Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 15:30:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Thomas Filip
Observers: Ken Bowman
Weather: One of the nicest days we've had in terms of weather in awhile. NW wind in the morning started at 6-8mph, rose to 8-12mph at 10:00, at which point the wind shifted NNW and gradually lowered to 4-7mph by the end of the day. Mostly cloudy in the morning, partly sunny in the afternoon. Low of 16℃, high of 27℃.
Other migrating raptors include 1 OSPR, 1 BAEA, 3 RTHA, 1 RSHA, 40 BWHA, 1 COHA, 2 TUVU, and 1 AMKE.
A nice day despite northerly winds. The majority of raptors seen today were in the morning. I suspect today's movement had more to do with yesterday afternoon's SSW wind, which may have brought raptors close to Tussey then.
Both GOEA were spotted by Ken today, and I didn't get to see either of them. The first he spotted about half an hour before I arrived. The second one he spotted at the same time I spotted TUVU. I was confused at first why he was calling the TUVU a GOEA until we realized we were looking at different birds, but by then the GOEA had passed. Thank goodness Ken was here today to pick up my slack.
A surprisingly good loon day, considering all of our previous good loon days have been on S or SSE wind. We had 107 COLO flyovers, a high count for the season, with the largest flock today being 23. A few flew directly overhead, low enough that we could hear their wing beats.
In the afternoon I spotted an AHGU, the first of the season. 4 CHSW were spotted today, another first of the season. Passerine flyovers include 9 BLJA, 1 TRES, 2 PUFI, and 28 AGOL.
There were 2 WIWR on the trail just behind the watch today, which were also first for the season, one of which I flushed out from under a rock by the trail.
Predictions: SE wind in the morning, S in the afternoon with rain starting sometime between 2-5 PM. SE/S wind is good and these big shifts in wind direction between days seem to bring a good number of raptors our way. There could be some good movement tomorrow before the rain hits. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Thomas Filip () Tussey Mountain Hawk Watch information may be found at: tusseymountainspringhawkwatch.org/
