Date: 4/13/26 4:24 pm From: Lucy & Bob Email via groups.io <RobertADuncan...> Subject: [ALbirds] Strong tropical influence & birding prospects
Hi all,
We have a strong E & SE influence, prevalent most of the week and strengthened today. Bad for NW Floridians to get trans-Gulf migrants (lucky Texans) but very good for West Indian migrants and tropical vagrants to show up. Think Black-whiskered Vireo and with luck Tropical Kingbird and with more luck an Elaenia (one Florida record) and with LOTS of luck a Slaty-crowned Flycatcher (one LA record).
Winds from the mid-Gulf buoy are 15 - 20 mph E and here about 12 - 16 SE. So let's get out there and generate some excitement!
Bob DuncanGulf Breeze, FL
Date: 4/11/26 1:37 pm From: Yaukey, Peter via groups.io <pyaukey...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Birding prospects
Hi Bob and ALBird:
And long-range wind forecasts on windy.com indicate Sunday of next weekend (European model) or the next day (American) as the next cold front passage that could induce fallout. Of course, lots of rain can do it as well.
Date: 4/11/26 12:50 pm From: Yaukey, Peter via groups.io <pyaukey...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Swallow-tailed Kite corrective migration (?)
Thanks Kathryn-
That is important intel, I had assumed that because it was already an eBird hotspot, it was a place birders visited regularly. If anyone has recommendations of a different location along the western bayshore with a good sky view in all directions, please let me know.
I see your list from yesterday, thanks. Negative data are valuable, as part of the process is figuring out when (under what weather conditions) to expect flights.
Peter H. Yaukey, Ph.D.
Departmental Chair and Professor of Biology
Department of Biological and Physical Sciences
University of Holy Cross
4123 Woodland Drive
New Orleans, LA 70131
504-398-2312 Direct
504-394-7744 Main
[cid:91D4B89B-2D58-4695-9437-0B7014880A72]
________________________________
From: <ALbirds...> <ALbirds...> on behalf of Kathryn Firsching via groups.io <firschingk...>
Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2026 2:27 PM
To: <ALbirds...> <ALbirds...>
Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Swallow-tailed Kite corrective migration (?)
You don't often get email from <firschingk...> Learn why this is important<https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification> I stopped by and didn’t see a single kite or raptor. Just royal terns and one snowy. Seemed kind of a dicey spot in terms of safety.
Kathryn
On Apr 11, 2026, at 1:55 PM, Yaukey, Peter via groups.io <pyaukey...> wrote:
Drew and ALBirders:
Thanks for the input.
Drew makes the excellent point that correction from Gulf wind drift is not the only possible explanation for why most kites moving along the northern Gulf Coast are eastbound. He rightly points out that it is possible they have simply chosen to go west around the Gulf enroute to eastern nesting grounds (e.g., in the panhandle, Georgia).
The main factor that caused the drift-from-east hypothesis to germ in my mind are tracks of birds (by satellite), which show a heavy movement of birds from a South Carolina nesting population using the eastern corridor (see below). But, other SE USA nesters (from panhandle FL, etc) might not do what SC nesters do.
To me, a STKI concentration point would be well worth finding along the Gulf Coast regardless of the mechanism that generates the eastward movement. For the fun of watching them, and for the potential benefit of adding a tool to monitoring of their populations.
Another problem I recognize is that my perceptions of the dominance of eastbound movement are based on migrants through New Orleans, where birds could be eastbound simply because they are heading east until they are clear of Lake Pontchartrain and free to turn more northward. I would benefit from any notations any of you could make in your Mar-Apr eBird sightings in the Alabama coastal zone, indicating direction of movement (especially of birds moving forward, not just drifting while circling). Distinguishing migrating birds from nesters will be harder in AL than in New Orleans, so groups of 3 or more in particular (more likely to be migratory, I hope) would be of interest.
Thanks everyone!
