More migration last night, but I’ve gotta get out early today so the radar will have to wait. You don’t have to though, as you can get the real-time (and archived) radar for today via this website:
http://weather.rap.ucar.edu/radar/
I’ll post an update with the radar and interpretation later today.
Until then, good birding!
David
With so many birds in the system right now it’s hard not to have some level of migration unless conditions are terrible for nocturnal flight. Last night the winds turned light and southerly over most of the region but birds still took advantage of the clear and stable atmosphere. 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.
As you can see from the regional composite, compared to two nights ago this event was more ‘interior’, with birds originating primarily from within New York State. The majority of birds throughout NY and NJ were heading NNE->SSW overnight, which would in turn favor inland migrant traps this morning. Places like Cold Brook Preserve in Hunterdon Co. should be good today given the number of sparrows on the move right now. Cape May, while not on the main axis of this flight, should still produce good birds today even if densities are down from the last two days.
Tonight expect winds again to turn northwesterly resulting in another late fall flight into the region. Stay tuned and I’ll keep you posted.
Good Birding
David
I have a single word to describe last night’s flight on the radar: WOW
Here’s it is 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.
It was hot and heavy across the entire region last night, but the heaviest movement was through NJ and the Delmarva. Looking at the regional composite you can actually see the highest densities of birds make their way down the state… very cool! Overall movement was NW->SE through central NJ, turning more N->S as you move into the southern reaches. This bodes well for both inland migrant traps as well as coastal ones such as Cape May…. In fact, Cape May should be excellent this morning. Gotta go- in the middle of smoking a whole pig and doing an impromptu Big Sit!
Good Birding
David
Finally the floodgates reopened over the NE and mid-Atlantic as winds turned WNW and skies cleared. 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.
I was a little late to get this post up, so I’ll make it short and sweet. BIRDS, and lots of them, were migrating from the Great Lakes east to the Atlantic coast and down as far as Florida. Heavy migration was apparent along the coast with the average direction of travel being NW->SE. This bodes extremely well for coastal migrant traps such as Cape May and Sandy Hook (but especially Cape May) as birds are funneled down the southern peninsula from both inland New Jersey and coastal New England. I would be surprised if we didn’t see some vagrant species in the state today given the previous weather pattern (several days of strong SW winds originating from the northern Plains region) followed by northwest winds…. an early Cave Swallow, and possibly an interior Ammodramus or two… plus the chance for a good Golden Eagle flight seems likely.
Okay- on that note, get out and BIRD!
Good Birding
David
Migration was light last night, but also highly directional from west to east suggesting a concentration along the coast this morning. Higher densities in southern NJ further suggest that Cape May (rather than Sandy Hook) will hold more birds this morning. Western wanderers such as Cave Swallow or perhaps another Ash-throated Flycatcher are definitely possible today. If I can get the radar up later today, I will. Until then, enjoy the day!
Good Birding
David
Badbirdz-Reloaded