Observation start time: 09:30:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Eric Mueller
Observers: Marty McNamara, Tom Gottschang
Visitors: Thanks to Tom and Marty for their continued participation on these lean late Fall days!
Very few hikers today - maybe 10 total.
Weather: Mostly a repeat of yesterday's weather with light to moderate NE winds, temps in the 30s and just reaching 40, and very good visibility with a bit of haze. The difference was a modicum of high thin clouds today which gave us a better background to work with. We were mostly blocked from the wind by the shoulder of the mountain to the east, so wind speeds shown here are based on Worcester airport reports. The relative humidity dropped below 20% at noon.
Raptor Observations: Another slow day with counting crows occupying most of our actual counting time (maybe we should start a band...ah, too late!) The raptors that we did see started moving through about an hour earlier than yesteday. We did manage to get 6 different species out of just the 8 birds counted.
Tom and I ran out of steam and left at 1 pm, but ran into Marty who was headed up. Marty stayed until 3:30. He had a big (probably female) Coop land in a tree next to the overlook, perched there for a minute, and then flew off to the North, only to come back around and land in another tree farther up the road. So nice to see one of the birds up close!
Non-migrating raptors: Bald Eagle - 2 (Adult) Cooper's Hawk - 1 (Adult F) Red-tailed Hawk - 3 (2 Ad, 1 Juv. Maybe more adults among the repeated sightings.)
Non-raptor Observations: Non-raptors: Even a slow day for geese with only 1 skein sighted.
Canada Goose - 11 duck sp - 3 Blue Jay - 2 Amer Crow - 185 (182 flying west, 3 locals) Comm Raven - 2 (minimum number) BC Chickadee - 2 T Titmouse - 1 WB Nuthatch - 2 Red-bellied WP - 1 passerine sp - 9 (one group flying nearby twice that I couldn't get binos on in time)
Predictions: For Friday, the temps should be about 10 degrees warmer - 40s to low 50's, stronger winds (10-15 mph) from the NW, and generally sunny skies. I have a family obligation in the morning, so if I go up, it will probably be at the North Rd overlook around noon at the earliest. ======================================================================== 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