Observation start time: 06:15:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 10 hours
Official Counter: Bob Secatore, Ted Mara
Observers: Christopher Godfrey, Judd Nathan, Kathryn Chihowski, Kathryn Chihowski, Mark Schoene, Paul Roberts, Peter Duffy, Susan Moses, Ted Mara
Visitors: Julie Roberts, Andrea Cannizzo, Cindy Gimbert, Tom Wetmore, John Stereman and Scott Granter.
Weather: Weak winds actually turned onshore by the 10 o'clock hour but turned WNW and finally west and strengthened greatly thereafter with gusts exceeding 30 mph at times.
Raptor Observations: Fairly feeble winds for the first few hours brought few raptors, but as WNW and W winds started ramping up during the 11 o'clock hour migrants started coming through in better numbers. And the last four hours of the watch period produced 229 additional birds, the bulk of them Kestrels often streaming through 5 or more at a time. Of the 329 total migrants, 278 were Kestrels.
Raptors that failed to migrate: several NH, 3 BE and several OS a few of which were local nesters. One large female CH is evidently a local nester.
Non-raptor Observations: Birds: The usual variety with several Great Egrets, 38 Double-crested Cormorants, several Ravens, Flickers.
Predictions: Favorable moderate WNW winds all day long with no rain and temps in the 50s and 60s. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Robert Secatore (<rs8843829...>) Plum Island MA information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
