Birding Forecast Cape May Bird Observatory
Map by Point Source using radar data from the National Weather Service , Radar 4 GIS

At-a-Glance Key

Sunday, September 28, 2008
Mid-Atlantic Migration Forecast: 9/28 - 10/2 (UPDATED)
posted by David La Puma | 6:08 AM


At-a-Glance Forecast






















Sun.PMMon.AMMon.PMTue.AMTue.PMWed.AMWed.PMThu.AM

Updated at 11:23pm on 9/29... winds have continued out of the northwest and have triggered the largest migration in a few weeks... Cape May should see an excellent flight on Tuesday morning if this keeps up through then...

Migration Weather Forecast

After a couple of nights without nocturnal migration, north winds will return to the region in several waves over the next week. Between tropical cyclones and a series of cold fronts, we should see a nice influx of migrants.

Sunday Night

A weak cold front interacting with tropical cyclone Kyle will set up light northwesterly flow across the region tonight, triggering heavy migration into the mid-Atlantic.

Monday Night

As high pressure builds in behind the most recent front, expect winds to strengthen out of the northwest and send more birds our way.

Tuesday Night

The second cold front will approach the region on Tuesday, causing southerly flow to intensify across the mid-Atlantic, and effectively shutting down nocturnal migration for Tuesday night...

Wednesday Night

...but of course, with every dark cloud (or cloudy cold front) there's always a silver lining (or high pressure, building in behind it) which tends to manifest itself in northwesterly winds. Expect northwest winds to kick in during the day on Wednesday, leading to another big push of birds into the region on Wednesday night and possibly setting up Cape May for a great day on Thursday.

Birding Forecast

Monday Morning

Northwest winds! Now that's something we've been lacking this fall here in the mid-Atlantic. Expect birds to be pushed eastward on Sunday night, making attractive the fall hotspots along the east coast for Monday morning. Cape May should be hopping, and raptors should be flying across the region.

Tuesday Morning

Since skies will be clear and winds will be northwesterly on Monday night, expect birds to be dispersed across the landscape on Tuesday morning, although concentrations will occur at migrant traps along the coast, such as Sandy Hook (NJ), Cape May (NJ) and Bombay Hook (DE). Another consideration might be your local hawkwatch, as the conditions will be good for a raptor flight.

Wednesday Morning

With no migration expected on Tuesday night, the birding conditions should remain unchanged for Wednesday. I did leave the yellow flag up for Wednesday because If the cold front passes early enough on Wednesday morning, we could see a raptor flight later in the day.

Thursday Morning

Cooler temps and northwesterly winds should have brought some new birds into the region. Again, since no precipitation is expected to concentrate birds, the tried-and-true fall hotspots along the east coast will be your best bet.

As always, to find more information on what's being seen TODAY in Cape May, check out the View From the Cape, on BirdCapeMay.org

Good Birding,

David La Puma