National overview

Trans-Gulf migrants continued to arrive along the Texas/Louisiana coast late yesterday, followed by heavy nocturnal migration along the latest front to march eastward across the U.S. This front, extending from South Texas to the Gulf of Maine, triggered heavy migration and caused localized fallouts across several regions. Parts of the Texas coast, the Mid Atlantic U.S. and New York State should see evidence of migrant fallout this morning. A smaller pulse of migration was also evident across parts of the Upper Midwest as a second front moved through overnight, and migration continued up the Pacific Flyway from California to Washington State.

Below are the radar loops from sunset last night through 5:00am (central time) this morning

Upper Midwest

Minnesota

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

A heavy push of migrants was evident over the Twin Cities while a lighter event was evident over Duluth early last night, with both of them being quickly shut down by the passing cold front and northerly winds which followed. Expect some localized concentrations at urban parks and stopover sites along the Mississippi River around the Twin Cities, and urban and lakeshore sites around Duluth this morning.

Wisconsin

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

Migration was heavier over Western Wisconsin last night as is evident on the La Crosse radar loop. As with Minnesota, migration over La Cross was shut down by the passing cold front which reached the region early this morning. Expect some localized concentrations today along the frontal boundary north of La Crosse. Migration was light across eastern Wisconsin with no precipitation or strong winds to concentrate migrants this morning. Expect birding conditions consistent with yesterday with some additional reshuffling of the deck as birds find make their way into more optimal foraging habitat.

Iowa & Illinois

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

Migration was light over northern IA and IL last night. While some birds did move, no major concentrations are expected today while some turnover of species and localized movement on the landscape is probable. Tried and true spring stopover sites are the best bet this morning.

As always, woodcreeper.com depends on you to report your sightings and be our ‘eyes on the ground’, so please come back and give us an idea of how we’re doing predicting birding conditions in your neck of the woods.

Good Birding,

David

For migration updates in other regions check-

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula - The Northwoods BIRDAR by Max Henschell
New England - Tom Auer’s blog
Florida/SE - Badbirdz Reloaded by Angel and Mariel Abreu
PA/Ohio Valley - Nemesis Bird by Drew Weber
NW Ohio - Birding the Crane Creek by Kenn Kaufman
Pac NW - Birds Over Portland by Greg Haworth
Continental US - eBird BirdCast Forecast & Report by Team eBird