National overview
Trans-Gulf migration into the Texas coast was followed by widespread nocturnal migration across most of the country last night. Notable exceptions were the areas under the control of high pressure such as New England and the Four Corners region of the Southwestern U.S. Migration was heaviest up the central U.S. from Oklahoma to southeastern Wisconsin, and east to the Ohio Valley and Appalachian Mountains.
Below are the radar loops from sunset last night through 5:00am (central time) this morning
Ohio/Ontario
Frames are every 1/2 hour. click on the thumbnail to view the full-sized animation.
Last night was the moment we’ve all been waiting for: the levee has finally broken! Low pressure over the Great Lakes brought a series of frontal boundaries over Point Pelee last night setting up a strong southwesterly flow across the forecast region. While we would have preferred a more southerly flow (as had been forecast in previous days), the magnitude of migration to the south means that plenty of birds were over Pelee at daybreak this morning.
Looking at both the Detroit and Cleveland radars it is clear that migration density was high and birds were moving fast with a strong tailwind. The velocity images indicate SSW->NNE movement across the region, and little precipitation was present to knock birds down last night. This means birds will be widespread across the forecast area today with excellent concentrations only at tried and true spring stopover hotspots. Point Pelee will be good today, as will Rondeau and Long Point. Warming temperatures today should bring more birdsong to the region as well.
In a few words: GET OUT THERE AND BIRD!
As always, woodcreeper.com depends on you to report your sightings and be our ‘eyes on the ground’, so please come back and give us an idea of how we’re doing predicting birding conditions in your neck of the woods.
Good Birding,
David
For migration updates in other regions check-
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula -Â The Northwoods BIRDARÂ by Max Henschell
New England -Â Tom Auer’s blog
Florida/SE - Badbirdz Reloaded by Angel and Mariel Abreu
PA/Ohio Valley - Nemesis Bird by Drew Weber
NW Ohio - Birding the Crane Creek by Kenn Kaufman
Pac NW - Birds Over Portland by Greg Haworth
Continental US - eBird BirdCast Forecast & Report by Team eBird