Migration Weather Forecast

Well, if the weather didn't clue you in, the White-throated Sparrows should have... October is in full swing over the mid-Atlantic.

Monday Night

High pressure will dominate the region, leading to clear skies and northwest winds. Expect heavy and widespread migration across the mid-Atlantic.

Tuesday Night

Northwest winds will strengthen on Tuesday night, and strong northwesterly winds over Canada will help usher in more waves of typical winter species such as White-throated Sparrows.

Wednesday Night

As high pressure moves southeast into the Carolinas, expect winds to turn southwesterly and shut down migration.

Thursday Night

Winds will turn west/southwest on Thursday night as high pressure makes its way east into the Atlantic. No migration is expected.

Birding Forecast

Tuesday Morning

A big flight on northwest winds will mean good birding conditions at fall hotspots across the mid-Atlantic. Plenty of birds are already around, so this influx of new individuals will mean some places are really hopping. Cape May is a "no-brainer" for Tuesday, but Sandy Hook as well as inland locations could be great as well.

Wednesday Morning

With stronger northwest winds extending up into eastern Canada, the migration superhighway will bring another large movement of birds into the mid-Atlantic. Coastal locations will be favored, but as with yesterday, inland sites will also be good. Raptors should be up in good numbers on Wednesday, and the chance of encountering a Golden Eagle or Northern Goshawk is increasing daily.

Thursday & Friday Morning

Because no migration is expected on Wednesday and Thursday nights, birding conditions on Thursday and Friday should be similar to Wednesday. Birds will be moving into optimal foraging habitat, but otherwise good concentrations should still be found around coastal sites. Skip the hawkwatch because of the unfavorable winds and spend your time scoping shorebirds or beating the bushes to see the cornucopia of sparrows recently showing up across the region.

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