Nocturnal migration was up by 43% in the number of flight calls per night and 42% in the number of estimated birds per night over the previous week. Total flight calls and estimated birds were twice the number recorded for the same week last year. This increase is partially accounted for by improvements in my detection of flight calls in my audio recordings.
The most common species was the American Redstart with 755 estimated birds, followed by Chestnut-sided Warbler (391), Magnolia Warbler (376), Common Yellowthroat (262), Black-and-white Warbler (250), Canada Warbler (238), Ovenbird (236), and Northern Parula (220). The remaining 15 species of warblers recorded were estimated at less than 200 birds for the week. The more unusual warblers included one Prairie Warbler and one Pine Warbler.
The number of Swainson’s Thrush and Veery were almost the same as those recorded last year with an estimated 123 Swainson’s Thrush and 25 Veery. There was still minimal sparrow migration with a total of 35 estimated Savannah Sparrows. The most common shorebird was Semipalmated Sandpiper with an estimated 38 birds and Solitary Sandpipers made a good showing with an estimated 13 birds during the week.
For the second year in a row, an Upland Sandpiper flew past the monitoring station.This year one bird was heard at 0320 hours on the morning of 1 September. Last year two birds were heard, one on 13 August and the other on 17 August. This year’s bird can be heard below.