Peter
________________________________
From: <ALbirds...> <ALbirds...> on behalf of Drew Haffenden via groups.io <andrew...>
Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2026 3:41 AM
To: <ALbirds...> <ALbirds...>
Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Swallow-tailed Kite corrective migration (?)
You don't often get email from <andrew...> Learn why this is important<https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification> These kites have two routes, one (smaller) is island hopping via Caribbean islands to FL peninsula and the majority circum-gulf. Neither routes are trans-gulf and as an eastern breeding circum-gulf migrant spring migrants would be expected to be traveling east.
Cheers,
Drew Haffenden
________________________________
From: <ALbirds...> <ALbirds...> on behalf of John P Valentik via groups.io <jpatvalentik...>
Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2026 6:52:09 AM
To: <ALbirds...> <ALbirds...>
Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Swallow-tailed Kite corrective migration (?)
This is my first time posting to this chat group. I am a New Orleans birder of many years, but recently have been commuting twice a week from there to Pensacola, and have been doing some birding during my transits of southern AL.
One pattern I have noticed in Louisiana over the years is that migrant Swallow-tailed Kites in spring there are generally eastbound. They do not nest south of Lake Pontchartrain, so birds in the New Orleans area are all passage migrants. I am of the opinion that these eastbound birds are Florida nesters that have been wind displaced westward during their Gulf crossings from the Yucatan or Cuba to peninsular Florida, which end up not making landfall until they reach the northern Gulf Coast, and then correct for the error by moving east along the coast to get back to peninsular FL. Their densities are much higher in peninsular FL as nesters than elsewhere.
Because the species is of conservation concern, I am interested in seeing if there is anywhere that this eastward corrective movement gets concentrated enough that it might result in decent day counts if someone were to skywatch. Because Mobile Bay could block their eastward progress and deflect them north before they cross it, I have made a couple stops lately at Helen Wood park south of Mobile. The first stop prodcued 5 STKI in 30 min, and then yesterday my second visit produced 6 STKI in 45 min.
If anyone is at all interested in this, I could use the help gathering data from skywatching at Helen Wood park or elsewhere on the western bayshore. Please let me know, and I will of course be checking eBird.
There was also a hirundid/swift movement up the bayshore yesterday while I was scanning for kites, with 45 Barn, 10 swifts, and 20 swallow sp, in the 45 minute watch. Sharpy and Broadwing added a little accent to the skywatch as well.
Date: 4/11/26 11:55 am From: Yaukey, Peter via groups.io <pyaukey...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Swallow-tailed Kite corrective migration (?)
Drew and ALBirders:
Thanks for the input.
Drew makes the excellent point that correction from Gulf wind drift is not the only possible explanation for why most kites moving along the northern Gulf Coast are eastbound. He rightly points out that it is possible they have simply chosen to go west around the Gulf enroute to eastern nesting grounds (e.g., in the panhandle, Georgia).
The main factor that caused the drift-from-east hypothesis to germ in my mind are tracks of birds (by satellite), which show a heavy movement of birds from a South Carolina nesting population using the eastern corridor (see below). But, other SE USA nesters (from panhandle FL, etc) might not do what SC nesters do.
To me, a STKI concentration point would be well worth finding along the Gulf Coast regardless of the mechanism that generates the eastward movement. For the fun of watching them, and for the potential benefit of adding a tool to monitoring of their populations.
Another problem I recognize is that my perceptions of the dominance of eastbound movement are based on migrants through New Orleans, where birds could be eastbound simply because they are heading east until they are clear of Lake Pontchartrain and free to turn more northward. I would benefit from any notations any of you could make in your Mar-Apr eBird sightings in the Alabama coastal zone, indicating direction of movement (especially of birds moving forward, not just drifting while circling). Distinguishing migrating birds from nesters will be harder in AL than in New Orleans, so groups of 3 or more in particular (more likely to be migratory, I hope) would be of interest.
Thanks everyone!
