Date: 9/10/25 12:32 pm From: ROBERT SPAHN <rspahn...> Subject: [GeneseeBirds-L] Walk in Webster Park - Swainson's Thrush in good numbers list and migration/count thoughts
Webster Park - West Trail, Monroe, New York, US
Robert & Susan Spahn, <rspahn...> 10, 2025 9:45 AM - 10:35 AM
Protocol: Traveling
0.3 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Sue and I walked from parking near the entrance to the RV loop to the southern EW section of the West Trail and in that to the bench with a roof over it. Sat about 15 min spishing and doing owl immitation there, then walked out.
Distance is one way. Almost no new birds on the way out. It was interesting that as soon as we got out of the car, there were Swainson's Thrush calls from the bushes along the west side of the road, continuing into the entrance of the trail, where spishing brought a couple into view. None from there back to the bench and only 2 back there after the full time spishing and owl calling. NONE along the trail or road back to the car at 10:30. Suggests a good night flight last night and birds resting and feeding in the berry bushes when we started. Recall that SWTH is one of the thrush species that gives its night flight call after coming down during the day, so easy to find and count. My total was 16. From keeping data over the years, I do have a table for a number of the fall migrants that many look for that I can send on request. The last few years BBBO has had peak banding in the 9/9-15 period, then again late in the month for SWTH after these night flights.
17 species
Turkey Vulture 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 2
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 6
Blue Jay 12
American Crow 7
Black-capped Chickadee 7
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch 9
Gray Catbird 2
Swainson's Thrush 16 This SWTH count is typical of what one can find in suitable habitat, especially near the lakeshore after a night flight. In fact counts of multiple this number have been counted and even banded and especially picked up by ones tracking night calls.
It does require learning the flight calls and then taking the time; most birders do neither. Gray-cheeked Thrush and Hermit Thrush are also easy to count like this, though Hermit Thrush mainly gives two calls different from the night flight call and more rarely gives the flight call once down.
American Robin 4
American Goldfinch 1
Song Sparrow 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Northern Cardinal 7
