Mid-Atlantic Forecast

With high pressure situated over the Great Lakes and off the Carolina coast, we've got a nice line of northwest winds to pull birds from the northeastern US into the Mid-Atlantic overnight tonight. The wind direction turns more north as one heads over western New York state, and Pennsylvania, and more easterly as one moves toward the New Jersey coast. Wind aloft are forecast out of the northwest, which will drive migration to the coast until they descend, at which point the easterlies will likely push them back inland.

Expect a good push of birds down into the Mid-Atlantic tonight, although with no precipitation in the forecast, birds will be dispersed across the landscape, so your best chances will be the "tried and true" fall migrant traps such as Cape May (the bay shore should be better on east winds). Areas along the Delaware River may also be good on the east winds. Moving south into DE, MD, VA and NC, winds will be primarily out of the northeast on the coast and northwest inland, creating a funnel of bird migration through these states.

The Next Few Days

Two low pressure systems are forecast to develop later in the week, one subtropical system off the Carolinas, and another above the Great Lakes. These should result in southerly winds from Wednesday night into the weekend. There should be little to no migration during this period.

Hot News

Wow! There's a Say's Phoebe at The Meadows in Cape May, NJ!

Here's a photo of the bird taken today by Sam Galick, who's working as a counter at the Morning Flight at Higbee's Beach this fall.




And here's a map, to give you an idea of where "The Meadows" are:


View Larger Map

There are also several maps and checklists available for the Cape May area right on this site: http://www.birdcapemay.org/checklist.shtml

Good Birding

David

www.woodcreeper.com