Observation start time: 08:15:00 Observation end time: 13:15:00 Total observation time: 5 hours
Official Counter: Eric Mueller
Observers: Lena Ficco, Lisa Burwell, Tom Gottschang
Visitors: Hundreds of runners/walkers at an UltraTrax endurance event on the mountain added to the usual busy scene of hikers and sightseers here on a summer weekend, resulting in a veritable United Nations of people at the summit.
Weather: The day started with thin cirrus clouds overhead that thickened over time until they became quite dense by 11 am EST. A mild haze in the air left all but the farther mountains in NH visible at first. The haze seemed to thicken along with the clouds, but that might have just been an effect of the lower light levels. The clouds thinned around noon and the visibility improved. Winds began the day from the West at 8-12 mph, but shifted a bit to WSW, and began to gentle to 4-7 mph around 10 am.
Raptor Observations: A strange day on the summit. We weren't expecting many migrating birds because of solid SW winds that were forecasted, but even with the slightly lighter wind speeds and more westerly direction, we expected to see some local TVs and ravens in the morning. Usually they are the first birds to circle up each day, but neither of those species made an appearance until just after noon EST. The few migrating birds that we did see (2 OS & 1 UR) all showed up before them in the 11 am hour.
Non-migrating raptors: TV-7, SS-1, BW-1 (Ad with missing tail feathers), AK-1.
Non-raptor Observations: A quiet day for the Non-raptors as well: Blue Jay-1, Comm Raven-5, Cedar WW-4, D-E Junco-5, E Towhee-2.
Predictions: Better conditions are expected on Monday. The forecast calls for partly cloudy skies, temps in the mid-60's to mid-70's, moderate humidity and light winds moving from N to NE to E and then to SW after noon. Bill Rasku will lead the watch. ======================================================================== Report submitted by ERIC MUELLER (<ericmueller1912...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
