Transition to BOP-3

I think i now have a handle on running the new WordPress platform.

There are still some glitches i will work out with use.

So HERE is the link to the new blog, “birds over portland – 3“

08 May 2018 – PNW Migration Update

HERE is last night’s radar loop.  It’s pretty solid.

Well, i thought i would be seeing reports of new arrivals en masse.  But no; however i did scrounge up an eBird report for Bullock’s Oriole.  I can’t remember if that’s a first for the metro area, but i think it is.  Update: Lazuli Buntings now being reported in the Metro Area

Swainson’s Thrush are thick in the Central Valley now and a few reports of vanguard birds along the southern coast of Oregon.  Maybe today?  I listened for their nocturnal flight calls for 15 minutes this early, pre-dawn morning but didn’t detect any.

Administrative note:

I’ve started working on the next blog “birds over portland – 3”.  But they have changed the interface and it is turning out to be a challenge.  I worked on it for a few hours last night and didn’t get very far.  I’m not sure i will be able to get it off the ground this season but i’ll keep plugging away at it.

 

07 May 2018 – PNW Migration Update

Tri-county: Orange-crowned and Wilson’s Warblers, Western Tanagers and Black-headed Grosbeaks are in abundance.  At lower densities Hammond’s and Pacific-slope Flycatchers.

In the metro area we are still waiting on Western Wood Pewee, Lazuli Bunting, Bullock’s Oriole and Swainson’s Thrush. And of course the last to the party; Willow Flycatcher.

It’s a really cool radar loop today.  There is a BIG push up the Willamette Valley settling in the Metro/Tri-county area.  Maybe the wait will be over for the previously mentioned migrants.  I’ll have to wait on the reports from those with more time and resources, but i wouldn’t be surprised if that push brings new faces into the region.

And …. it looks like you’re going to have to go HERE to play the loop.  I knew this was going to happen soon; i’ve run out of disk space.  I will have to put together “birds over portland – 3”.  That will take some time, so, the next few posts will be narratives.  Crap!

 

04 May 2018 – PNW Migration Update

Decent movement through the night in the Metro area, but much more subdued along the coast and the Puget Sound,; so i’m not including those today.

No news on any new arrivals that i saw.  We’re still debating the Hermit/Swainson’s issue.  Of the arrivals already mentioned; many are increasing in numbers, so they’re solid.

Nationally: a weird weather pattern shut down the Central Flyway but allowed migrants into southern Texas — maybe a classic Fallout situation.  The Mississippi and Atlantic Flyways were active though.  Not MEGA but still a lot of movement.

Base Reflectivity – RTX

National Composite Radar

03 May 2018 – PNW Migration Update

Another solid night of migration across the region.

I’ll leave out the National scene but it was rocking in the Southern portions of the Central and Mississippi Flyways.  Buoyed by some sincerely favorable winds.

Elegant Terns have shown up along the Central Coast along with the first report of an Olive-sided Flycatcher.

Base Reflectivity – RTX

Base Reflectivity – LGX (Gray’s Harbor)

Base Reflectivity – ATX (Seattle)

 

02 May 2018 – PNW Migration Update

Western Wood Pewees and Bullock’s Orioles are now being reported in Oregon.  San Diego has it’s first report of Swainson’s Thrush.  No reports of Willow Flycatcher yet.

As a guide to spring migration phenology I have a page in the top banner with a calendar. And at the bottom of that page is a link to a very good narrative written by David Irons.  HERE is a direct link to his work, and it is really worth the time.

Pretty solid movement across the region last night.  The high pressure ridge is weakening and winds, while not favorable were very light.  The Atlantic Flyway was really lit up last night, probably it’s best this season.   Well, all Flyways were very active, the Atlantic just stood out to me. Lots in the gallery today.

Base Reflectivity – RTX

Base Reflectivity – LGX

Base Reflectivity – ATX

National Composite Radar

 

01 May 2018 – PNW Migration Update

No new arrivals but some of out of place, possible, birds being reported: Common Poorwill and Blue-headed Vireo (?) on Mt Tabor. Migration is always a time for vagrants.

There is a large, slow moving, high pressure system building in the north Pacific that continues to throw headwinds at northbound migrants.  So that slows things down a bit but it is May 1st and birds have to move as the local RTX radar shows. (Wind Map included today)

And for a bonus; a look at the radar from Lake Charles, Louisiana, just because.

Base Reflectivity – RTX

Winds of the Earth

Base Reflectivity – KLCH

30 April 2018 – PNW Migration Update

In the Pacific Northwest (PNW) we’re throwing a bit of a headwind and scattered showers at the migrants.  If they are content with where they are for the moment, they’re not going to get up and waste energy fighting that.  So, they didn’t.

There’s always somebody on the move, but it was at very low densities.  New arrivals being reported include; Hermit Warbler, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Yellow Warbler and increasing numbers of Warbling Vireo, Vaux’s Swift, Lazuli Bunting, and Black-headed Grosbeak.

Since our flight was puny, we’ll look at the National scene.  Mississippi and Central Flyways were rocking and a glance at the Winds of the Earth plot tells the story.

National Composite Radar

Winds of the Earth

25 April 2018 – PNW Migration Update

Lot’s of activity last night.

Western Tanager, Warbling Vireo, Black-headed Grosbeak, Vaux’s Swift and Lazuli Bunting;  all being reported.  Some in increasing numbers, some vanguards.

Base Reflectivity – RTX

23 April 2018 – PNW Migration Update

House Wrens, Western Tanagers, Brown-headed Cowbirds, American Biterns, scads of shorebirds (usual migrants), more Nashville and Black-throated Gray Warblers, Gray Flycatchers (east side).  It get to be hard to catch up, oh and another Hermit/Swainson’s Thrush debate.

Pretty decent movement last night.  Again, not “Green Doughnut” great but widespread at 20 dBZ+.

Base Reflectivity – RTX