Continental Summary
Moderate movements in the West that kicked off the weekend continued through the period in some areas, while a major pulse of heavy flights graced the East early in the period. Species on the move this week included Greater White-fronted and Cackling Geese, Northern Pintail, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, Peregrine Falcon, Gray-cheeked, Swainson’s and Hermit Thrushes, American Pipit, Marsh and Sedge Wrens, Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Tennessee, Orange-crowned, Yellow-rumped, Cape May, and Magnolia Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, Fox, White-crowned, White-throated, and Lincoln’s Sparrows, Dark-eyed Junco, and Common Grackle.
West
Widespread moderate movements that kicked off the weekend gradually diminished in extent and intensity in the days that followed. However, many areas in the southern Rockies and along the eastern front experienced moderate to locally heavy movements for the entire period, exhibiting a consistency not seen elsewhere. Species on the move this week included Greater White-fronted Goose, Cackling Goose, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pectoral Sandpiper, White-crowned Sparrow, Northern Pintail, Black-bellied Plover, Violet-green Swallow, Fox Sparrow, Black-billed Magpie, American Pipit, Mountain Chickadee, and Dark-eyed Junco.
Great Plains
Moderate to heavy movements in the northern Plains followed the passage of a frontal boundary through the region on Friday night. These movements became widespread the following night before diminishing in building high pressure and more southerly flow. The remainder of the period saw significantly less movement as unfavorable winds and scattered precipitation kept movements local and generally much lighter. Species on the move this week included Orange-crowned Warbler, Marsh Wren, Dark-eyed Junco, Common Grackle, Sedge Wren, Eastern Meadowlark, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Savannah Sparrow, Double-crested Cormorant, Northern Flicker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, White-throated Sparrow, Ring-billed Gull, and Harris’s Sparrow.
Upper Midwest and Northeast
The Upper Midwest south and east through the Ohio River valley experienced moderate to heavy, and even some very heavy, movements for the weekend. These movements finally spread to the coast to begin the work week, but lacked the intensity of the more western movements of the weekend. By midweek conditions were generally much less favorable for movements, keeping flights scattered, light, and local. But slightly more favorable conditions returned to end the period, bringing more widespread moderate flights. Species on the move this week included Yellow-rumped Warbler, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-throated Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, American Coot, Eastern Phoebe, Dark-eyed Junco, Redhead, American Pipit, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, Palm Warbler, and Winter Wren.
Gulf Coast and Southeast
Light to moderate weekend movements evolved into moderate to heavy, and locally very heavy, movements on Monday and to a lesser extent Tuesday nights, as favorable conditions built across much of the region. Following these movements flight were greatly reduced in extent and intensity, especially away from the immediate coast. This pattern continued through the remainder of the period, with generally light to moderate movements present in most areas. Species on the move this week included Palm Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Tennessee Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Gray Catbird, Swainson’s Thrush, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Northern Flicker, Cape May Warbler, Peregrine Falcon, Common Yellowthroat, Philadelphia Vireo, and American Redstart.
