Tuesday, September 20

Nocturnal migrants September 16th-18th, 2011

The following are recordings of migrants flying over my house near Philadelphia, PA, during three consecutive nights of northwesterly/northeasterly winds in mid-September. The majority of calls were by thrushes, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks or warblers, and there was an occasional sparrow or heron. The most common thrush was Swainson's, with Veeries coming in second, this species being past its peak. Early Gray-cheeked Thrushes were heard in small numbers, and a few Wood Thrushes passed over. Most frequently heard warblers were Common Yellowthroat, Blackpoll/Blackburnian, Ovenbird and American Redstart.

All identifications are presumed, as no birds were observed.

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks call mostly earlier in the night, whereas thrushes call throughout with an increase towards sunrise. Grosbeaks have three main categories of calls, off-key whistles (which can sound like Swainson's or Hermit Thrush), hoarse calls and buzzy calls. The calls are quite variable.


Typical whistle, which could be confused with Swainson's Thrush, 2.47am













Commonly heard hoarse call, 1.05am













11.25pm














This call is Hermit Thrush-like, 1.30am












Short call, 1.01am












The following are presumed Rose-breasted Grosbeak calls:

5.05am












3.03am













12.55am


























Presumed Wood Thrush (Rose-breasted Grosbeak can be similar) 5.45am













Swainson's Thrush, modulated and typical pure-toned calls, 6.03am













Veery, typical call, 4.57am












Gray-cheeked Thrush calls are higher than those of Veery and Swainson's Thrush, 6.08am













The Bay-breasted Warbler has a bisyllabic call that is more sibilant than other buzzy warbler calls (Blackburnian can be similar), 5.02am














Buzz, most likely Blackpoll or Blackburnian (less likely Yellow, based on date, or Connecticut, based on abundance) 12.02am













Northern Waterthrush, a rising buzz, 1201am (Louisiana Waterthrush is similar)













This is a good candidate for Cape May Warbler, a high, slightly descending buzz, 3.56am.













Magnolia Warbler, a fine buzz, 2.02am













Chestnut-sided Warbler, a low, fine buzz, 1.52am












Common Yellowthroat, a distinctive low coarse buzz, 3.35am












Double rising call, Black-throated Green, Nashville or Tennessee Warbler, 12.02am













Black-throated Blue Warbler 1.39am












Northern Parula, a clear descending call, 2.00am












Palm Warbler, a distinctive emphatic "seemp", 2.00am.














Canada Warbler 3.50am












American Redstart, 12.02am












Black-and-white Warbler, a sharply modulated bisyllabic call, 3.35am











Ovenbird, a piercing rising call, 12.30am














Savannah Sparrow 11.58pm












Swamp/Lincoln's Sparrow 4.20am


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