Observation start time: 10:30:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 2.5 hours
Official Counter: Bob Secatore
Observers: Visitors: Ella from refuge headquarters stopped by to chat for a few minutes. With the sun shining brightly and moderate temperatures, the refuge had quite a few visitors today and many of them stopped by at lot #1 to access the beach and/or use the restrooms.
Weather: At start of watch, south wind at 9 mph, & deg C (45 Deg F)with 60% cloud cover and hazy with visibility at 5 K. At approximately 11:30 am wind turned into the SE and remained there for remainder of watch. At 12:00 pm, 12 mph SE wind, 20% CC and temp actually decreased to 5.5 deg C (42 deg F). At watch's end, SE wind was approx 15 mph.
Raptor Observations: No migrant raptors observed. One NH briefly appeared 300 yards south of the platform.
Non-raptor Observations: Very few birds were present in the vicinity of the platform today. No discernible movement of Grackles, RWBs or any other passerines. Two flocks of Canada Geese (40 birds in total) flew directly north. Two Goldeneyes on river and a pair of Mockingbirds at lot's edge.
A Snowy Owl was reported at sub-headquarters by several visitors and was still there at the end of the watch.
Predictions: Foggy early on and cloudy for the rest of the day but, otherwise, not very different from today's weather with southerly winds and temps in the high 40s and possibly low 50's. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Robert Secatore (<rs8843829...>) Plum Island MA information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
