Observation start time: 06:30:00 Observation end time: 10:15:00 Total observation time: 3.75 hours
Official Counter: Bob Secatore
Observers: Kathryn Chihowski, Ted Mara
Visitors: Jim & Christina MacDougall (Jim has been involved with conservation projects for a long time and is currently working with Green Belt), Matt Sabourin, Marj Watson and Andy Sanford.
Weather: Fairly gentle (4 to 6 mph) west, NW and WNW winds, temps 13 to 20 deg C and mostly cloudy (65% cover) until the very end of watch. Not surprisingly, an onshore breeze took over during the last half hour of the watch.
Raptor Observations: We recorded four migrants today--three Sharp-shins and one Merlin.
Raptors seen but failed to migrate: 2 TV, 1 imm BE (a 1-year-old), at least 2 NH and several resident OS.
Non-raptor Observations: Other birds: A slow but steady trickle of Blue Jays, 2 Raven, several Fish Crows, 2 Great Egrets, 1 Great Blue Heron and at least 60 Double-crested Cormorants. A number of birders stopped by en route to the restrooms after birding on the island and all agreed that the diversity and concentration of warblers on island was pretty low today: this might at least in part explain the low number of Sharpies in our count.
Predictions: Forecast is for 12 to 15 mph NE and ENE winds all day with rain showers all afternoon and temps in the mid-40's (7 to 8 deg C). No hawk watch will be conducted. ======================================================================== Report submitted by Robert Secatore (<rs8843829...>) Plum Island MA information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
