Well, it’s not a major movement over New Jersey, but birds are clearly on the move. The winds are light and from the southeast, making for some nice migration conditions.

I’m on my way to Florida tomorrow morning, so I may not be able to update the site as often as I’d like. Please use the websites under Radar Study, on the right-hand sidebar, to get your weather fix. For real-time radar, use the NCAR site.

On another note, this evening Tess (the dog) and I parked ourselves out by the fields behind the house to watch for woodcocks. Just after 7:10pm, on the highest snag above the forest, appeared the Great-horned Owl. I say “the” because I’ve heard one hooting from this same area for the past three years. Once in awhile, when I’m heading out to do bird surveys early in the morning, s/he will be perched on the snag watching over the forest, but no matter how many times it happens, it’s always exciting to see it. Right about the time when I noticed the owl, several American Woodcock began “peent”ing and eventually doing their aerial display. In total, there were over 6 that either displayed or simply flew over the fields during the hour that I watched. At one point a couple flew over and headed toward the corner of the field, close to the woods. When I looked up for the owl it was gone…I wonder if it had gone after the woodcocks!

Spring is coming on strong…I can’t help but think my backyard will be quite different even after only a week away.

Good Birding!

David