Peter
________________________________
From: <ALbirds...> <ALbirds...> on behalf of Drew Haffenden via groups.io <andrew...>
Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2026 3:41 AM
To: <ALbirds...> <ALbirds...>
Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Swallow-tailed Kite corrective migration (?)
You don't often get email from <andrew...> Learn why this is important<https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification> These kites have two routes, one (smaller) is island hopping via Caribbean islands to FL peninsula and the majority circum-gulf. Neither routes are trans-gulf and as an eastern breeding circum-gulf migrant spring migrants would be expected to be traveling east.
Cheers,
Drew Haffenden
________________________________
From: <ALbirds...> <ALbirds...> on behalf of John P Valentik via groups.io <jpatvalentik...>
Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2026 6:52:09 AM
To: <ALbirds...> <ALbirds...>
Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Swallow-tailed Kite corrective migration (?)
This is my first time posting to this chat group. I am a New Orleans birder of many years, but recently have been commuting twice a week from there to Pensacola, and have been doing some birding during my transits of southern AL.
One pattern I have noticed in Louisiana over the years is that migrant Swallow-tailed Kites in spring there are generally eastbound. They do not nest south of Lake Pontchartrain, so birds in the New Orleans area are all passage migrants. I am of the opinion that these eastbound birds are Florida nesters that have been wind displaced westward during their Gulf crossings from the Yucatan or Cuba to peninsular Florida, which end up not making landfall until they reach the northern Gulf Coast, and then correct for the error by moving east along the coast to get back to peninsular FL. Their densities are much higher in peninsular FL as nesters than elsewhere.
Because the species is of conservation concern, I am interested in seeing if there is anywhere that this eastward corrective movement gets concentrated enough that it might result in decent day counts if someone were to skywatch. Because Mobile Bay could block their eastward progress and deflect them north before they cross it, I have made a couple stops lately at Helen Wood park south of Mobile. The first stop prodcued 5 STKI in 30 min, and then yesterday my second visit produced 6 STKI in 45 min.
If anyone is at all interested in this, I could use the help gathering data from skywatching at Helen Wood park or elsewhere on the western bayshore. Please let me know, and I will of course be checking eBird.
There was also a hirundid/swift movement up the bayshore yesterday while I was scanning for kites, with 45 Barn, 10 swifts, and 20 swallow sp, in the 45 minute watch. Sharpy and Broadwing added a little accent to the skywatch as well.
Date: 4/11/26 1:41 am From: Drew Haffenden via groups.io <andrew...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Swallow-tailed Kite corrective migration (?)
These kites have two routes, one (smaller) is island hopping via Caribbean islands to FL peninsula and the majority circum-gulf. Neither routes are trans-gulf and as an eastern breeding circum-gulf migrant spring migrants would be expected to be traveling east.
Cheers,
Drew Haffenden
________________________________
From: <ALbirds...> <ALbirds...> on behalf of John P Valentik via groups.io <jpatvalentik...>
Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2026 6:52:09 AM
To: <ALbirds...> <ALbirds...>
Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Swallow-tailed Kite corrective migration (?)
This is my first time posting to this chat group. I am a New Orleans birder of many years, but recently have been commuting twice a week from there to Pensacola, and have been doing some birding during my transits of southern AL.
One pattern I have noticed in Louisiana over the years is that migrant Swallow-tailed Kites in spring there are generally eastbound. They do not nest south of Lake Pontchartrain, so birds in the New Orleans area are all passage migrants. I am of the opinion that these eastbound birds are Florida nesters that have been wind displaced westward during their Gulf crossings from the Yucatan or Cuba to peninsular Florida, which end up not making landfall until they reach the northern Gulf Coast, and then correct for the error by moving east along the coast to get back to peninsular FL. Their densities are much higher in peninsular FL as nesters than elsewhere.
