Observation start time: 08:15:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 5.75 hours
Official Counter: Bill Rasku
Observers: Cindy Rost, Lisa Burwell
Visitors: The usual contingent of hikers and sightseers.
Weather: Mostly sunny until about noon when the sky began to cloud over. Wind started from NE at 8 mph, moved to ENE, then fell off almost entirely until it popped up again around 1 pm EST from the SW. Light to moderate haze hid Mt Greylock for the first hour or so, then just showed an outline.
Raptor Observations: By far, our best daily migration count for August (and none too soon!) with a nice showing of Bald Eagles. Local raptors were active all day, with adult Eagles, Broad-wings and TVs making up the bulk of the action. Non-migrating raptors: Black Vulture-1, TV-5, Bald Eagle-5 (4 Ad, 1 Imm), Broad-wing-3, Red-shoulder-1, Red-tail-2.
Cindy and Lisa were a big help to Bill today.
In celebration of our 50th anniversary year on Wachusett, here's a look back to this date in 2018. Rod Chase wrote: "Locals (raptors): In 1st hour a Goshawk rode the wind up over our heads and THEN drifted down to rest in that bare snag of branches to the right of the north relay building! Plenty of time for viewing and ... if anyone had a camera. Not also was this wonderful but a return visit and longer pose from the snag left us cheering! A second Goshawk (darker underneath, fewer stripes) also went over high but left to NW." "Observers: Bill Rasku, Rod Chase, Kathy & Steve Olson, Marty McNamara. Newcomers Doug Wipf, Chris & Tim Eddy are locals -- and have some skills! All were fun and helpful and we hope they come back."
Non-raptor Observations: Non-raptors: Chimney Swift-1, Blue Jay-1, Comm Raven-3, Gr Catbird-1, R-E Vireo-1, E Towhee-1.
Predictions: It looks like rain all day on Tuesday, so we won't be conducting a watch. ======================================================================== Report submitted by ERIC MUELLER (<ericmueller1912...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
