Northwest winds and clear skies made for prime migration conditions across the Eastern Flyway last night. The mid-Atlantic was particularly active, with both NJ radars showing heavy southbound migration throughout the night. Here’s the radar from 6:00pm last night through 6:00am this morning.
Frames are every 1/2 hour. Click on the thumbnail to view the full-sized animation.
The northeastern composite image really tells the story. Migration was heaviest in the mid-Atlantic, and while present, was clearly lighter over the more northern states. The storms which appear at the bottom of the animation, are associated with a frontal boundary which passed over the region as a cold front yesterday, and returned today as a warm front. This is a pretty typical Fall weather pattern, and can lead to fallout conditions along the frontal boundary when migration is heavy. In the case of NJ, the front didn’t make it far enough north to cause any fallout conditions… maybe next time!
Despite the lack of a fallout, conditions should be very good in Cape May this morning, as many birds were being funneled towards the southern tip of New Jersey on this most recent flight. NNW winds are present across NJ this morning, which will mean a nice flight at Higbee’s beach today. The Sandy Hook buoy indicates NNW winds as well, which is exactly what you’d want if you were heading that way this morning. The flight from NY to NJ was lighter than the one from northern NJ to southern NJ, but that shouldn’t discourage anyone from hitting “The Hook” if you have the time.
Good Birding
David
5 responses to “Big flight over NJ!”
Very jealous of anyone out today. What a gorgeous day!! I should have a few hours to hit the Hook today after work. Hook was pretty quiet all weekend (mosquitos were not!!!) There was a flock of thousands of swallows at the North end but I was too drenched to sift through them.
David your forecasts seem to be more in depth this season! I’m loving the broader explanations!!
Quick stop at Libert State Park this am. 8 sp. of Warblers with B&W and Redstart most common, good number of peeps in the bay. Wonder if the Wallkill ST Kite left today?
Palmyra – Burlington County
6 REDSTARTS
1 NASHVILLE
1 CHESTNUT-SIDED
1 BLACK-THROATED BLUE
1 PARULA
2 YELLOWS
1 COMMON YELLOWTHROAT
That was it for warblers. Two tiny flocks and a few separate. Both flocks
were moving, not settled in yet. I also had 3 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS and
3 BALTIMORE ORIOLES. The weather changed down here around 4:00AM or so. It didn’t clear, and the winds shifted to the NE. I wasn’t sure if anything would be around. Not too much numbers wise but stuff around. Not the usual conditions for passerines in the region.
Not too much at Sandy Hook today. Wish there had been as many birds as mosquitoes. Shorebirds were non-existent as well. Overall a big disappointment.
hmm… darn! I hear it was slow at the Dike as well today… gotta love fall, when atmospheric plankton mix with the birds.