Observation start time: 08:15:00 Observation end time: 14:30:00 Total observation time: 6.25 hours
Official Counter: Eric Mueller
Observers: Joe Fountain, Tom Gottschang
Visitors: My thanks to observers Tom and Joe for tracking down so many birds that dipped below the oaks and then popped up elsewhere. We appreciated the time Peg (with her 4-footed companion Lulu) spent looking for the birds.
Hundreds of hikers and sightseers came up to the summit to enjoy the great view. Many were delighted by the young porcupine who mostly ignored them while dining on the summit grass. The MA State Police conducted Search and Rescue training all over the mountain. Four very loud fighter jets passed overhead. Sightseer(s) drove up in their gorgeous green restored 1958(?) Diamond T truck with a chrome-plated camper body and diamond-plate storage boxes mounted to the frame rails. Truck enthusiasts were drooling...
Weather: An almost completely blue sky most of the day. SW to WSW winds at 6-7 mph most of the day with regular gusts to 10-12 mph in first few hours, a bit of a lull in the middle, picking up to a steady 10-12 mph in the last hour. Low humidity and very good visibility - just a touch of haze that muddied details on distant birds. Temps rose from 46 to 59 F.
Raptor Observations: A TV kind of day - they're finally moving in earnest. The wind was from the wrong direction, but once the gusts eased off in the late morning, the birds began to appear. Oddly, no Sharpies, Coops or falcons except for one UA, although we may have lost some of them below the mountain or up in the blue screen of death.
Non-migrating raptors: Black Vulture-4, TV-4(maybe more), Bald Eagle-3 (2 Ad, 1 Juv), Red-tail-2 (1 Ad, 1 Juv), Red-shoulder-1 (Juv). The juvenile RT and RS took turns buzzing one of the Ravens.
In celebration of our 50th anniversary year on Wachusett, here's a look back at events on this date in previous years In 2015, Steve Olson wrote: Good Bald Eagle day with total of eleven, but three immatures were flying North (not migrating). 2 Immature Golden Eagles. Other observers: Bill Rasku and Dave Brown. Visitors Liam Hart, Christine Restell and John Milhaven
In 2019, Rod Chase wrote: "SW wind was 20-25 mph/32-40 kph with gusts over 30/48." "The gusts disrupted the plans of most raptors. One PG Peregrine Falcon was seen at 9:03 winging low over the Wachusett Resevoir and staying on the lee side of the hills just east of the water. With much flapping the bird followed just under ridges until past Asnebumskit Hill (SW) before making the turn. Less than 10 minutes later a second PG followed a similar course except turned before the hill to start SW. Otherwise...well, hundreds of leaves passed over the summit area but were going in the wrong direction." Other observer: Eric Mueller
In 2021, the 31st largest Turkey Vulture count 54 in Wachusett Mt history. Rod Chase wrote: "Another good count for an October day - 108 migrants. As with yesterday, TV's were the most numerous of the 9 species that we counted. The birds were spotted all around the mountain. The thermals helped the birds to soar to high altitudes today, leaving some of us wishing for neck massages." Other observers: Eric Mueller, Steve Farrell, Tom Gottschang, Ursula and David Goodine, Lisa Burwell, Daniel Schell and Marty McNamara, with contributions from soon-to-be-addicted-to-hawk-watching Bob Young. Non-raptor Observations: Non-raptors: Canada Goose-108 (skeins of 28, 30 & 50), Mourning Dove-1, Blue Jay-2, Comm Raven-12, E Towhee-2. The sub-freezing temps overnight throughout much of New England probably got the geese moving.
Predictions: For Thursday, 9-12 mph WSW winds that will move to W around noon. Temps from the mid-50's to mid-60's, with moderate humidity lowering in the afternoon. Partly clouds skies should give a good background for spotting the higher-flying birds. We're expecting ever-increasing TV flights, and hope to see more accipitrines and hawks moving again. ======================================================================== Report submitted by ERIC MUELLER (<ericmueller1912...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
