Observation start time: 06:30:00 Observation end time: 13:30:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Bob Secatore, Brian Rusnica
Observers: Bob Secatore, Brian Rusnica, Christopher Godfrey, Harry Wales, Janet Kovner, John Cannizzo, Kathryn Chihowski, Mark Timmerman, Nancy Given, Paul Roberts
Visitors: Visitors: Andrea Cannizzo. A relatively small number of refuge visitors stopped by on their way to the rest rooms.
Our counter team today (in no particular order): Harry Wales, Chris Godfrey, Kathryn Chihowski, Amy Maurer, Judd Nathan, Brian Rusnica, Paul & Julie Roberts, John Cannizzo, Mark Timmerman, Janet Kovner, Nancy Given, Caitlin Callahan, Dan Lounsbury and Bob Secatore.
Weather: We conducted a watch between 6:30 am and 1:30 pm, and variable weather unfortunately played havoc with our efforts all day. Early on, things looked promising; wind was manageable, out of the west and at moderate speed. But, just before 10:00am, it started raining and only two counters stayed at the platform to monitor any movement for the next hour and a half while several of us opted to wait it out elsewhere. When rain ended around 10:30, several of us returned to the platform and birds again started moving through in modest numbers. Unfortunately, the wind velocity then got really high and only a few additional migrants passed through. Finally, at 1;30 the rain started once again and the watch ended at that point.
Raptor Observations: In all, we recorded 14 migrants today including 1 BE, 2 NH, 3 SS, 3 AK and 5 ML.
Raptors that were seen but failed to migrate: At least 12 TVs, 1 BE, 1 imm Red-tail and 1 or 2 NH.
Non-raptor Observations: Other birds: Given the weather extremes, few birds were seen: 3 Blue Jays, 1 Great Egret, our usual pair of Mallards that have again taken up residence nearby, a single Northern Gannet that provided a great fly-by view and approximately 22 Double-crested Cormorants.
Predictions: Winds NW and NNW 8 to 11 mph with gusts of 25 mph possible. Temps 54 to 70 deg F. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Robert Secatore (<rs8843829...>) Plum Island MA information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
