Wednesday, April 18, 2012

You're getting warmer



I would say there is little doubt that there will be a new surge of migrants and vagrants into SW Ontario tonight and Friday night, before things get cold again for a few days... Check out the weather maps if you don't believe me!

For tonight (18th) at midnight, with the warm front pulling into the SW.... 

Here's a link to a broader nexrad radar if you want to watch the birds "light up" tonight after the sun goes down:


This would be roughly the third sizable surge of warm air + birds already this year... Considering we rarely have 1 by this date, it seems fairly clear that this year isn't normal - and no doubt there are several more rarities to be found right now than is typical for the time of year..

As I'm quite happy to already eat crow on my comments on "lack of CMF's" pre Apr 24th in Ontario, and have decided to get my Dad back to Pelee for the next few days to take in some more early birding

Heck, just look at what the Chicago area has had over the past few days:

Lark + Henslow's + LeContes + Nelson's Sparrows
Cattle Egret
Summer Tanager
Yellow-throated Warbler
Piping Plover
Marbled Godwits
White-winged Dove

+ Glossy  Ibis (4) and Cinnamon Teal not too far away from the city as well....


Pretty sweet considering they're on the Great Lakes (and maybe a bit advanced in migration) but not really that far from SW Ontario... Heck, Wisconsin is to the north and they've had White-faced Ibis, Marbled Godwit(s), Hudsonian Godwit, Summer Tanager, Yellow-throated Warbler etc - just in the last 3 days...





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For fun, here's a documentation video of a Blue-headed Vireo (mine and Ken's FOY) from Pelee a few days ago, eating a freshly arrived Question Mark in the butterfly invasion...






7 comments:

  1. You can add Little Blue Heron and Blue Grosbeak to the species list in or near Chicago..

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/73925029@N05/6941801852/in/pool-437129@N20/

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  2. I hope there is a surge Friday! Need something to look for on the weekend (in the rain....again).

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  3. You also might want to add this:

    http://www.ilbirds.com/index.php?topic=50480.msg74217#new

    possible White-crested Elaenia!!!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for the comments/info/links guys! This is getting silly (and it's only Apr 19th)

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  4. Damn, Alvan beat me to it! Also multiple Ruffs around the Great Lakes and a Fork-tailed Flycatcher at the tip of Long Point today!

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  5. No doubt there is something really whacky happening... Multiple Scissor-tailed, Say's Phoebes, Fork-tailed and the Elaenia in IL .... Going to go birding the next two days, just to get some of the crazy/excitement out of my system...

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