Observation start time: 08:45:00 Observation end time: 12:00:00 Total observation time: 2 hours
Official Counter: Bob Secatore
Observers: Ted Mara
Visitors: Paul and Julie Roberts, Catherine St Pierre, Marg Watson and one hyper-social guy who decided to eat his lunch right between us on the bench.
Weather: Wind at start was out of the NNW but turned into the NNE by 10:00 am where it remained. Velocity decreased from 25 mph to 13 and 14 mph later in watch. Temperature stayed 5 deg Centigrade for entire watch. Cloud cover: thin, translucent cirrus clouds, started at 0% but increased gradually to 25% at close of watch. Visibility approx 15 K.
Raptor Observations: A single brown NH migrated directly north over the marsh at low elevation approximately 400 yards west of the platform at 10:12 am. Other than one or two other NH that disappeared southward in the dunes, no other raptors were observed.
Non-raptor Observations: At least four Ravens were observed during the watch and one birder who stopped by reported several of them further south on the refuge. One Am Crow, one GB Heron, several Mourning Doves and a few RWBs and Grackles.
Predictions: Not very favorable. Feeble east winds increasing to moderate velocity then turning to and remaining ESE for the rest of the afternoon. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Robert Secatore (<rs8843829...>) Plum Island MA information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw