Date: 9/4/24 1:42 pm From: Lucy & Bob Email via groups.io <RobertADuncan...> Subject: [ALbirds] Stationary front birds
Hi all,
As I explained in my previous post about a week or so ago, if a cold front doesn't happen a stationary front along or just offshore the coast might bring us birds. As if according to script, just that is happening now. A stationary front is draped E - W along the coast with thunderstorms and rain in an E - W line from LA to the E Panhandle about 20 - 50 miles offshore with showers approaching the coast now (3 pm).
When I stepped out of my house about 8 a.m. this morning I spotted our oaks full of small passerine migrants feeding but in a hurry. A frantic call to Lucy for help got her away from her coffee and we had a brief birding event. The birds moved through the yard quickly and we were able to identify only a few, 5 warblers species, best were Blackburnian and Black-throated Blue (Lucy).
This front is forecast to remain stationary in the vicinity with high chance of rain through Friday. This would stop migration cold and allow what birds that reach the coast to remain until more favorable flying conditions. The fly in the ointment is that the wind is E and not NE, so birds coming south would probably stay on the mainland and not reach the coastal migrant "traps," but those that do would be stuck there.
A front is due Friday night with a shift to the NE but diminishing rain chances. That should bring a movement down to the coast but most birds won't stop unless bad weather is in the Gulf, an unknown at this point in time. Timing is everything. Bear in mind that from a birds eye view they can see the tops of storms over a hundred miles away. So things are looking promising.
Bob DuncanGulf Breeze, FL
