Observation start time: 08:15:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 5.75 hours
Official Counter: Mark Morris
Observers: Ed Bogle, Greg McGuane, Joanne Hart, Joe Fountain, Lisa Burwell, Ted Purcell
Visitors: Mark thanks all of the observers listed above who braved the strong winds.
In addition to the usual hikers and sightseers, Pat Simmons, Jody Naze and Dave Shattuck stopped in.
Weather: The summit was covered loosely with fog for the first 45 minutes that eroded eventually into mostly cloudy skies, with some lingering low clouds and persistent haze throughout the duration. Winds were active throughout primarily from the West at 10-18 mph with gusts regularly into the 20's and reaching 30 mph in the last two hours. Temps were in the mid to upper 70's. Visibility was fair as we were able to just make out Mt. Monadnock, the Pawtuckaways, and the Boston skyline.
Raptor Observations: This was a day that all the Raptors, migrating or local, did not want to go high because of the stiff West winds all day. We only had 6 migrating Raptors, but adding in the non-migrants, we had a respectable 9 species tallied. Mark witnessed an early dog fight between a Red-shoulder and 2 Broad Wings sparring out to the East. Several times, we had at least 3 Bald Eagles rise together, with one group being all immature birds. The highlight of today�s count was Joe Fountain and Mark watching a pair of Merlins rise up over the Oak trees to the NW and chase each other around, with the female doing these tight, supersonic turns in the wind like a jet fighter! That was worth today�s efforts!
In celebration of our 50th anniversary year on Wachusett, here's a look back at events on this date: In 1978, 252 migrating raptors were counted, including 216 Broad-wings and 10 Ospreys. In 1983, 147 migrating raptors were counted, including 130 Broad-wings. In 2005, Jane Stein wrote: Slightly hazy blue sky made spotting difficult, and with many birds getting great lift, a lot may have gotten by us unobserved. One of our best Bald Eagle days with a total of 9, but oddly only 9 Osprey. Counter: Jane Stein. Observers: Ann Howe, Dale Bryant, Paul Roberts, Ted Mara, along with Fay and Peter Vale, Vic Himber, John and Anna Gargas, Dave and Ursula Goodine, Jackie Boucher, Eliot Taylor. (Eric�s note: 383 birds counted, including 332 Broad-wings.)
Non-raptor Observations: Non-raptors: R.T.Hummingbird-1, Chimney Swift-1, Blue Jay-4, Comm Raven-4, Cedar WW-1, E.Towhee-3, A.Goldfinch-1
Predictions: A mild cold front is passing through Thursday evening, bringing cooler temperatures (low 60's to 70 F) on Friday, drier air, clear skies and 7-9 mph NW to WNW winds. This should get the birds that were hunkered down today back up into the air and headed our way again. ======================================================================== Report submitted by ERIC MUELLER (<ericmueller1912...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
