Observation start time: 06:30:00 Observation end time: 13:30:00 Total observation time: 7 hours
Official Counter: Bob Secatore
Observers: Kathryn Chihowski, Paul Roberts, Peter Duffy, Ursula Goodine
Visitors: Andrea Cannizzo. A steady flow of visitors on their way to the restrooms many of whom were curious about our watch operation.
Weather: While today's forecast predicted moderate WNW and NW winds, reality set in when, within a half hour following the start of the watch, the WNW wind strengthened into the 30 to 40+ mph range with gusts even higher. But even when they did subside to a level more suitable for migration birds were simply not showing up.
Raptor Observations: The first four and a half hours of the watch produced no migrants whatsoever. Only after the stiff WNW winds subsided to more moderate levels did a rather meager trickle of raptors begin. In all, we counted 7 migrants: 1 NH, 4 AK (2 of them females) and 2 ML (1 of them a female).
Raptors that failed to migrate: 2 NH, 2 TV and several local OS.
Non-raptor Observations: Other birds: A very persistent Fish Crow carried on a lengthy attempt to get at the south Purple Martin gourds while being continually attacked by the Martins (there were at least 9 of them present today) before finally giving up. Also, 1 Snowy and 1 Great Egret and 9 Double-crested Cormorants.
Predictions: Southeast winds all day so not very promising for our purposes. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Robert Secatore (<rs8843829...>) Plum Island MA information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
