Research along Lake Erie indicates we should expect the First Wave of Neotropical migrants to arrive around 24-25 April (each wave generally has 2 pulses). The dominants of White-throated Sparrow (male), Hermit Thrush, Mrytle Warbler (male), and Ruby-crowned Kinglet (male). While present the wave species has been in low numbers (except the White Throat) in the Lake Erie marshes. See http://www.bsbo.org/passerine/passerine_migration_monitoring.htm for more on the wave information. The important weather conditions to form a good movement into Ohio is a Low pressure cell over Oklahoma/Arkansas radiating warm fronts bringing tropical winds up the Mississippi and Ohio river valleys. A Low positioned itself last Thursday/Friday where we needed it but what happened. While not unprecedented, what appears to have occurred this weekend is a High pressure cell stationed over lower Michigan and Ontario acted as a blocker, deflecting the winds to the west. I wouldn't be surprised if the route up the Mississippi itself clear into Minnesota had good bird numbers. The front stalled in central Ohio and should have brought a variety of species to that region as seems to be the case from reports on this list-serve. So, what appears next? Weather forecast looks good for late this coming week with temperature increases and lows in the 50s. This should be the second pulse of the First Wave and could make up for the weak first pulse. Keep your eyes on the weather predictions to make the best use of your limited time to enjoy our visiting avian friends. To follow what is happening in the migrant hotbeds along Lake Erie you can monitor our daily bird list from the Navarre Banding Station on Ottawa NWR at http://www.bsbo.org/passerine/pdf/navarre_spring_survey_2010.pdf and the actual bandings (with peaks and first/last dates) http://www.bsbo.org/passerine/pdf/passerinebandspringnavarre.pdf Also check Kenn Kaufan's Best Birding pages http://www.bsbo.org/passerine/pdf/passerinebandspringnavarre.pdf and The Bander's Blog http://www.bsbo.org/bsbo_banders_blog.htm So to schedule your trips (and illnesses if you need an excuse to get off work) follow our updates and the weather. You too can predict the bigger movement days. Mark Shieldcastle Research Director Black Swamp Bird Observatory 13551 W SR 2 Oak Harbor, Ohio 43449 419-898-4070 <http://www.bsbobird.org/> www.bsbobird.org <http://www.ohioyoungbirders.org/> www.ohioyoungbirders.org <http://www.biggestweekinamericanbirding.com/> www.biggestweekinamericanbirding.com Follow BSBO on Facebook! <http://www.facebook.com/bsbobird> www.facebook.com/bsbobird Follow BSBO on Twitter - www.twitter.com/bsbobird ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]