Observation start time: 10:00:00 Observation end time: 12:30:00 Total observation time: 2.5 hours
Official Counter: Bob Secatore
Observers: Visitors: Lots of visitors today including Dave Salt of Boxford who stopped by to chat and mentioned that he had observed a very early Least Sandpiper on refuge later verified by Tom Wetmore. The birding group of Jim Berry, Nathan Dobrow and Miles Brengle stopped by and fortunately pointed out our single migrant Merlin. Tai Behmen. Dave Foley from Maine. And many more people who stopped en route to the restrooms to ask about the hawk watch and chat.
Weather: Wind directly out of the north at 15 mph at start of watch but turning into the NE at 12 mph by 12:00 pm. Temps 6 to 7 deg C (43 to 45 deg F). Cloud cover 50% at start increasing to 90% at close but thin enough to provide sunny conditions throughout watch. Visibility 15 K.
Raptor Observations: Two migrants today: 1 brown NH flying directly north low over the marsh to the west at 11:14 AM and 1 Merlin passing to the east at 11:50 AM.
One adult Red-tailed Hawk soaring over tree line on mainland to our east that failed to migrate. Non-raptor Observations: Very few gulls of any sort seen today. 2 Ravens, 3 Am Crows, a modest flow of Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds. Our House Finches still setting up shop at the kiosk. Approximately 35 Canada Geese.
Predictions: Sunny and temps in the low to high 40s (Fahrenheit) and rather mild winds out of the NNE, NE and ENE. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Robert Secatore (<rs8843829...>) Plum Island MA information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
