Observation start time: 11:30:00 Observation end time: 14:30:00 Total observation time: 3 hours
Official Counter: Bob Secatore
Observers: Christopher Godfrey, Craig Jackson, Lisa Boisvert, Peter Duffy
Visitors: Andres Cannizzo was present long enough to boost our spirits some. Given the blustery conditions, very few other visitors were using the restrooms.
Weather: A cold day made seemingly much colder by very strong, unrelenting sustained NW winds with gusts of 40 to 45 mph. Strong enough to discourage much movement of migrants. Overcast at start with some blue patches opening up later on. Raptor Observations: Two migrants were observed: an imm Accipiter at 12:27 PM and an unidentified falcon (most likely a Merlin) at 2:16 PM.
Three or four NH moved around over the marsh and to the south in the dunes but failed to migrate, as did one BE in the distance over the mainland.
Non-raptor Observations: Five Ravens and 2 Am Crows, 16 Canada Geese. Modest flow of Grackles and only a few RWBs.
Predictions: Winds 6 to 8 mph, WSW early on and turning to SW and strengthening to 14 mph later in the afternoon. Partly cloudy to cloudy with temps starting in mid 30s (Fahrenheit) and rising to mid 50s in afternoon. While SW is not an ideal direction at this point in the season, this could very well turn out to be our best count yet this year. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Robert Secatore (<rs8843829...>) Plum Island MA information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
