Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 13:30:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours
Official Counter: Eric Mueller, Mark Morris
Observers: Eric Mueller, Ernie Leblanc, Jack Miano, Jean Hampel, Joanne Hart, Paul Vanderhoof
Visitors: Andy Thompson from the Athol Bird & Nature Club stopped by, and Sundar Laks helped out for an hour or so. We hope to see both of you up here again.
We enjoyed having Wachusett Mt stalwart Paul Vanderhoof join us for the first time here. He dove right in and made a lot of first spots, and worked seamlessly with the team.
Weather: A kind of a "meh" combination of a bit too little sun and not quite enough wind in the morning. A bit of haze in the morning gave way to pretty clear air in the afternoon. Temps rose from 46 to 60 F. The winds came from various easterly directions until the late morning when they started to shift to the south.
Raptor Observations: The birds weren't very impressed with the lack of big thermal activity, nor the weak easterly winds early on. Other than the morning Turkey Vultures and one mini-kettle of 5 Broad-wings, the birds came through only in ones and twos, and they were generally flying at lower altitudes than the last few days. There seemed to be more activity from the local birds than from the migrants. Still, we can't complain too much about counting 84 migrating birds.
Local raptors: OS-2, TV-29, BE-4, CH-2, RS-1, BW-2, RT-4, AK-2
Non-raptor Observations: Non-raptors: D-C Cormorant-9, Mourning Dove-2, GB Heron-1, N. Flicker-1, Red-bellied WP-1, Hairy WP-1, Y-B Sapsucker (drumming)-1, Blue Jay-8, Amer Crow-11, Fish Crow-1, Comm Raven-4, Tree Swallow-1, Rough-winged Swallow-2, WB Nuthatch-1, E Starling-14, Amer Robin-1, Bluebird-1, House Finch-1, House Sparr-10, Field Sparr-2, Song Sparr-1, Wht-Thr Sparr-1, E. Towhee-1, Amer Goldfinch-4, House Finch-2, Pine Siskin-4, Comm Grackle-1, N. Cardinal-2
Predictions: A weak front will pass through overnight and bring along rain that's expected to last until at least 10 am on Saturday. Winds are expected to shift from the SW to W after the rain passes, and we hope to get in a half-day of observation time or more. ======================================================================== Report submitted by ERIC MUELLER (<ericmueller1912...>) Adams Farm - Athol MA information may be found at: https://massbird.org/emhw/
