Continental Summary
Moderate movements early in the period in the Desert Southwest and widespread moderate and heavy movements nearly throughout the period in some areas of the East highlighted an active week for migrants. Species on the move this week included Spotted Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper, Black Tern, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Western Wood-Pewee, Willow Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Veery, Gray Catbird, Ovenbird, Nashville Warbler, American Redstart, Cape May Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Baltimore Oriole.
West
Widespread moderate movements began the period for much of California and the Desert Southwest, while light movements were the norm elsewhere in the region. By Monday night, a disturbance moving across the Great Basin shut down most movements and limited more southerly areas to primarily light movements. As marginal and unfavorable conditions persisted to the north, more favorable conditions gradually return to end the period in the south, bringing moderate movements again to California and the Desert Southwest. Note, also, that moderate movements occurred in the northeastern part of the region to the east of the Rockies in the middle of the week. Species on the move this week included Spotted Sandpiper, Wilson’s Phalarope, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Willow Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Swainson’s Thrush, Yellow Warbler, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Blue Grosbeak, and Bullock’s Oriole.
Great Plains
Moderate to heavy movements were widespread across the region from the weekend through the middle of the week before intense storms put a damped on most migration. However, even among storms moderate to locally heavy movements continued in largely favorable southerly flow. With the exception of local moderate movements along the Canadian border, a brief pause quieted the region as high pressure pass through the Plains on Thursday night. This pause was short-lived as moderate to heavy movements began anew to end the week. Species on the move this week included Mississippi Kite, Black Tern, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Common Nighthawk, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Swainson’s Thrush, Gray Catbird, Northern Waterthrush, Tennessee Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, Bobolink, Orchard Oriole, and Baltimore Oriole.
Upper Midwest and Northeast
Moderate to locally heavy movements occurred from the central Mississippi River and Ohio River valleys east through the New England coast to kick off the weekend. A disturbance passing through the region quieted movements north and east of the Appalachians by Sunday night, while more favorable conditions farther west spawned a new round of widespread moderate and locally heavy movements. These movements persisted through the middle of the week, widespread across the region with the exception of New England. By Wednesday night, moderate to heavy movements were apparent across the region. But an approaching frontal boundary moving slowly across the region diminished movements in many areas substantially to end the week, although widespread light to moderate and locally heavy movements continued wherever favorable and marginal conditions prevailed. Species on the move this week included Least Flycatcher, Veery, Gray Catbird, Ovenbird, Nashville Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstart, Cape May Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Lincoln’s Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Baltimore Oriole.
Gulf Coast and Southeast
Widespread moderate to heavy movements were the norm for the week across the region. This included peninsular Florida, which saw light movements as unsettled weather departed to the east early in the period return to more moderate and heavy movements by the end of the period. Despite the passage of intense storms and a frontal boundary to end the week, movements persisted in many areas as favorable and marginal conditions held behind the passage of these storms. Species on the move this week included White-rumped Sandpiper, Willow Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Swainson’s Thrush, Blackpoll Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Canada Warbler, and Bobolink.
