Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours
Official Counter: Bill Rasku, Eric Mueller
Observers: Bill Rasku, Eric Mueller, Marty McNamara, Tom Gottschang
Visitors: At the summit, approx 50 hikers and a few bicyclists (the auto road is now closed to motor vehicles until next Spring). Dale and her dog Teddy made their daily trip up.
Weather: Almost cloudless skies all day, a bit windy for the first hour but then easing down to very gentle North winds for the rest of the day. Temps in the low to mid-40's all day. Low humidity and the best visibility in a while - Mt Washington was easily seen through binos. However, flattening of smoke from a large fire east of the mountain in the afternoon revealed a thermocline or other cap on rising air at around 2500 ft. which may have limited lift for the birds.
Raptor Observations: Bill and Marty observed at the North Rd overlook from 7:30 am to 2:00 pm EST, while Eric and Tom were on the summit from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. Notes have been added in each hour about where the birds were spotted. Birds were spotted more consistently down at the NRO, while the summit got a big boost at the end from a group of 20 TVs plus 2 distant trailers. Overall, we only spotted 4 identifiable species. A comparison of the two recording sheets showed only one sighting in common of migrants, a single Red-shoulder.
In celebration of our 50th anniversary year on Wachusett, here's a look back at events on this date in previous years: In 2022, the 5th largest Cooper's Hawk count (16, tied with 8 other dates), and the 7th largest Merlin count (6, tied with 4 other dates) in Wachusett Mt history. Eric Mueller wrote: "A good day for late October (103 migrants counted) with a good mix of birds - 10 different species represented. We had a nice showing of Cooper's Hawks and Kestrels, and a surprising number of Osprey (3) for this late in the season." "Other observers - Dave Brown, Greg McGuane, Joanne Hart, Marty McNamara, Mary Caulway, Rod Chase, Steve Farrell, Ted Mara. Greg Cravedi and Judy McGuane each lent a valuable hand with the hawk watch, as did a family visiting from Sweden - parents Hakan and Katherine, and sons Richard and Hemming. Hemming has the makings of an excellent birder, much like his father." Non-raptor Observations: Canada Goose-15, Blue Jay-3, Amer Crow-450 (24 groups of 4 to 85 birds - mostly at NRO), Comm Raven-12, DE Junco-3, Snow Bunting-2 (summit)
Predictions: No watch is planned for Wednesday. Visting hours and a memorial service for our departed hawk watcher Christine Restell will be held from 10 am to noon EDT at the Miles-Sterling Funeral Center at 100 Worcester St in Sterling MA. RIP dear friend. ======================================================================== Report submitted by ERIC MUELLER (<ericmueller1912...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
