Observation start time: 07:45:00 Observation end time: 10:00:00 Total observation time: 2.25 hours
Official Counter: Bob Secatore
Observers: Dick Hughes, Harry Wales
Visitors: Marge Watson, Tom Graham and Gary Herritz. Gary was an experienced hawk watcher in southern Arizona and has now relocated here on the North Shore. Gary plans to join our hawk watch team, and he'll be a welcome addition.
Weather: A very weak west wind was overcome by a strong onshore breeze just before 10:00 AM EST.
Raptor Observations: We recorded 6 migrants today: 2 NH (one of them an adult male), 2 Sharp-shins, 1 TV and 1 UR. The Sharp-shins were at least 1 thousand feet up and spiraling upward before peeling off to the north.
Raptors that were seen but failed to migrate: 6 TV, Several local OS and 2 NH.
Non-raptor Observations: Other birds: First Willet of the season arrived. Blue Jays, Flickers, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Killdeer.
Predictions: Southwest winds turning to WSW in afternoon and of sufficient velocity to push migrants up against the coast. Many of our best Sharp-shin days at Plum Island have been when the wind is out of the southwest. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Robert Secatore (<rs8843829...>) Plum Island MA information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
