OK, there is just too much to get through, and i’ve been off grid for only four days.
I’m probably going to miss something; in the Metro area new arrivals are:
Wilson’s Warbler, Cassin’s Vireo and Hammond’s Flycatcher.
In Oregon; Western Kingbirds, Black-headed Grosbeak, House Wren and Bullock’s Oriole.
Not much to see on last night’s radar, and i am behind in other areas, so that’s it for today.
I’m not seeing any neo-tropical migrant news except maybe a Western Kingbird in the Central Valley (CA).
But birds are on the move, not “Green Doughnut” type, but a decent movement up the valley reaching 20 dBZ in patches. Also a pretty steady flow up the I5 corridor in Washington. Probably re-positioning from Ridgefield to Nisqually,
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.
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.
Rain, heavy at times and easing up through the night. Sigh.
There was a nice south wind, so anxious birds braved the weather and picked their way north. Not in great numbers but fairly widespread as the weather would allow. It’s tough to pick them out between the rain cells so we have the Hydrometeor loop today to aide in finding the birds; a little like finding Waldo.
American White Pelicans have been reported in the region, a few more Western Kingbirds and Osprey as well. Ruby-crowned Kinglets are starting to sing. It’s a wonderful song and we only get a small window in early spring to hear it before they clear the area as they head north to the breeding grounds.
Pacific Slope Flycatcher reported in the Central Valley is a first arrival.
A very rainy weekend — again. It cleared up late Saturday night but too late for any birds of significant numbers to move north.
But, last night was clear and there was an accommodating south wind so the birds were on the move. We’re still at the beginning of the migration so we are not getting “green doughnuts” but we do have some 20+ dBZ returns.
In the Central Valley more Western Kingbirds are being reported as well as Common Yellowthroats. In the Portland area Violet-green Swallows, Rufus Hummingbirds, Osprey and an increasing number of shorebirds. I observed over sixty Greater Yellowlegs, a few L.B. Dowitchers and a large flock of peeps (unidentified) on the wing this weekend.
The Central and Mississippi Flyways were also pretty active last night. National Composite Radar is included thanks to Paul
Well, The birds have been picking their way north for a few weeks now, but because of the nearly constant rain it has been damned hard to pick them out of the radar noise. Even the HC was not reliably designating biological returns.
Last night however, once the rain moved through, we got a decent migration signature. On today’s loop, wait for the rain to pass and you will see the flight — up into the 20 dBZ range.
Tree and Violet-green Swallows as well as Turkey Vultures have made it to the Portland area. Even Barn Swallows are being reported in Clallam County in Washington. Western Kingbirds are in the Central Valley in California as well. Waterfowl numbers are down a bit too.
We’re in between weather systems and the winds are light but out of the north. Obviously it put a bit of a damper on northbound flight as the migration last night was moderate at best.
Western Kingbird, Cassin’s Vireo, Hermit and Yellow Warblers, and Lazuli Bunting – first reports from the general Metro area.
Nothing to see the past couple of days because of the rain. There were a few birds moving in between the rain cells but not many.
San Diego:
Western Kingbirds are now being reported
Central Valley:
Warbling Vireo
Willamette Valley:
Reports of increasing Violet-green, first Barn and Cliff Swallows, and more Orange-crowned Warblers
Let’s take a look at a snap shot of the national composite radar today. The archived loop, as always, can be found on Paul’s Site. The big action was up the Central and Mississippi Flyways:
birds over portland - 2 