Continental Summary:
Two pulses of movements rushed through the East, as continuing light to moderate movements were steady in the West. Birds on the move this week included Hermit Thrush, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-throated Sparrows, and Dark-eyed Junco.
West
Most of the region experienced light to moderate movements to begin the weekend, particularly over California and the Desert Southwest. Scattered precipitation on Saturday and Sunday nights muted the pattern of movements from the Rockies and to the East, with continuing light to moderate movements in a number of other parts of the region, especially coastal areas. Primarily light movements occurred for the remainder of the period, with the exception of some portions of the Desert Southwest where moderate movements continued through Thursday night. Birds on the move this week included Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck, Eared and Western Grebes, Hermit Thrush, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Yellow-rumped Warbler.
Great Plains
A strong frontal boundary passed through the region on Friday, spawning moderate to heavy movements in the central and southern Plains. Lingering precipitation farther north in the region kept migrants grounded in those areas. By Saturday night widespread moderate and locally heavy movements occurred in the eastern Plains, but less favorable conditions were already approaching and effectively diminishing movements farther West. The next disturbance passed through the region to begin the week, and by Monday night scattered light to moderate movements had returned to some areas with clear skies in the central Plains. Light to moderate and some locally heavy movements increased in extent for the remainder of the period, primarily in the eastern reaches of the region, more specifically in eastern Nebraska and Kansas and in portions of Oklahoma. Birds on the move this week included Greater White-fronted Goose, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Loggerhead Shrike, Sedge Wren, Eastern Towhee, American Tree, Field, LeConte’s, Savannah, Vesper, Swamp, Lincoln’s, and Song Sparrows, and Dark-eyed Junco.
Upper Midwest and Northeast
Low pressure over the DelMarVa peninsula shut down movements in much of the southeastern part of the region, whereas the remainder of the region experience light to moderate movements to begin the weekend. As conditions remained marginal in many areas East of the Ohio River valley on Saturday night, the next wave of migration was occurring farther West with moderate to heavy and even locally very heavy flights in the Mississippi River valley. This pattern shifted East and diminished in extent and intensity to begin the week, and by Tuesday only scattered light to moderate movements were apparent near the Atlantic Coast. Highly variable conditions followed on Wednesday and Thursday nights, with some western portions of the region experience favorable conditions and moderate to locally heavy movements, some New England locales experience little to no movements and precipitation, and some Piedmont and Appalachian areas continuing with light to moderate movements. Birds on the move this week included Ruddy Duck, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Rusty and Red-winged Blackbirds, Field and White-throated Sparrows, and Dark-eyed Junco.
Gulf Coast and Southeast
Central Texas and the Coastal Plain from the Florida Panhandle through the Carolinas experienced light to moderate movements to begin the period. Saturday night saw some western portions of the region experience moderate to heavy and even locally very heavy flights behind a passing cold front. Heavier movements spread East to end the weekend, although only coastal Atlantic seaboard locations experienced these heavy movements to begin the week as the next disturbance shut down most movements West of the Appalachians and Mobile Bay. As this disturbance moved East and diminished flights to primarily light to moderate intensities, moderate to heavy movements occurred behind the front over portions of Texas. Moderate movements were widespread to end the period, including some heavy movements at the southern terminus of the Appalachians. Birds on the move this week included Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Phoebe, Tree Swallow, House Wren, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Gray Catbird, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers, Indigo Bunting, and Savannah, Swamp, Lincoln’s, and White-throated Sparrows.
