Observation start time: 09:45:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 3.5 hours
Official Counter: Eric Mueller
Observers: Visitors: With the auto road closed for the season, only hikers and bicyclists can come up now - probably about 50-60 today. I had some nice conversations with several people, and commiserated with others about the lack of visibility of Mt. Washington today.
Weather: Mostly sunny skies, 8-12 mph WNW winds most of the session with some higher gusts, and temps from 54 to 64 F. Despite low humidity, there was moderate haze that masked details on more distant landmarks.
Raptor Observations: A late start to the watch, but even then, I didn't see any raptors, local or migrating until 11 am EST. The migrating TVs that have been making up the bulk of our recent counts just didn't show up today. Even the local birds that did appear weren't very active.
Non-migrating raptors: Black Vulture-3, TV-4, Bald Eagle-2 adults, Red-tail-2 (1 adult, 1 juv)
In celebration of our 50th anniversary year on Wachusett, here's a look back at events on this date in previous years
In 2019, Rod Chase wrote: "The last drive-up crowd (assuming no one came in Sunday's rain?) was modest and all friendly -- both those who knew what we were doing and many who were delighted to find out. The daily hikers all know us, for sure, and many have our names down pat!" "Other observers: Dave Brown, Eric Mueller, Joanne Hart, Tom Pirro, Tom Gottschang, Joe Bourget. Also helping were Alicia and Joe Kendall, Rick Quimby, and Lauren Konicky."
Non-raptor Observations: The only non-raptor appearance today was an impressive one - 25 Common Ravens, wheeling, circling and diving on each other, with plenty of raspy calls.
Predictions: A cold front moves through tonight, bringing lower temps tomorrow morning (42-52 F) along with slightly gentler winds (5-7 mph) coming straight out of the north. Sunny skies and low humidity should give us fine visibility as long as the front moves some of the haze out.
Eric will be at the summit around 10 am EDT. ======================================================================== Report submitted by ERIC MUELLER (<ericmueller1912...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
