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

10 April 2018 – PNW Migration Update

A bit late today, sorry about that, but life, you know….

Ok, we still have favorable winds and through most of the night no rain. So birds were on the move!  Up to the 20+ dBZ level all along the I5 corridor and along the coast.

Black-throated Gray and Orange-crowned Warblers, Common Yellowthoat, Purple Martin, Cliff Swallow — all increasing in numbers in the Metro Area.  Waterfowl numbers are dwindling (but not gone yet!)

San Diego got it’s first reported Lazuli Bunting and Warbling Vireos are increasing in numbers.

Don’t you just love this time of year!

Base Reflectivity – LGX

Base Reflectivity – RTX

22 May 2017 – PNW Migration Update

Our ridge of high pressure is holding and we should have another day or two of this exceptional weather.  There is a deep trough behind it that we need to keep an eye on though.

Last night was another good night for night flight.  It petered out in the northern portion of the I5 corridor but still decent.  Medford had one of it’s best nights of the season.  So, i’m putting up the I5 radar loops; Medford to Seattle in today’s gallery.

I didn’t find any Willow Flycatchers this weekend but they are definitely filling in as seen HERE. I did come across my first Lazuli Buntings, but they have been here a couple of weeks now; i just can’t get out into the field as often as i like.  HERE is their map.

Base Reflectivity – Medford

Base Reflectivity – Portland

Base Reflectivity – Seattle

08 May 2017 – PNW Migration Update

RTX is back on line!  Whew; that can take over a week sometimes.  Came back on line late Friday.

Migration is entering it’s peak phase.  Most, but not all vanguards have arrived and are being followed by the trailing hoards.

Wilson’s Warblers were over the top conspicuous when i was in the field Saturday.  A few more reports of Swainson’s Thrush and i definitely heard my first Western Wood Pewee on Sunday and a handful of other reports are up on eBird.  Lazuli Buntings are filling in.  Bullock’s Orioles have made it to the Seattle area. No sign of Willow Flycatchers yet.

The Atlantic Flyway was the only flyway that was underwhelming in regard to it’s capacity.  The rest look to be at full tilt.

I threw in the Seattle (ATX) loop today for good measure:

Base Reflectivity – RTX

Base Reflectivity – ATX

National Radar Composite

05 May 2017 – PDX Migration Update

Message Date:  May 05 2017 05:02:56

KRTX Doppler Radar serving SW Washington and NW Oregon continues to be unavailab
le. Some data was recently received and transmitted but was deemed to be unrelia
ble. Further updates will be sent as information becomes available. /JBonk

So there’s that: not great timing from my perspective.  So i went north and grabbed the Gray’s Harbor (LGX) loop for today’s gallery at the end of the post.

First reports of Lazuli Bunting are in on the valley floor as well as Hermit Warblers and Swainson’s Thrush in the coastal foothills.  Another Olive-sided Flycatcher. Increasing reports of Yellow-headed Blackbirds.

Base Reflectivity – Gray’s Harbor

 

04 May 2017 – PDX Migration Update

We’ve had a couple of excellent nights for migration back to back.  And the whole Pacific Flyway was lit up last night.

But our local radar, KRTX:

68
NOUS66 KPQR 040251
FTMRTX
Message Date:  May 04 2017 06:20:01

THE KRTX (PORTLAND) RADAR HAS FAILED AND WILL BE DOWN UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. TECH
NICIANS ARE ASSESSING THE ISSUE.

Anyway: Nashville and Orange-crowned warblers are moving through in extraordinary numbers.A lone report of an Olive-sided Flycatcher, scattered Bullock’s Orioles and Western Kingbirds are also in the area. Waterfowl numbers continue to drop. Locally we’re waiting on Swainson’s Thrush, Western Wood Pewee, and Lazuli Bunting.

Nesting and even some fledglings are now being reported (and seen) as well.

Monday/Tuesday

Wednesday/Thursday

 

 

01 May 2017 – PNW Migration Update

Base Reflectivity – RTX

And then there were birds!

Big weekend for the Pacific Flyway.  I have the Friday/Saturday loop, but left in on another computer; it looks pretty much like today’s Sunday/Monday loop.  Saturday/Sunday was muted by weather.

More arrivals: Western Kingbird, Western Tanager, Lazuli Bunting, Black-headed and Evening Grosbeak,  Bullock’s Oriole, Sora, Empids, Wilson’s and Nashville Warbler, and Cassin’s and Warbling Vireo.  All five Swallows have now been reported as well as Vaux’s Swift. Big numbers of the early migrants as well, House Wren, Yellow-rumped and Orange-crowned Warblers.  Pelicans and Purple Martins are more widely reported on Sauvie Island.

Many birds are already on, or building, nests and even some fledglings are being seen.  I even saw a Green-winged Teal male transitioning to eclipse plumage this weekend.

I haven’t seen or heard a Ruby-crowned Kinglet in a while; Golden-crowned Sparrow numbers are down, Migrant Fox and Lincoln’s Sparrows are pretty much off the radar.  Water Fowl numbers are dropping as well.

Let’s see, what’s left?  From memory (so don’t hold me to this) Swainson’s Thrush,  Yellow Warbler, Western Wood Pewee, Red-eyed Vireo (rare but annual nesting resident) Willow Flycatcher and ……?

I really should change the title of these posts.  The Pacific Northwest is a big place and i don’t keep tabs of much outside of the Portland/Vancouver Basin and the Willamette Valley.  So, for example, when the Puffins return to the coast, i’ll miss it by a couple of weeks to a month, they’re back, but i’m not sure of when they arrived.

24 April 2017 – PNW Migration Update

Personally, i am really tired of: 1) being time constrained due to obligations during the work week and 2) RAIN.

I only have one static image from Friday/Saturday, when it wasn’t raining for most of the night, that shows a really nice flight up the Pacific Flyway.

But birds are finding a way to push north.  Lots of new arrivals: American White Pelican, Black-headed Grosbeak, Warbling and Cassin’s Vireo, Wilson, Yellow, Hermit and Nashville Warblers, all expected Empids, Western Tanager, Vaux’s Swift, Cinnamon Teal, Sora, American Bittern, Bullock’s Oriole, Western Kingbird and in San Diego Lazuli Bunting.

A lot of these birds are slightly ahead of schedule

Fiday/Saturday National Composite Radar

14 April 2017 – PNW Migration Update

We had an abbreviated flight last night; lasting from about 8 PM to 2 AM, and it wasn’t particularly widespread.  I’m pretty sure the birds are as sick of the rain as i am but at least it  was spread out and not too heavy.

Big night for the Atlantic and especially the Mississippi Flyways.

San Diego is reporting the first Lazuli Buntings and Western Kingbirds.  We don’t usually get Ash-throated Flycatchers in the Metro area but the Central Valley (CA) is now reporting them.

Locally: Hammond’s Flycatchers, House Wrens, Bullock’s Orioles and Yellow Warblers have now been reported.

Base Reflectivity – RTX

National Radar Composite