Observation start time: 08:15:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 6.75 hours
Official Counter: Eric Mueller
Observers: Cindy Rost, John Edmondson, Lena Ficco, Melissa Aldrich, Paul Vanderhoof, Scott Wahlstrom, Tom Gottschang
Visitors: Thanks to all of our observers noted above who came up despite the forecast of 25+ mph wind gusts and low temperatures. We also got much appreciate help from Gates Dupont, and Maili and Liam Waters.
Hundreds of hikers and sightseers made their way up to the summit, but most didn't spend too much time on the platform once the cold wind hit them.
Weather: A windy day, but not as windy as had been predicted. WNW winds averaged 8-12 mph, with gusts from 16-20 mph that settled down after the first 4 hours. Temps barely budged all session, ranging only from 38 to 41 F. A large shelf of high, relatively dense stratus clouds hung over us for much of the day, teasing us with blue sky to the north. The shelf slowly moved south, and only let the sunshine that had been forecasted for noon finally reach us at 2:30 pm EST. Low isolated rain cells moved across the NH border for the first 4 hours, with one passing just northeast of us. General visibility was fine all day except where low clouds out toward the horizon blocked our view here and there. Snow-covered Mt Washington gleamed brilliantly in the sunshine several times. Raptor Observations: The flight started quite late with only 5 migrating birds appearing before 10:30 am EST. The cloud shelf overhead thinned out a bit after that and the birds began to move, but the light was still poor enough that many of the wind-aided birds streaking by were tough to ID. Over a quarter of today's total ended up in the various Unidentified categories. Non-migrating raptors: Black Vulture-3, TV4-, Bald Eagle-3 (1 ad, 2 imm), Sharp-shin-1 Red-shoulder-1, Red-tail-3, Amer Kestrel-1, Merlin-2.
In celebration of our 50th anniversary year on Wachusett, here's a look back at events on this date in previous years: In 2024, the 11th highest Turkey Vulture count (137) in Wachusett Mt history. Mark Morris wrote: "Turkey Vultures finally started coming through in larger numbers today, including several double-digit kettles riding up on the thermals.�The bird of the day was an immature American Goshawk that flew by!" "The Goshawk was first spotted at or slightly above eye level to the Northeast, well within binocular range. Observers Evan Lipton, Christine Restell, Jean Hampel and I all acquired the bird as a big, bulky, brown accipiter that glided by with an apparent full crop of food. I announced 'accipiter' as it rose slightly where I could see the heavy streaking underneath and its large size. Evan Lipton then suggested Goshawk. I immediately agreed and announced 'Goshawk' as the bird leveled and then turned downward below eye level revealing its big tube body and brown back."
In 2025, Eric Mueller wrote: "The local birds put on quite a show with interactions between the Red-tails and Ravens lasting well over an hour." "Along with the Ravens interacting with the Red-tails so actively, the highlights of the non-raptors were the appearance of the male Horned Lark for the second day, and an Amer. Pipit which flew around the summit." "Several hundred leaf peepers and other sightseers along with many dogs, plus the first French Horn performance on the summit that anyone remembers." Other observers: Bill Rasku, Christine Restell, Cindy Rost, David Brown, Hayley Morway, Janet Kovner, Julie Roberts, Lisa Burwell, Pam Landry, Paul Roberts.
Non-raptor Observations: Canada Goose-143, Comm Merganser-1, Comm Loon-1, Amer Black Duck-7, N Pintail-2, duck species-4, gull species-2, Blue Jay-4, Comm Raven-4, BC Chickadee-1, DE Junco-19.
Other animals - our friendly (oblivious?) young Porcupine.
Predictions: For Sunday, we expect full sun, very little wind, low humidity and temps from 39 to 52 F. Both visibility and thermal activity should be great. With little appreciable wind to work with, many of the migrating birds will need to kettle up, so we should get extended looks at them. Not sure how many of the normally wind-loving eagles we should expect though. ======================================================================== Report submitted by ERIC MUELLER (<ericmueller1912...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
