Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours
Official Counter: Nate Marchessault
Observers: Chuck Carlson, Julianne Timmerman, Mark Timmerman, Phil Brown, Tom Delaney, Tom Momeyer
Visitors: 17 visitors throughout the day, as the weather improved so did the number of folks visiting the Observatory!
Weather: Hovering in the mid to low 60s all day, a chilly start to Pack's official season start! Low clouds totally socked us in for the first couple hours, but after that visibility wasn't too bad other than a slight haze. Light east winds today and, accordingly, all raptors were seen to the east.
Raptor Observations: Better than anticipated given the forecast! Once the skies opened up, there were birds here and there throughout the count. Nice to see so many Osprey moving. 3 Turkey Vultures, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, and 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk were also observed not actively migrating.
Non-raptor Observations: A few migrants around, with eyes on a couple Cape Mays and a possible Magnolia Warbler.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird: 0 (15 this season) Monarch: 5 (23 this season)
Predictions: Tomorrow morning may start wet, but with the sun poking out in the afternoon, warmer temperatures, and a west wind there could be some birds on the move!
On this day in Pack history: "2008: Starting off the season with some Merlin fun. Official counter Julie Brown (then Tilden): ""Most of the birds were high and distant but we were rewarded with a few close sharpies and our first peregrine! Definite highlight of the day at 14:35: We watched a juve merlin for 12 minutes..take 40 seperate dives at the owl on the pole while vocalizing. We watched in awe as it harrassed a raven, chased a juve sharpie (also diving at owl), perched on a nearby snag and then caught, tasted and spit out a Monarch butterfly.""" ======================================================================== Report submitted by Nate Marchessault (<nate...>) Pack Monadnock Raptor Migration Observatory information may be found at: www.harriscenter.org
