The latest cold front strewn across northern New Jersey last night resulted in strong SW winds across most of the region south of the frontal boundary. After sunset the radars from Washington DC, Virginia, and the Delmarva Peninsula indicated moderate to heavy migration heading this way. 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.

 

The regional composite does a good job of showing the frontal boundary as it relates to migrating birds. While migration was heaviest into south and central New Jersey, birds can be seen falling out along the boundary from northern NJ to parts of the central Piedmont region. NW winds behind the front seem to have precluded any major flight into Long Island or Manhattan, as is evinced by the Upton NY radar.

Over New Jersey, though, the trajectory was relatively stable at SW->NE and birds can be seen overshooting Sandy Hook overnight. NNW winds at Sandy Hook should mean some redirected flight this morning and lingering birds at The Hook throughout the day. Cape May should be good this morning as well, as birds could be seen moving over the peninsula all night.

Looking ahead, the conditions should continue to produce new birds across the southern Mid-Atlantic as this low pressure system creeps northeastward. Tonight and tomorrow night are looking particularly good for NJ, while points further north will still be under NW winds until the front pulls out for good. Another strong front is approaching from the west and should bring more birds later in the week.

I should note that we’re still in the early stages of migration, and if you saw the national composite last night you would have seen the heaviest migration over the Gulf states, from Texas to Florida. Our research at NJ Audubon has shown that, during spring migration, 70% of all migrants move across the Binghamton and Buffalo radar stations between April 20th and May 28th; so we’re just about to get into “peak” timing. Of course the days are probably a little earlier for the Mid-Atlantic (we’re working on that analysis now!), but I think it’s safe to say that the bulk of the birds are yet to come. Thanks to Tony for reminding me to point this out in his quick migration alert last night.

Good Birding

David