naturalist


September NATURE NOTES
By Katie Andersen

Daylight is waning and the daily chorus is driven almost completely by insect song. From songbirds to shorebirds, fall bird migration is in full swing! September brings changes as the last summer days wane and autumn takes hold. Read on to see what you can expect in this month’s Nature Notes.

Hermit Thrush gorging on berries by Ripley Kindervater

  • Hummingbird migration generally wraps up by the end of the month, with some late migrants possible into early October. Keep your hummingbird feeders up - their migration is not correlated to feeders being available!

  • Northern Flickers, Catbirds, thrushes (Hermit, Wood, Gray-cheeked, Swainson's, and Veery), and up to 17 species of warblers begin migrating through the area.

  • Jack-in-the-pulpit, hawthorne, highbush cranberry, and spicebush berries are ripe.

  • Purple Martins depart by late September. Currently, the pre-migratory roost at the head of the bay at Presque Isle is active with thousands of birds - large enough to be picked up by radar! Get there about a half hour before sunset to watch them feed and then come in for the evening.

  • Shorebird migration continues. This can be a peak time for diversity as juveniles of early migrating species and adults of late migrating species come through this month.

Black-bellied Plover by Katie Andersen

  • The first White-throated Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos may appear by the end of the month.

  • Mixed blackbird flocks consisting of Common Grackles, Brown-headed Cowbirds, and Red-winged Blackbirds form up and can number in the thousands.

  • Baltimore Oriole migration finishes up this month.


  • Chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, Tufted Titmice, woodpeckers, and Blue Jays begin caching food for the winter. Watch them visit feeders for sunflowers and peanuts in the shell, which they'll take and store between pieces of tree bark, in old woodpecker holes, etc.

  • Winter feeding flocks begin to form up. Small family groups of Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, and Downy Woodpeckers typically form the core of these flocks in our area. Migrating birds will often join up with these groups, taking advantage of the flock's knowledge of local food and water sources. Joining a feeding flock can also provide additional protection from predators. If you hear or spot chickadees, take the time to scan the flock for other birds. Migrating Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets, Winter Wrens, Brown Creepers, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Sapsuckers, and various warbler species are likely to mix with these flocks in September and October.

Bay-breasted Warbler by Katie Andersen

  • Common Nighthawk migration peaks in the first half of the month. We typically experience one day during early September with a noticeable movement during the late afternoon/early evening hours.

  • Chimney Swift migration peaks. Look for them in the sky above Erie.

  • Robins are in large flocks, feeding on crab apples and other fruit.

  • Broad-winged Hawk migration peaks mid- to late-month.

Monarch Butterfly on Boneset by Katie Andersen

Eastern Monarch Butterflies continue their migration south. Check patches of Goldenrod and Boneset flowers along the beaches at the northeast end of Presque Isle during the mid-morning to early afternoon hours for resting Monarchs that migrated across Lake Erie earlier in the day.

Great Anglewing Katydid by Katie Andersen

  • Katydids continue calling, especially during warm days. Species we can hear locally include the familiar Common True Katydid, as well as Greater Anglewing Katydid, Short-winged Meadow Katydid, and Black-legged Meadow Katydid. Learn the songs of these and other insects here: https://songsofinsects.com

  • Bucks polishing antlers - look for buck rubs on trees.

  • Bats are busy feeding as they build fat reserves for migration and hibernation.

  • Leaves of sumac, tulip trees, dogwood, and Virginia creeper begin turning.

  • Wildflowers in bloom include bottle gentian, obedient-plant, jewelweed, New England asters, turtlehead, goldenrods, nodding ladies'-tresses, and more.

September 2024 Dates of Note:

Sept. 2: New Moon, Sept. 17: Full Moon

Sept. 22: Autumnal Equinox – almost equal amounts of day and night.

September 7: International Vulture Awareness Day
Learn more about the world’s vultures: https://vultureday.org/vultures