Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 11:30:00 Total observation time: 3.5 hours
Official Counter: Bob Secatore
Observers: Mark Schoene Visitors: Sam Miller, Carla Dengler, Harris Stein, Liz Natenshon and Edward Stearns.
Weather: Steady, moderate WNW winds throughout watch period. Almost complete cloud cover at start steadily decreased to only 40% at close providing welcome warming at platform with temps rising from 40 deg F to 48 deg F at close.
Raptor Observations: Three brown NHs migrated through, all during 10 o'clock hour.
Two or three additional NHs were observed but did not migrate (one ad male among them). Other local raptors: 7 TVs, 3 BEs and one RTH perched near our platform.
Over a period of about 25 seconds, one of the brown NHs made repeated dives while hovering at low altitude at a flock of 14 Goldeneyes swimming in the river just west of the platform. On each attempt, 2 or 3 of the ducks just below the harrier would plunge below water level to avoid capture.
Non-raptor Observations: Three Ravens, one Tree Swallow (first of season), Goldeneyes, House Finch pair copulating atop kiosk at platform (a pair has nested there for the past few years), 4 Killdeer.
Predictions: Much colder with sustained W winds between 17 and 20 mph and gusting to 30+ mph. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Robert Secatore (<rs8843829...>) Plum Island MA information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