Because the species is of conservation concern, I am interested in seeing if there is anywhere that this eastward corrective movement gets concentrated enough that it might result in decent day counts if someone were to skywatch. Because Mobile Bay could block their eastward progress and deflect them north before they cross it, I have made a couple stops lately at Helen Wood park south of Mobile. The first stop prodcued 5 STKI in 30 min, and then yesterday my second visit produced 6 STKI in 45 min.
If anyone is at all interested in this, I could use the help gathering data from skywatching at Helen Wood park or elsewhere on the western bayshore. Please let me know, and I will of course be checking eBird.
There was also a hirundid/swift movement up the bayshore yesterday while I was scanning for kites, with 45 Barn, 10 swifts, and 20 swallow sp, in the 45 minute watch. Sharpy and Broadwing added a little accent to the skywatch as well.
Date: 4/10/26 1:52 pm From: John P Valentik via groups.io <jpatvalentik...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Swallow-tailed Kite corrective migration (?)
Thiats a really interesting and clever deducrion.
On Fri, Apr 10, 2026, 7:49 AM Yaukey, Peter via groups.io <pyaukey= <uhcno.edu...> wrote:
> Hello Birders: > > This is my first time posting to this chat group. I am a New Orleans > birder of many years, but recently have been commuting twice a week from > there to Pensacola, and have been doing some birding during my transits of > southern AL. > > One pattern I have noticed in Louisiana over the years is that migrant > Swallow-tailed Kites in spring there are generally eastbound. They do not > nest south of Lake Pontchartrain, so birds in the New Orleans area are all > passage migrants. I am of the opinion that these eastbound birds are > Florida nesters that have been wind displaced westward during their Gulf > crossings from the Yucatan or Cuba to peninsular Florida, which end up not > making landfall until they reach the northern Gulf Coast, and then correct > for the error by moving east along the coast to get back to peninsular FL. > Their densities are much higher in peninsular FL as nesters than elsewhere. > > Because the species is of conservation concern, I am interested in seeing > if there is anywhere that this eastward corrective movement gets > concentrated enough that it might result in decent day counts if someone > were to skywatch. Because Mobile Bay could block their eastward progress > and deflect them north before they cross it, I have made a couple stops > lately at Helen Wood park south of Mobile. The first stop prodcued 5 STKI > in 30 min, and then yesterday my second visit produced 6 STKI in 45 min. > > If anyone is at all interested in this, I could use the help gathering > data from skywatching at Helen Wood park or elsewhere on the western > bayshore. Please let me know, and I will of course be checking eBird. > > There was also a hirundid/swift movement up the bayshore yesterday while I > was scanning for kites, with 45 Barn, 10 swifts, and 20 swallow sp, in the > 45 minute watch. Sharpy and Broadwing added a little accent to the > skywatch as well. > > Cheers, > > Peter Yaukey > > *Peter H. Yaukey, Ph.D.* > > *Departmental Chair and Professor of Biology* > > > <https://www.google.com/maps/search/4123+Woodland+Drive+%0D%0A+%0D%0A+New+Orleans,+LA%C2%A0+70131?entry=gmail&source=g>*Department > of Biological and Physical Sciences* > > <https://www.google.com/maps/search/4123+Woodland+Drive+%0D%0A+%0D%0A+New+Orleans,+LA%C2%A0+70131?entry=gmail&source=g> > > *University of Holy Cross* > > *4123 Woodland Drive > <https://www.google.com/maps/search/4123+Woodland+Drive+%0D%0A+%0D%0A+New+Orleans,+LA%C2%A0+70131?entry=gmail&source=g>* > > *New Orleans, LA 70131 > <https://www.google.com/maps/search/4123+Woodland+Drive+%0D%0A+%0D%0A+New+Orleans,+LA%C2%A0+70131?entry=gmail&source=g>* > > *504-398-2312 Direct* > > *504-394-7744 Main* > > > > [image: cid:91D4B89B-2D58-4695-9437-0B7014880A72] > > > >
Date: 4/10/26 5:59 am From: Shirley Farrell via groups.io <shirfarr...> Subject: [ALbirds] AOS Spring Meeting Deadline
Hi everyone,
I wanted to send out a short note to remind you that the deadline for spring registration is TODAY!.
