Observation start time: 08:45:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 5.25 hours
Official Counter: Eric Mueller
Observers: Joanne Hart, Scott Wahlstrom, Ted Purcell
Visitors: A fair number of hikers, bikers and general sightseers, including quite a few youngsters.
Weather: Another foggy morning, with the clouds rising only a few hundred feet above the summit by 10 am EST. The air near the summit remained very hazy until the sun began to slowly break through about 10:30. By noon, the low clouds had burned off and were replaced by a sky full of fair-weather cumulus clouds. The air cleared enough to finally see Monadnock and other southern NH hills fairly well, Boston just barely, but no VT mountains. Temps rose from 67 to 80 F, and the wind was light from the WSW most of the time.
Raptor Observations: The sky took so long to clear that I was concerned that no birds were going to migrate today, but a Bald Eagle and a Broad-wing finally flew by just before 11 am EST, followed by 2 more Broad-wings over the next 2 hours.
Local raptors showed up in much better numbers than the last few days, including the first Sharp-shinned Hawk and first Peregrine Falcon of the season. The Sharpie attacked a Red-tail that was circling in the area (typical Sharpie!). Non-migrating raptors: Black Vulture-1, TV-5, Bald Eagle-3 (2 Ad, 1 Juv - maybe more), Cooper's Hawk-1, Sharp-shinned Hawk-1, Broad-wing-3, Red-tailed Hawk-3, Peregrine Falcon-1 In celebration of our 50th anniversary year on Wachusett, here's a look back to this date in 2017. Rod Chase wrote: "Early hours had the migrants appearing low from N & NE and then popping up in front of us and gaining wonderful heights above tower." "Ted Mara and Marty McNamara assisted all day. Lulls in the flight did provide some fun catch-up time. Hiker Paul returned; also back was JoAnne from Worcester who brought daughter Lydia plus a pair of binoculars to practice finding birds. How exciting!"
Non-raptor Observations: A nice selection of non-raptors today: Mourning Dove-1, Chim Swift-3, R-T Hummer-2, Pileated WP-1, Red-eyed Vireo-1 (actually singing for a little while), Blue Jay-3, Comm Raven-3, B-C Chickadee-3, T. Titmouse-4, W-B Nuthatch-1, Gr Catbird-2, Cedar WW-1, D-E Junco-8 (maybe more), E Towhee-2 and Blk-Thr Green Warbler-2.
Predictions: A mild cold front passed through early Friday evening, so Saturday's weather will feature temps in the mid-60's to low 70's, lower humidity, clear skies and NNW winds at 6-7 mph. This should be good weather for both the migrating birds and the observers. ======================================================================== Report submitted by ERIC MUELLER (<ericmueller1912...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
