Observation start time: 08:15:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 4.75 hours
Official Counter: Eric Mueller
Observers: John Edmondson, Paul Vanderhoof, Tom Gottschang
Visitors: Hundreds of sightseers on this holiday weekend. Some soggy hikers who got caught in the rain on their way up.
My thanks to Tom, John and Paul for their excellent work today.
Weather: A mostly cloudy day with temps that bounced up and down between 69 and 73 F after the first hour. Winds were generally from the NE at 4-7 mph with occasional gusts to 12 mph. Visibility was good with Boston and the VT mountains visible almost all of the session. A rain cell appeared to the NE around noon, and finally hit us at 1:20 pm EDT. Paul and I stuck around to see if the cell would pass by quickly, but after 40 minutes, it was still raining lightly and visibility on the summit was poor, so we left. Radar later showed more rain cells moving down from the north.
Raptor Observations: We improved on yesterday's results (40 vs 31 migrants), and undoubtedly would have done even better if the rain storm hadn't interrupted the flow. It did appear that a number of birds moved ahead of the storm, including small groups of Broadwings and Sharpies. We were pleased again to see 7 different raptor species pass through. One Osprey passed by with something smallish in its talons, and John's photo revealed what looked like the remains of a fish. We're guessing that it had to leave its feeding grounds before finishing its meal, perhaps the result of a marauding Bald Eagle.
There wasn't much variety today in the non-migrating raptors - TV-19, Bald Eagle-3 (Ad-1, Imm-2) and Red-tail-2 (Juv).
In celebration of our 50th anniversary year on Wachusett, here's a look back to this date in 2020. Rod Chase wrote: �Another day with some nice surprises -- including more than twice yesterday's count (58 total today.) The nice surprises: 2 RS (Red-shoulder) adults 9:40 and 10:32; 2 Black Vultures at 9:47 with the "chopped off tail" and white showing on the end of wings �� �A 3rd BV also passed, not as close, at 1:15.�� �Finally, we had a subadult Golden Eagle moving early in September?! The large underwing white patches were visible, the white at base of tail seen only when it banked to turn though tail not fully open so I couldn't see the white bands on tail; however, the smaller white patches on top of wing also visible.� (note from Eric - I was walking up to the tower just as the GE left. Missed seeing it by "that much". Had to wait until November to see my first Golden)
Non-raptor Observations: Non-raptors: D-C Cormorant-6 (flyby),Cedar WW-2, MODO-1, Comm Raven-12, D-E Junco-6, E Towhee-2.
Predictions: Another promising day with even cooler temperatures (high 50's to mid-60's), 5-8 mph winds from NNE to NNW, and mostly cloudy conditions changing to partly cloudy around noon. There is the possibility of some showers in the area ending by 8 am that might leave some fog/clouds at the summit. Check the Wachusett ski area web cams at https://www.wachusett.com/the-mountain/media-center/webcams/ for some idea of conditions at the top. Dress warmly in any case. ======================================================================== Report submitted by ERIC MUELLER (<ericmueller1912...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
