Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Rob Woodward
Observers:
Visitors: 19. One lucky child found a shiny penny placed under a rock last nignt by the little "Old Man of the Mountain." Some say he needs to up the coinage but he steadfastly refuses.
Weather: A cool morning followed by a pleasant afternoon high atop Pine Mountain, with high thin clouds covering the sky all day, creating ideal hawk watching conditions. A calm to light NE wind followed in the afternoon by variable NW winds. Temperature ranged from 43 to 55 F.
Raptor Observations: September in April - it was good to see hawks swirling in kettles again, 3 held 8 each of Broad-wings. A steady procession all day, most visible to the naked eye pinned against the high clouds. Today's count sets a new single-day high count for Alton Bay in spring, with new season-high counts set for Osprey, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, American Kestrel, and most raptors in a season
Non-raptor Observations: A turkey strutted around the platform first thing in the morning. A single Evening Grosbeak passed overhead as did a migrating flock of Double-crested Cormorants. 35 Yellow-rumped Warblers were counted. At 3:50, a Barred Owl sang out from down below, as if calling an end to a most rewarding hawk watching day.
Predictions: Tomorrow's weather will be similar to today's so I expect another good count. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Rob Woodward (<toucanrob...>)
