Observation start time: 08:15:00 Observation end time: 12:00:00 Total observation time: 3.75 hours
Official Counter: Eric Mueller
Observers: Joanne Hart, Ted Purcell, Tom Gottschang
Visitors: Thanks to Ted, Tom and Joanna for coming up on a day that didn't promise much of a reward. We also got help from our friend Bette. Lots of sightseers and hikers who braved the winds up on the platform for as long as they could in order to take in the great scenery. A pair of mounted State Police officers rode their horses up the auto road and posed for pictures with the public. No "presents" were left behind on the summit.
Weather: A very windy day, with WSW to W winds averaging 8-12 mph but with frequent gusts of 15-20 mph that started topping out at over 25 mph at the end. Sunny skies turned to mostly cloudy, with temps ranging from 49 to 57 F. Moderate humidity left a light haze in the air, but otherwise fine visibility.
Raptor Observations: If it hadn't been for the gusty West winds, today would have been a great day for hawk watching. But with few birds appearing and a forecast of gusts over 30 mph in the next hour, we decided to end the watch early today. The birds that we did see were either traveling very low, or were struggling mightily against the wind.
In celebration of our 50th anniversary year on Wachusett, here's a look back at events on this date in previous years In 2018, Rod Chase wrote: "First hour revealed 2 small groups of TV's working from NE to NW who stayed low and were working the low ridges for updraft. Getting whatever height they could, they did a steep peel that did advance their eventual arrival past the west gravel pit. From there they worked the ridges that work S or SW. I kept losing them but caught them over and over as they caught enough updraft to peel again. Low but determined travel. This trip was 35-45 minutes but the 7 birds were almost the only show in town." Visitors: "Delightful conversations with Monica Flint (lives near Hawk Mountain) and a dear friend from England, Caroline Romijn, who were together for a couple of weeks after not seeing each other for 30 years! Also Brad Shaddock from Cuttyhunk (hope I got that right) who also had bird and other stories that were a great way to pass the last half hour."
In 2025, Eric Mueller wrote: "Thanks to our well-bundled-up crew who dealt with wind-chill factors in the 30's and 40's, and clear blue skies overhead all day. We had a great turnout in anticipation of a great flight that turned out to be pretty good. The count was our best in 10 days, although we're still waiting for the TV migration to kick into high gear. The clear air let us see many distant birds that were too far away to ID well." (note 53 total birds, with 11 UA/URs) Other observers: Christine Restell, Cindy Rost, David Brown, Greg McGuane, Hayley Morway, Jean Hampel, Joanne Hart, Joe Fountain, Lisa Burwell, Marty McNamara, Paul Vanderhoof, Susan Moses and Tom Gottschang.
Non-raptor Observations: Canada Goose-30, N Mockingbird-1 (thanks Bette), Blue Jay-1, Comm Raven-2.
Predictions: Saturday's forecast is the best that we've had in quite a while. A strong high pressure system over New England should bring mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies, temps in the upper 40's to upper 50's, NNW to WNW winds at 6-7 mph, and moderate to low humidity. It doesn't much better than this in October. The cool temperatures, plentiful sunshine and light winds should set up very good thermals, and NW winds throughout New England should bring birds in our direction. ======================================================================== Report submitted by ERIC MUELLER (<ericmueller1912...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
