3 local, 11 headed W to E at 2:58 pm, 187 headed E to W with 131 between 10:10 am and 12:43 pm, and 56 at 2:10 pm) Comm Raven - 2 (minimum number) Red-bellied WP - 2 woodpecker sp - 1 BC Chickadee - 6 T Titmouse - 2 WB Nuthatch - 2 Amer Goldfinch - 1
Predictions: Another sunny day with temps in the upper 30s to low 40s, and moderate NE winds at 5-10 mph. We'll conduct the watch from the North Rd overlook again, starting at 10 am and ending at 2 pm unless the birds are moving well. ======================================================================== Report submitted by ERIC MUELLER (<ericmueller1912...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
More site information at hawkcount.org:https://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=228
