Although northerly winds clearly dominated at higher altitudes, light southerly winds at the surface allowed for moderate to heavy migration over the region last night. Here’s the radar from sunset last night through 5:30am this morning.
Frames are every 1/2 hour for reflectivity and velocity, and every hour for the regional composite. Click on the thumbnail to view the full-sized animation.
As you can see from the composite image, migration was heaviest around the northeastern US and down around the Great Lakes, where southerly winds were strongest along the edge of the approaching cold front. Still, with clear skies and light winds over our area, Zugunruhe got the better of many birds that may have otherwise waited out better conditions just a weeks ago. Such are the patters of spring!
With no weather in the forecast to concentrate birds, but with light west winds over the state, I think the best bets for today will be inland migrant traps (Garret Mountain being my favorite) and coastal locations such as Sandy Hook. Of course, the best opportunity for diversity will be in south Jersey, and with the influx of birds apparent on the radar, we should see some new arrivals there this morning.
Be sure to come on back and let us know how it goes!
Good Birding
David
P.S. Come check out my migration forecast for the Mid-Atlantic on Birdcapemay.org
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4 responses to “New arrivals overnight”
The other evening (Monday?), although the skies were relatively clear, I did see an ‘explosion’ on the radar loop. So, from what I see here, I was likely seeing a wave of migrants moving through.
This is awesome!
Thanks.
I hit the Mill Creek Trails in Secaucus, where there was a good winter/spring mix.
Still lots of Ring-billed gulls, GW teals, wt sparrows and one wc sparrow but also a nice mix of palm warblers & Savannah sparrows, tree Swallow, greater YLs and one Snowy Egret
I did see a small flock of peeps with yellow/greenish legs… I’m guessing Least sandpiper
Light numbers of migrants at Garret Mt. on 4/17. Palm Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers and White-throated Sparrows were the only birds I’ve seen with an increase in numbers since Tuesday (4/15) night’s mass exodus.
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