We have a terrific line-up of field trips, speaker, meals and silent auction, plus some surprises. Click this link, https://www.aosbirds.org/spring-2026/, to register.
Date: 4/10/26 5:49 am From: Yaukey, Peter via groups.io <pyaukey...> Subject: [ALbirds] Swallow-tailed Kite corrective migration (?)
Hello Birders:
This is my first time posting to this chat group. I am a New Orleans birder of many years, but recently have been commuting twice a week from there to Pensacola, and have been doing some birding during my transits of southern AL.
One pattern I have noticed in Louisiana over the years is that migrant Swallow-tailed Kites in spring there are generally eastbound. They do not nest south of Lake Pontchartrain, so birds in the New Orleans area are all passage migrants. I am of the opinion that these eastbound birds are Florida nesters that have been wind displaced westward during their Gulf crossings from the Yucatan or Cuba to peninsular Florida, which end up not making landfall until they reach the northern Gulf Coast, and then correct for the error by moving east along the coast to get back to peninsular FL. Their densities are much higher in peninsular FL as nesters than elsewhere.
Because the species is of conservation concern, I am interested in seeing if there is anywhere that this eastward corrective movement gets concentrated enough that it might result in decent day counts if someone were to skywatch. Because Mobile Bay could block their eastward progress and deflect them north before they cross it, I have made a couple stops lately at Helen Wood park south of Mobile. The first stop prodcued 5 STKI in 30 min, and then yesterday my second visit produced 6 STKI in 45 min.
If anyone is at all interested in this, I could use the help gathering data from skywatching at Helen Wood park or elsewhere on the western bayshore. Please let me know, and I will of course be checking eBird.
There was also a hirundid/swift movement up the bayshore yesterday while I was scanning for kites, with 45 Barn, 10 swifts, and 20 swallow sp, in the 45 minute watch. Sharpy and Broadwing added a little accent to the skywatch as well.
Date: 4/6/26 8:13 am From: Lucy & Bob Email via groups.io <RobertADuncan...> Subject: [ALbirds] Birding prospects
Hi all,
Well, Spring has retreated somewhat into Winter! The Marine Forecast has strong NE to E winds prevailing through Friday. That means that whatever birds do take off for the continent will be vectored toward the SW LA - TX coasts. We could get some West Indian migrants out of it if we're lucky. But it takes a chunk out of our Spring migration calendar, for unlike Fall migration which is more protracted, we have about six or eight weeks to have good birding for Spring. So it goes.
Bob DuncanGulf Breeze, FL
Date: 4/1/26 2:11 pm From: Ken Hare via groups.io <kmhare46...> Subject: [ALbirds] New Port Road Marsh
With the recent sighting of a Glossy Ibis (not around the past couple of days) at this hotspot, there might be some of you planning a trip to check it out. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the land owners have opened a beaver dam and much of the water near the gate is draining. Still appears to be standing water well out into the field judging by the egrets that can be seen, and the marshy area to the southeast of the gate will probably remain wet. And there is still some standing water near the field gate, but unless we get some significant rain I suspect that it will soon dry up. This is still a good birding spot, but probably not as good as it was last week.
- Ken H.
Note to Hot Spot managers: I think this should be New Port Landing Road Marsh, not Point.
Date: 3/31/26 8:41 am From: Eric Soehren via groups.io <esoehren...> Subject: [ALbirds] Vacant Breeding Bird Survey Routes - Volunteers Needed (2026)!
AL Birders--
It’s that time of year again when I put the call out for volunteers to adopt a vacant Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) route for the upcoming breeding season in Alabama.
