Forecast and Analysis

Regional Migration Analysis: 29 August – 4 September 2014

Andrew Farnsworth The Cornell Lab Sep 05, 2014

Continental Summary

Several nights of moderate movements highlighted migration in the West as did a pulse of moderate to locally heavy movements in the East this week. Species on the move this week included Green-winged and Blue-winged Teal, American Golden-Plover, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Franklin’s Gull, Common Nighthawk, Orange-crowned, Nashville, Wilson’s, Townsend’s, Black-throated Green, and Blackburnian Warblers, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Summer Tanager, and Baltimore Oriole.

West

Moderate movements occurred in a number of areas of the region during this forecast period, in particular in the Central Valley of California, portions of the Desert Southwest, and in the Great Basin and northern Rockies. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday night were particularly good and highlighted these movements during the week. Species on the move this week included Townsend’s Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Gadwall, Eared Grebe, Swainson’s Thrush, Wilson’s Warbler, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Anna’s Hummingbird, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Savannah Sparrow, and White-crowned Sparrow.

Great Plains

The passage of a strong front brought moderate to locally heavy movements to much of the region on Sunday night, followed by several days of diminishing returns. However, another frontal boundary bisected the region by Thursday night, and moderate to locally heavy movements returned in many areas to the north of this frontal boundary (note the movements from Nebraska to the north and the lack thereof from Kansas south). Species on the move this week included Black-bellied Plover, American Kestrel, Wilson’s Warbler, Ring-billed Gull, Eastern Bluebird, Caspian Tern, Nashville Warbler, Northern Parula, Cooper’s Hawk, Warbling Vireo, Franklin’s Gull, Henslow’s Sparrow, and Common Nighthawk.

Upper Midwest and Northeast

Scattered light to moderate movements were in evidence for the weekend, as small scale disturbances moved across the region in several areas. By Monday night, however, changes were evident, as northerly flow and cooler air brought heavy movements to the western Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi River valley. As the frontal boundary responsible for these changes moved east, so did the moderate to locally heavy movements it facilitated. By Wednesday night these movements were apparent in coastal areas, and also as widely scattered movements farther inland.Species on the move this week included Swainson’s Thrush, Magnolia Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Hudsonian Godwit, Tennessee Warbler, American Golden-Plover, Warbling Vireo, Wilson’s Warbler, Northern Parula, Black-throated Green Warbler, Black Tern, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, American Redstart, and White-eyed Vireo.

Gulf Coast and Southeast

Most of the forecast period saw locally light and moderate movements scattered across the region as marginal and unfavorable conditions held on in many areas. It was not until Wednesday and Thursday nights that more widespread light to moderate movements appeared over the region, primarily from Texas to the Florida Panhandle. Species on the move this week included Ovenbird, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Blue-winged Teal, Blackburnian Warbler, Common Nighthawk, Chimney Swift, Summer Tanager, Baltimore Oriole, Yellow-throated Vireo, Belted Kingfisher, White-eyed Vireo, and American Golden-Plover.

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