29 October 2015 – PNW Migration Update

Well, it’s been a pretty low key couple of days.  The winds have shifted to more westerly but there are few birds on the move up here in the upper left corner.  I’m sure there are more waterfowl on the way but probably not going to be showing up in big waves.

Nice picture nationally; check the wind map, check the National Composite — winds out of the north; birds out of the north.  Central and Mississippi Flyways are still rocking it.

And … the Swans are back; someone reported them at Ridgefield a couple of days ago.  That signals the close of the season.  I may post a couple more times depending on events.  But if i don’t get around to it — all things tracking,  i’ll be back in the spring.

Here it is, your moment of zen.

Base Reflectivity – RTX

Winds of The Earth

National Composite Radar

 

27 October 2015 – PNW Migration Update

Winds continue out of the SSW; stronger along the coastal lands and weakening inland.  There are still light to moderate levels of migration taking place.  The moderate levels come in short waves; which is pretty cool because you can pick out individual flock movement.  But this season is getting long in the tooth.

Most folks on the listservs are out chasing this season’s rarities so the reports for regional migrant status dwindles a bit.  More Buffleheads and Common Mergansers but still no Swans.

Winds of the Earth

Base Reflectivity – ATX

Base Reflectivity – RTX

26 October 2015 – PNW Migration Update

Nothing to report; the radar was obscured by clouds and it pretty much rained most of the evening.  WSW winds aren’t much of an enticement either — unless you are standing on a coastal headland looking for sea birds.

Winds of the Earth

23 October 2015 – PNW Migration Update

The stubborn ridge of high pressure is keeping the local winds out of the north.  but i don’t see that lasting too long as another low pressure system is spinning up out it the Pacific.  You can see this on today’s wind map.

Over all the southern reaches of our area of concern saw the best migration action last night; again, it was concentrated along the flanks of the Cascades and east of the Willamette.  There was a short but heavy flight across the Straight of Juan de Fuca last night as well.

Still haven;t heard of any Swans in the area but the Cranes are on the move in good numbers.  They even were reported in Clackamas County — not a common report by any means.

Winds of the Earth

Base Reflectivity – ATX

Base Reflectivity – RTX

22 October 2015 – PNW Migration Update

That little ridge of high pressure is keeping the winds out of the north.  However, it looks like the pipeline of migrants is beginning to dry up.  Some birds are still on the move to be sure, just not in peak season densities.

Here it is, your moment of zen (and i really wish Trevor wouldn’t use that phrase)

Base Reflectivity – RTX

Winds of the Earth

21 October – PNW Migration Update

Wow!  On par with the heaviest migration this season.  Last night’s flight was heavy, widespread, and continuous.  RTX was just rocking.  The radar out of Seattle (ATX) was really jamming in the south of it’s range in the Puget Trough.  We’re still seeing decent flights across the Straight as well, not as dense but still in the green.

Take a look at Paul’s archived National Composite (here) and you’ll see that the PNW was the migration hot spot last night – that doesn’t happen very often.

Base Reflectivity – RTX

Base Reflectivity – ATX

Winds of the Earth

National Radar Composite

20 October 2015 – PNW Migration Update

Well, yesterday’s flight along the Washington coast went undocumented on the Washington listserv.  Perhaps today’s heavier flight will garner a comment or two.  But it is the middle of the week and the area is not heavily populated.  Today’s flight along the coast was no doubt aided by the ridge of high pressure that has sneaked in bringing a nice northerly flow – stronger along the coast.

Oregon’s flight last night was anemic but birds are still crossing the Straight in heavy numbers.  The Puget trough and western Cascades in Washington had a decent flight late into the evening.

Well, the first Buffleheads are being reported,  Swans will be next; that’s usually when i shut down for the season.

So, here it is, your moment of zen:

Winds of the Earth

Base Reflectivity – ATX

Base Reflectivity – LGX

Base Reflectivity – RTX

 

19 October 2015 – PNW Migration Update

Moderate flight last night with a large outflow from Clackamas County south early in the flight.  Some inflow, mainly in the east Counties again.

An interesting flight shown on the LGX (Gray’s Harbor) radar last night.  Not a heavy flight but two distinguishable movements.  The first out of the Waatch Valley down to Gray’s Harbor and then later a crossing from Vancouver Island over to Neah Bay, through the Waatch Valley and down to Gray’s Harbor.  I’d be very interested to find out what these flights were composed of.  I suspect a large flight of Geese or Ducks mostly comprised of a single species.  I’ll scan Tweeters tomorrow for clues.

Looking at the Wind Map one would expect limited flight down the Central Flyway given the strong southerly flows.  A quick glance at the National Radar Composite confirms the interaction of weather and migration.

Here it is, your moment of zen:

Base Reflectivity – RTX

Base Reflectivity – LGX

Winds of the Earth

National Radar Composite

16 October 2015 – PNW Migration Update

Offshore low pressure system centered in the Gulf of Alaska is spinning up southerly winds.  Stronger along the coast and abating eastward.  Still, the migration last night was light to moderate. The west flanks of the Cascades saw the bulk of the action again, continuing the pattern we have seen most of this fall.

Winds of the Earth

Base Reflectivity – RTX

15 October 2015 – PNW Migration Update

The wind shifting to an off shore flow out of the east put a damper on migration last night.  It was moderate at best across the Pacific Northwest and certainly nothing like last night.  It looks like the high pressure ridge broke down and a new low pressure system is building in the Gulf of Alaska.

Here it is, your moment of zen:

Base Reflectivity – RTX

Winds of the Earth