Continental Summary
Scattered light to moderate movements across the West and pulses of moderate movements in the northern Plains and Northeast highlight migration across the continent this past week. Species on the move this week included Green-winged Teal, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Pintail. Northern Shoveler, Greater Yellowlegs, Baird’s Sandpiper, Franklin’s Gull, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Tennessee Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, American Redstart, Canada Warbler, and Scarlet Tanager.
West
Light to moderate movements occurred in widely scattered areas of the region during the period, although most movements were distributed primarily west of the Rockies. Portions of the Central Valley of California saw moderate flights on a number of nights, as did some portions of the Desert Southwest and eastern plains of Montana. However, scattered precipitation in the Rockies and Great Basin kept movements light and widely scattered in those areas. Species on the move this week included Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Red-necked Phalarope, Townsend’s Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Western Sandpiper, Northern Shoveler, Greater Yellowlegs, Baird’s Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, and Orange-crowned Warbler.
Great Plains
Several pulses of moderate movements highlighted the weekend and early part of the work week, particularly in the northern and central Plains. Increasing and scattered precipitation, some of which occurred in severe storms, kept migrants grounded in some areas through the end of the period. However, birds continued to migrate away from the footprint of these storms, most notably in the Dakotas to end the period. Species on the move this week included Least Flycatcher, Tennessee Warbler, Lazuli Bunting, Franklin’s Gull, Wilson’s Warbler, Canada Warbler, Vesper Sparrow, Alder Flycatcher, Pine Siskin, and Blue-winged Teal.
Upper Midwest and Northeast
A quiet start to the period across the region on the weekend gave way to a moderate eastern Great Lakes and New England movement to end the weekend and begin the work week as a cooler and drier air mass moved through the region. A similar movement of a more autumn-like air mass through the Upper Midwest following in the footsteps of these flights brought widespread light to moderate movements there mid week. But by the end of the period, more widely scattered precipitation and unsettled conditions kept migration scattered and light in most areas. Species on the move this week included Common Nighthawk, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Baird’s Sandpiper, Canada Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Black-and-white Warbler, Green-winged Teal, American Redstart, Northern Parula, Blue Jay, Ovenbird, Magnolia Warbler, Eastern Wood-Pewee, and Scarlet Tanager.
Gulf Coast and Southeast
Widespread light to moderate movements kicked off the period, gradually waning as the new week began. As favorable conditions from the weekend gave way to more marginal flow from the south and a return of more humid air, migration slowed to scattered light movements where it occurred at all. But, by the end of the forecast period, light to moderate movements were apparent in the Southeast, primarily east of the Appalachians, as conditions in those areas facilitated some migrant exodus. Species on the move this week included Yellow-throated Warbler, Blue-winged Teal, Hooded Warbler, Northern Parula, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Black Tern, Common Tern, Wilson’s Phalarope, and Olive-sided Flycatcher.
