Observation start time: 07:30:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours
Official Counter: Eric Mueller, Mark Morris
Observers: Eric Mueller, Ernie Leblanc, Jack Miano, Mark Morris, Ted Purcell
Visitors: Several people on shopping runs stopped by to find out why we were shouting so much and pointing at the sky.
Weather: Bright skies with only high, thin clouds above us, temps in the 50's and low 60's, and a very light wind from the West. Low humidity gave us clear views throughout the day.
Raptor Observations: Our best daily count ever in the short history of this site, both for total migrating raptors (707), and for Broad-wings (683). And having a great crew of experienced hawk watchers made the count go very smoothly.
The day started slowly, probably because of the light winds, and late in the morning, we were wondering if we were going to see many birds. But once the sun got the ground heated up, the thermals kicked in, and at around 11:30 EST (12:30 EDT) the 'wings started coming through in droves. Many were spotted at and stayed at very high altitude, so I'm guessing that there were good northerly/westerly winds aloft for the birds to ride. The flight dropped off substantially after 1 pm.
Local raptors: Black Vulture-2, TV-17 (Eric started at 7:30 EST and missed much of the local roost coming up), BE-2 (1 ad, 1 imm), CH-3 (lots of courtship flight displays), BW-2, RT- 3 (2 ad, 1 imm with a flight feather sticking up on its left wing)
Non-raptor Observations: Non raptors: D-C Cormorant-5, Mourning Dove-1, N. Flicker-1, Red-bellied WP-1, Downy WP, Y-B Sapsucker (drumming)-1, E. Phoebe-1, Chimney Swift-1 (first of the year spotted by Ernie), Blue Jay-2, Amer Crow-4, Fish Crow-1, Comm Raven-6, Tree Swallow-2, BC Chickadee-1, T Titmouse-2, WB Nuthatch-1, E Starling-8, Amer Robin-2, Bluebird-2, A Goldfinch-2, House Finch-2, House Sparr-6, Field Sparr-2, Song Sparr-4, Wht-Thr Sparr-1, E. Towhee-2, Amer Goldfinch-1, House Finch-2, Pine Siskin-1, N. Cardinal-3
Predictions: A front is moving in from the south, and the chances of rain throughout the morning into the early afternoon range from 25% to 50%. Mark will make a last minute decision on whether to conduct a watch. ======================================================================== Report submitted by ERIC MUELLER (<ericmueller1912...>) Adams Farm - Athol MA information may be found at: https://massbird.org/emhw/
