Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 14:30:00 Total observation time: 7.5 hours
Official Counter: Chris Eddy, Mark Morris
Observers: Chris Eddy, Dave Small, Joanne Hart
Visitors: Jeff Johnstone Sherry Johnstone
Weather: Crisp, clear early March morning with temps ranging from 1 d to 13.5 degrees C with excellent visibility. Light variable winds to start with increasing west winds to 15 MPH with gusts to 30. Some cumulus clouds midday. Raptor Observations: Two black vultures were perched on top of the LS Starrett chimney to start. Mid morning featured several groups of TVs migrating along with 4 RS. Joanne and I had a few exciting moments as a female merlin buzzed the observation area chasing starlings, ultimately catching one and and both landing close to my truck. A departing truck made her carry her quarry away before I could get a picture. I acquired an interesting buteo riding the wind on our ridgeline that turned out to be a light morph rough-legged hawk. I was able to get an excellent scope view at 20 power showing the white tail with a black sub-terminal band. I was also able to get a look at the black patch at the carpal joint. All the raptors today used the wind without flapping much at all. Early afternoon brought a group of ten black vultures meandering south as they enjoyed the lift overhead. Non-raptor Observations: Canada Goose - 153; Common Merganser - 2; Killdeer - 1; Ring-billed gull - 3; rock dove - 6; mourning dove - 2; red-bellied woodpecker - 1; downy woodpecker - 1; bluejay - 22; common crow 77; common raven - 7; American robin - 15; Eastern bluebird- 2; starling - 125+/-; common grackle - 9; red wing blackbird - 11; house sparrow - 30 +/-; American goldfinch - 3; N Cardinal - 4; White throated sparrow -6; song sparrow - 2; dark eyed junco - 1
Predictions: Tomorrow the weather forecast looks promising as warmer winds from the SW @ 10-15 MPH are predicted, and will hopefully usher more migrants through our site. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Mark Morris (<MDMRemodeling...>) Adams Farm - Athol MA information may be found at: https://massbird.org/emhw/
