(anyone catch the reference? hint: my third concert, ever.)

I just realized how similar running this website is to an exercise regime… slow to start, many moments of doubt, thoughts of “I really don’t have much time for this now…”, followed by a few days dusting off the cobwebs and updating computer scripts to get it running again, and then (finally) getting into a groove and feeling totally out of sorts when I eventually miss a day for this or that pressing issue. If only I could follow through as well at the gym!

So here we go (it really is “we”, you know, contrary to the title of this post) again… Fall 2010!

Last night wasn’t the first flight of the fall, as some nocturnal migration has occurred since late July, and some nice flights have happened during the last two weeks. Last night we had a the tail end of a spinning low pressure system (see the regional composite) whip over the mid-Atlantic, bringing with it southwesterly winds late in the evening. As the low moved into New England, though, the winds on the backside of the low began to reach the region; starting off very light and slack, and picking up out of the northwest.  This wind switch is what triggered last night’s flight, which you can see by clicking the thumbnails below and viewing the animated loops.

Frames are every 1/2 hour. Click on the thumbnail to view the full-sized animation.

The regional composite gives you a nice overview of the migration event,  showing the low pressure system covering most of the Northeast with precipitation. The NY radar indicates no migration last night, but both of the NJ radars suggest a light to moderate flight on a mostly NW->SE trajectory.

This flight direction should favor fall migrant traps across central and southern NJ today, and anytime we have westerly winds on a southbound flight, the migration funnel always favors Cape May, NJ. Sandy Hook is most likely in the “migration shadow” due to the lack of migration out of the eastern NY area.

So, even though I’ve started updating woodcreeper once more, there is little doubt that things are going to change around here. I’m at a new job, work is really busy, and my wife and I have another kid on the way (due in less than a month!). So, in the interest of keeping everyone updated on migration, but given the fact that I will be missing many more mornings this season, I want you all to consider following my Twitter feed. I can update it from my phone as well as my computer, so I’m much less restricted in my posting than I am to updating the radar. So if you want to know whether there’s a big flight in progress, and what the prospects are for birding the following day, then follow my tweets on Twitter- because that will be the most updated information. If you don’t use Twitter, that’s fine- just visit this website and look on the right-hand sidebar where my latest tweets are automagically posted.

Good Birding

David