From 5:30-6:20 a.m. 9/20 in Berks Co. in se PA, I heard about 900 nocturnal
flight calls, the vast majority in the last 20 minutes. Most calls were of
Swainson's Thrush, with calls of Wood Thrush a distant second, and single
digit numbers of Veery, Gray-cheeked Thrush and Rose-breasted Grosbeak
calls. An apparent Bicknell's Thrush called clearly four times as it passed
over my clearing in the woods. As usual, there were many unidentified calls.
Conditions were clear (stars and 4 meteors very bright), cold (40'sF) with
almost calm winds. Yesterdays windy (nw) frontal passage yielded very few
calls of high flying birds during the same time period, which is typical.
Swainson's and Wood Thrushes were quite vocal during the first half hour
after landing. Three Swainson's Thrushes spent the morning hours in a
spicebush (Lindera benzoin) near my house alternating between swallowing 2
or 3 berries, perching quietly and digesting (they regurgitate the seeds
after digesting the pulp), then eating more fruits and so on. This bright
red, high lipid fruit is abundant in the nearby woods after this rainy
growing season, and these thrushes eat a lot of it. I've watched Veeries,
Hermits, Gray-cheeks, Swainson's and Wood Thrushes spend long periods in
these bushes. Parking (and porking) in the diner.
Rudy Keller
Boyertown, PA
Berks County
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