The center of the circulation is mostly ashore near Atlantic City, NJ as of 8PM EDT, the system is now behaving more like a Nor’easter though still with some tropical characteristics, and the effects of Sandy are widespread and dangerous. Record-setting storm surges are occurring, winds of Category 1 hurricane force and gusting to 90-100 mph are evident in some places from New York to the Cape, and there is heavy precipitation falling across a huge area of the Eastern US (see below).
Reports are coming in, many of which are being posted on Drew Weber’s excellent site, Nemesis Bird. We heard report of a Sooty/Bridled Tern at 430PM EDT from eastern Long Island, as well as Dovekies from Stamford, CT. Many alcids, Leach’s Storm-Petrels, and a suite of other near shore and Atlantic seabirds have been reported from New England. We will post other, broad-scale patterns as we receive them (or until the power goes out!).
The forecast track has not changed much, but the intensity of the system is perhaps greater than anticipated. This is a very dangerous system, still, please exercise extreme care.
The strong flow of easterlies and southeasterlies now battering the northern NJ, NY and New England coasts will likely continue to displace many birds through Tuesday and possibly longer. Original forecasts for inland locations have not changed from our perspective as described on the eBird site. Now we wait. The Delaware and Hudson River systems look to be the primary conduits for entry and departure for hurricane-driven birds, heavily biased toward the Delaware system. At first light, inland lakes and rivers, open areas, and coastlines in the Delaware Bay area inland through western Maryland and central southern Pennsylvania should be checked, if this can be done safely.
815PM EDT, 29 October 2012
