Date: 9/25/26 9:23 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] West River Dam - Fri banding results
Thanks to Strickland Wheelock for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough,MA <barb620...>
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Date: Sat, 26 Sep 2026 02:00:50 +0000 (UTC) From: Strickland Wheelock <skwheelock...> Subject: West River Dam - Fri banding results
To our surprise, this morning [9/25] the winds were calm as we put up the nets - the lull before the storm apparently.What was another surprise was watching 2 Merlins, 2 Broad-winged Hawks & 1 Red-shouldered Hawks working the marsh.However little passerine movement such that the 1st 2 net runs only produced a Chickadee & a Downy Woodpecker.=C2=A0The breeze picked up a little and, on the 3rd, run, so did the activity. The 3rd run yielded 19 captures with Blk&Wht Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, 4 more Downy Woodpeckers, Chipping Sparrows, Tufted Titmouse, Blue Jays.By 10 am, we had the nets closed as the winds started to pick up - the combination of the raptor show and the busy 3rd net run made our Friday morning special as we wait out the storm. If we have decent weather next week after the storm, I expect very busy mornings
