Observation start time: 08:15:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 4.75 hours
Official Counter: Eric Mueller
Observers: Bill Rasku, Tom Gottschang
Visitors: Hundreds of sightseers, dozens of dogs and one cat (Wild Thing with his human Bruce.) We had good conversions about our work with over a dozen people.
Weather: Another pleasant warm and sunny day, but with moderate to strong winds coming from the SW. Some clouds appeared mid-morning which helped with locating some of the birds. Somewhat hazier than yesterday with slightly higher humidity, but we could still make out Mt Greylock, Stratton Mt and Boston, just not clearly.
Raptor Observations: Thanks to Bill Rasku and Tom Gottschang for their hard work today. No migrating raptors for a second day, but today we could blame the SW winds. The local raptors seemed to enjoy the winds, using them to swoop around the mountain repeatedly.
Non-migrating raptors: TV - 6 (minimum number) Bald Eagle - 1 (AD - minimum number) Cooper's Hawk - 1 (tangled once with a circling Red-shoulder) Red-shouldered Hawk - 1 (2nd day in a row that another raptor dove on it while it was innocently circling. It don't get no respect!) Red-tailed Hawk - 1 (AD - minimum number) Broad-winged Hawk - 3 (all Juveniles, playing together and hawking insects. There might be a 4th BW - one bird we spotted had a white patch on its upper left wing which we hadn't noticed on the other birds before)
Non-raptor Observations: Non-raptors: Rock Pigeon - 1 MODO - 1 Chimney Swift - 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2 Comm Raven - 3 Tree Swallow - 1 Barn Swallow - 3 swallow sp- 4 Cedar Waxwing - 1 E. Towhee - 1
Predictions: Similar weather to today with highs in the upper 70's, a bit higher humidity and cloudier skies. Winds will continue from the SSW, averaging 10-12 mph. This doesn't bode well for seeing migrating birds. ======================================================================== Report submitted by ERIC MUELLER (<ericmueller1912...>) Wachusett Mountain information may be found at: http://www.massbird.org/emhw
