Date: 10/24/26 7:22 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] Wachusett Mountain (24 Oct 2026) 42 Migrating Raptors - 1 more day to drive to the summit
Date: Sat, 24 Oct 2026 23:52:04 +0000 From: <reports...> Subject: Wachusett Mountain (24 Oct 2026) 42 Migrating Raptors - 1 more day to drive to the summit
Wachusett Mountain Princeton, Massachusetts, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 24, 2026 -------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 08:15:00 Observation end time: 14:30:00 Total observation time: 6.25 hours
Official Counter: Eric Mueller
Observers: Joanne Hart, Paul Vanderhoof, Scott Carlson, Tom Gottschang
Visitors: Thanks as always to our observers Tom, Paul, Scott and Joanne for perservering with me through long stretches with few birds and many leaf peepers.
With AppleFest II in full swing down at the ski area, and bright dry skies, over a thousand people made their way to the summit to take in the sights, bringing along dozens of dogs and children, and languages from all over the globe.
Weather: A strong high pressure system sat over us, with the barometric pressure hovering around 30.5 in Hg all day. The day started with a temperature inversion (32F down in Sterling, 44 at the summit) that didn't resolve until almost 11 am EST. There were patches of haze scattered around the landscape, and odd low stripes and patches of clouds in southern NH that gave the hilltops a pixelated look - very strange. The light morning wind throttled back to 1-3 mph around 10 am. The day's cloud cover was all thin cirrus, so plenty of sunlight came through. Temps ranged from 44 to 59 F. Humidity dropped from 41% at the beginning dowm to a parched 20% by 1:00 pm. Once the odd morning haze burned off, visibility was excellent.
Raptor Observations: With the morning's temperature inversion and with the wind reduced to a light breeze, there was no lift for the birds to use until almost 11 am EST (noon EDT.) At 11:15 am, a small burst consisting of 5 Red-shoulders and 4 TVs circled up near each other to our south. After another 2 hours of just single birds, a group of 8 TVs flew by, followed a little later by groups of 2 and 5 more TVs. Non-migrating raptors: TV-4, Bald Eagle-2 (Adult & Imm), Red-shoulder-2, Red-tail-5 (2 Adult, 3 Juv)
In celebration of our 50th anniversary year on Wachusett, here's a look back at events on this date in previous years: In 2021, Eric Mueller wrote: "Another very good day for us for late October with 108 migrants representing 9 different species." "As usual on a clear weekend day in October, hundreds of sightseers with dogs and children in various states of excitement and/or happiness." "Observers: we welcomed back our group's ex-El Presidente, Ted Mara, from his recent medical leave. Also, Bill Rasku, Dave Brown, Chris Eddy, Marty McNamara and Lisa Burwell."
In 2024, Eric Mueller wrote: "A very nice count for late October with 104 birds passing through. As expected, TVs were the most numerous but Sharpies and Coops made nice showings as well. The bird of the day was an adult American Goshawk which made a quick pass along the north edge of the summit and then plunged down to the west. This was the 2nd Goshawk of the season here, exactly 1 week after a juvenile was spotted here by two of the same spotters, Mark Morris and Evan Lipton. You guys are encouraged to come back as often as possible! Christine and John were also on the summit both times and undoubtedly added to the good mojo. This was the first time since 2018 that we've had more than one Goshawk in a season up here." "Other observers: Chris Eddy, Christine Restell, David Brown, Evan Lipton, Greg McGuane, Jack Miano, Janet Kovner, John Edmondson, Mark Morris, Ted Purcell, Tom Gottschang"
Non-raptor Observations: Comm Loon-6, gull sp-6, Blue Jay-2, Amer Crow-18 (migrating), Comm Raven-13, Snow Bunting-1, DE Junco-3
Predictions: Sunday will be the last day to drive to the summit until Memorial Day weekend 2027. The high pressure dome will continue over us, with totally sunny skies, very light winds, temps from 42 to 65 F, and low humidity. Keeping our fingers crossed that we don't get a repeat of today's temperature inversion, and instead get strong thermals early in the day so that the birds can get some lift. ======================================================================== Report submitted by ERIC MUELLER (<ericmueller1912...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
