Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours
Official Counter: Nate Marchessault
Observers: Chuck Carlson
Visitors: 16. Thanks for keeping me company for most of the day, Chuck, and thanks for popping in to chat, Jim.
On this day in Pack history:
"2013: At the time, a record setting day with 81 birds counted. Phil Brown: ""The west wind blew straight out of Idaho today and with it a record-tying THREE golden eagles. All subadults, arriving at 12:20, 3:05, and 3:23, and all excellent looks. Mike Gebo and I spent a total of 20 minutes today admiring this majestic and regal species. But how many goldens would you trade for a record-breaking red-tailed hawk day? (Or, more appropriately, anywhere else in NH, how many red-tails would you trade for just one golden?) We had 68 - breaking the Pack record by 15! - all of them with places to be, getting out of town before their meals freeze like gingerbread cookies in the cold wind."""
Weather: 5-7 C with gusty winds from the SW, cloud cover increasing from 30-100% throughout the day. Decent visibility, but pretty hazy for most of the day.
Raptor Observations: We thought we were going to finish the day empty handed, until a Merlin bombed over the hawkwatch 20 minutes before quitting time. Whew! Other than that, 3 local red-tails were the only other raptors seen from the hawkwatch today.
Non-raptor Observations: A Snow Bunting was present in the parking lot first thing, and mid-afternoon there was a flock of about 40 Pine Siskins that put down between Pack and North Pack.
Predictions: Wind shift to the northwest and they will be very strong, maybe the windiest we have seen all season. There should be a few birds moving, but if you decide to join be ready for the breeze! ======================================================================== Report submitted by Nate Marchessault (<nate...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.harriscenter.org
