Here’s the radar from sunset last night through 5:00am this morning.
Frames are every 1/2 hour. Click on the thumbnail to view the full-sized animation.
The national (not shown) and regional composites indicate that migration was heaviest along the Central and Mississippi flyways, and also heavy along most of the Eastern flyway, up to and including the southern Delmarva Peninsula. North of that, though, migration intensity declined sharply, such that there was only light migration in the Northeastern US. Winds were out of the WSW early in the night, which caused birds to head more ENE through midnight. Birds could be seen flying over the Cape May peninsula at peak migration last night, which is always a good indication that they’re being pushed eastward by the winds. By early this morning, though, the winds had turned more light and variable, and birds appear to have corrected their direction of travel back to a more SSW->NNE. By sunrise the majority of birds still in the air were heading into New Jersey via the northwest Delaware bay and/or the Delaware River floodplain.
With no weather present to concentrate birds, the best bet for diversity and numbers this morning will be the tried-and-true migrant traps. I’m pretty confident that Cape May will produce some good birding conditions this morning as well, given the number of birds apparently over the peninsula at peak migration last night. It looks as if the next front will approach the East Coast tonight, bringing with it the next bout of southwest winds along the eastern flyway. We should see a big push of birds into the region overnight tonight and into tomorrow morning… here we go again!
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Good Birding
David
One response to “More migrants headed this way”
Wow! Yes, the Delaware River – at least in Gloucester County – was hopping this morning. I only had 2 hours. I could have used more time! One of my better days at the National Park dredge spoils. Most stuff concentrated in those north woods. Here’s everything. I did walk the north dike by the marsh a bit also.
3 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS
1 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD
3 NORTHERN FLICKERS
1 EASTERN PEWEE
3 GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERS
5 EASTERN KINGBIRDS – breeders but new in.
2 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS
1 VEERY
9 WOOD THRUSHES -some were here before.
GRAY CATBIRDS
1 BLUE-WINGED WARBLER
2 NASHVILLE WARBLERS
20 PARULAS – at least!
1 YELLOW WARBLER
1 CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER
2 MAGNOLIA WARBLERS
3 BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS
10 or so YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS
3 BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS
1 BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER
1 PRAIRIE WARBLER – I think a migrant here.
3 BLACKPOLL WARBLERS
14 BLACK and WHITE WARBLERS
REDSTARTS – many. Too difficult to count everything around.
COMMON YELLOWTHROATS – I believe some new migrants in. I had them in different areas than before.
1 ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK
4 INDIGO BUNTINGS
SWAMP SPARROWS – again, I think many migrants around. They were in the woods area and not the marsh.
6 immature ORCHARD ORIOLE – males singing. No adults.
1 BALTIMORE ORIOLE – adult male.