Morning Flight, 16-19 October 2016

Since the super Friday and strong Saturday counts at the Higbee dike, the last 4 days have been lighter, but with a different behavioral aspect of a southbound morning flight of songbirds into low-moderate southwest winds. Yellow-rumped Warbler has, of course, been the most abundant, given both the the time of season and the species' propensityr to readily migrate into a headwind and along the coast. 

While Sunday-Wednesday was all very prominently south and mostly higher than
100 feet up in the air, Sunday also featured a later-developing northbound flight at just about the time when the southbound flight slowed down significantly. Overall numbers of songbirds through the half-week ranged from about 1,500 to 3,600 individuals. 

What happens the next few days is bound to be exciting. A quick low pressure system is to the south while cold front action will abound to the northeast and northwest. It's going to be good on Saturday, but Thursday through Tuesday could all be really good days and nights of migration. Surface and upper-level winds will be heavy starting on Saturday and that magnitude could be good or bad. Get out birding. Get down to Cape May for the So.Many.Birds Fall Festival. You won't regret it.




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