BirdCapeMay.org

The promising push of montane invasion species in the West evident during the fall seems to have either stabilized or fizzled. Still some areas with above-average numbers of Cassin's Finches and Red Crossbills, plus Red-breasted Nuthatches, but greater numbers and species diversity (e.g., corvids) seems to have fizzled.

There has also been a stall in the southern and eastern movement of many irruptives (Bohemian Waxwings, Pine Grosbeaks, crossbills, redpolls) in the East since right around Christmas Day. We'll need to wait to see if there is another push in February, as often happens.

But winter owls seems decidedly meager this year.

Lastly, perhaps as a result of prolonged drought conditions in parts of the West, riparian habitats in California and the Southwest seem to have substantially fewer wintering birds in many of them. People have commented on the decidedly low numbers of such usually common species as "Audubon's" Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Paul Lehman