As an overview, the USGS BBS is a long-term, standardized monitoring program run by volunteers (over 2,000 people) throughout North America. Since its inception in 1966, the BBS is one of the most important bird monitoring programs in existence as it provides population trend estimates for the continent’s breeding birds at different temporal and spatial scales. The data is used in many ways and enables researchers and wildlife agencies to better evaluate the current statuses of species in terms of conservation need. Observers must be able to identify birds by sight and song, although most detections are made by ear. Essentially, the survey entails conducting 50, 3-minute point counts at stops placed at 0.5-mile increments along an established road route. It typically takes 4 hours to complete. Start times are 30 minutes before local sunrise. Routes are surveyed only once a year and the observer can select the day to run them usually between mid-May to 30 June, although some start dates may be a week later in the northern part of the state. Weekends are the best days to survey routes (especially Sundays) with much lower traffic volume.
I am looking for dedicated birders who possess the necessary skills to readily identify all breeding birds by sight and song to step up and participate. There have been a number of retirements from their routes, so I'm seeking to fill 21 vacancies in the state, which currently represents 25% of all 85 active routes! Most of the vacancies are weighted toward the western side of the state, but don't let that sway your consideration...
Current vacant routes (and county starting point) include the following:
Trade (02004) – Cullman
Liberty (02019) – Pickens
Riderwood (02020) – Choctaw
Linden (02021) – Marengo
Grangeburg (02031) – Houston
Brundidge (02032) – Pike
Beatrice (02036) – Monroe
Millry (02039) – Washington
Blocton (02043) – Bibb
Epes (02048) – Sumter
Escatawpa (02052) – Washington
Grove Hill (02053) – Clarke
Holt (02060) – Tuscaloosa
Courtland (02102) – Lawrence
Vina (02201) – Marion
Carter Grove (02203) – Madison
Vernon (02205) – Lamar
Wedowee (02209) – Randolph
Gastonburg (02210) – Houston
Seale (02212) – Lee
Claiborne (02214) – Clarke
So, if you are concerned about the welfare of our breeding birds and possess the necessary skills to identify them, please consider taking one or more of the vacant routes listed above. Participation requires dedicating a day to scout the route for familiarity and then a single morning beginning at the designated start time to survey a route of 50 stops, which contributes substantially to our present-day knowledge of breeding bird statuses on many levels! If you currently have an assigned route(s) or have participated in the past, a big thank you for your dedicated service.
If you are unfamiliar with the BBS and have questions about it or want to request a route, please contact me (contact information below). I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Thank you for your consideration and good birding!
Eric Soehren, Alabama BBS Coordinator
<eric.soehren...>
Date: 3/29/26 6:02 pm From: Damien J. Simbeck via groups.io <tnbarredowl...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Birding Prospects
Migration has been slow at this end of the state too. We’ve had a lot of strong southerly winds, giving migrants free rides to breeding grounds further north. Lack of rain has also left sinkhole ponds minimal to dry, so shorebird migration has also been slow (no Golden Plovers yet, to my knowledge). A few southern US wintering birds are arriving early, with Caspian Terns and Little Blue Herons already here. Usual early migrant breeders (La. Waterthrush, N. Parula, Yt Warbler, Bg Gnatcatcher, etc. have been right on time.
Damien Simbeck
Killen AL
Sent from my (non-Apple) phone. You can teach an old dog new tricks!
On Sun, Mar 29, 2026 at 6:46 PM, <ekroston...> via groups.io<ekroston...> wrote: Thanks, Bob!
On Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 04:59:34 PM CDT, Lucy & Bob Email via groups.io <robertaduncan...> wrote:
Hi all,
Birding has been really disappointing the last couple of days just as migration should be picking up. West Indian migrants should have been seen in better numbers than have been reported. This is not surprising given the weather situation. The controlling factor is weather, especially wind. Yesterday brisk NE & E winds extended into the southern Gulf and northern West Indies, not good for bringing birds up this way. Today, brisk E winds prevail in that area and even if birds were flying, they would be vectored to our west, especially trans-Gulf migrants if any were aloft. This is also reflected in Bird Cast forecasts for tonight and the next two nights
Winds are forecast to veer to the SE tomorrow, so migration may resume. But rain, the key ingredient for bringing birds down at our migrant traps, will be limited at best and probably be confined to the mainland if it occurs Wednesday as predicted. Maybe we will get lucky and the weak upper level trough passing across the lower South will strengthen and give us a better chance of rain. Rain chances diminish after that and the 20 - 30% predicted for the following days would probably be in the interior. Fingers crossed!
Good birding,
Bob DuncanGulf Breeze, FL
Thanks, Bob!
On Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 04:59:34 PM CDT, Lucy & Bob Email via groups.io <robertaduncan...> wrote:
Hi all,
Birding has been really disappointing the last couple of days just as migration should be picking up. West Indian migrants should have been seen in better numbers than have been reported. This is not surprising given the weather situation. The controlling factor is weather, especially wind. Yesterday brisk NE & E winds extended into the southern Gulf and northern West Indies, not good for bringing birds up this way. Today, brisk E winds prevail in that area and even if birds were flying, they would be vectored to our west, especially trans-Gulf migrants if any were aloft. This is also reflected in Bird Cast forecasts for tonight and the next two nights
Winds are forecast to veer to the SE tomorrow, so migration may resume. But rain, the key ingredient for bringing birds down at our migrant traps, will be limited at best and probably be confined to the mainland if it occurs Wednesday as predicted. Maybe we will get lucky and the weak upper level trough passing across the lower South will strengthen and give us a better chance of rain. Rain chances diminish after that and the 20 - 30% predicted for the following days would probably be in the interior. Fingers crossed!
Good birding,
Bob DuncanGulf Breeze, FL
Date: 3/29/26 2:59 pm From: Lucy & Bob Email via groups.io <RobertADuncan...> Subject: [ALbirds] Birding Prospects
Hi all,
Birding has been really disappointing the last couple of days just as migration should be picking up. West Indian migrants should have been seen in better numbers than have been reported. This is not surprising given the weather situation. The controlling factor is weather, especially wind. Yesterday brisk NE & E winds extended into the southern Gulf and northern West Indies, not good for bringing birds up this way. Today, brisk E winds prevail in that area and even if birds were flying, they would be vectored to our west, especially trans-Gulf migrants if any were aloft. This is also reflected in Bird Cast forecasts for tonight and the next two nights
Winds are forecast to veer to the SE tomorrow, so migration may resume. But rain, the key ingredient for bringing birds down at our migrant traps, will be limited at best and probably be confined to the mainland if it occurs Wednesday as predicted. Maybe we will get lucky and the weak upper level trough passing across the lower South will strengthen and give us a better chance of rain. Rain chances diminish after that and the 20 - 30% predicted for the following days would probably be in the interior. Fingers crossed!
Good birding,
Bob DuncanGulf Breeze, FL
Date: 3/12/26 4:23 am From: Lawrence Gardella via groups.io <lfgardella...> Subject: Re: [ALbirds] Red-footed Booby in Tallapoosa County?!!!
By the time she posted it, the bird had already left the tower
(apparently, during the morning of March 8). I know that Leif Milliron
won't to Lake Martin on March 9, presumably looking for the booby
unsuccessfully. Aside from the few people whi saw it on the 7th (of whom
Julia Thomas was the only "avid birder"; and I believe she saw iit the next
morning), I don't think anyone else hot to see it.
I am trying to get the names of the tower climbers who took the photos.
Larry Gardella
Daphne
On Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 9:51 PM <swmavocet...> via groups.io <swmavocet=
<aol.com...> wrote:
> Folks,
>
> I just saw this eBird report from March 7. I hope it stayed long enough
> to be refound by some AL-Birders. Did you see it?
>
> Bird well,
>
> Steve McConnell
> Hartselle, AL
>
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S308055741 >
>
