National Overview
Last night we saw migration continue across most of the eastern half of the U.S. with the heaviest movements over south Texas and up into the Appalachians and the Ohio Valley. A large low-pressure system is moving across the Plains region and is expected to keep pushing east over the next few days. Expect the system to produce some thunderstorms, precipitation, and eventually northwest winds as high pressure builds in behind it. We should, therefore, see a marked decrease in the flow of migrants over the next few nights and continuing into early next week. Another frontal system is expected to enter the Plains region by early next week, bringing the next round of southerly winds and chance for migration. Expect migration conditions to improve across the country through the middle of next week as well.
Below are the radar loops from sunset last night through 5:00am this morning
New Jersey (Mid-Atlantic)
Frames are every 1/2 hour. Click on the thumbnail to view the full-sized animation.
The Mid-Atlantic was ‘more of the same’, with most migrants taking the western route across the Delmarva and New Jersey. The result is more birds throughout Pennsylvania and around the Washington D.C. area this morning. Birds will be spread out across the landscape, so hitting the spring migrant traps will be your best bet. As far as New Jersey is concerned, only in the northwest corner do we see appreciable migration on last night’s radar suggesting it will be difficult to turn over many new birds elsewhere in the state this morning. Local movements are probable, so checking out optimal habitat farther inland today may result in finding some mixed feeding flocks of migrants.
Wisconsin (Upper Midwest)
Frames are every 1/2 hour. Click on the thumbnail to view the full-sized animation.
Migration continues across the Upper Midwest but at a much reduced magnitude than we saw over the last few nights. Still, birds last night were heading SSW->NNE across the region which should result in some turnover at many locations this morning. Light and scattered precipitation did move through the region and will continue into today, but all precipitation appeared to be small and local enough not to force birds out of the sky. Therefore I wouldn’t expect any fallout conditions today.
Good Birding
David
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