Date: 10/19/26 7:42 pm From: Barbara Volkle <barb620...> Subject: [MASSBIRD] West Hill Dam Monday results
Thanks to Strickland Wheelock for this report.
Barbara Volkle Northborough,MA <barb620...>
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Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2026 22:12:05 +0000 (UTC) From: Strickland Wheelock <skwheelock...> Subject: West Hill Dam Monday results
Was quite the morning - light frost to start, no wind & sunny, stunning foliage - also from last week, there was a change in the bird mix as the late fall species arrive & depart - much fewer Yellow-rumps & Towhees, many more sparrows [7 species caught] plus more finches and our 1st Hermit Thrush. Of the 29 captures this morning, the sparrows kept us busy with many White-throats plus several Swamp, Song, Chipping, 1 Savannah, 1 Junco & 1 Field Sparrow [missed our Lincoln's Sp]. Closed the nets after 3 hrs.Beyond the sparrows, had 3 Goldfinches, 1 Hermit Thrush, 1 Ruby-cr Kinglet, 1 Purple Finch [f], 1 Hairy Woodpecker [just barely missed catching a Pileated] & 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler.Other species along the fields/marsh were Rusty & Red-winged Blackbirds, Palm Warblers, many Bluebirds, Wood Ducks, Gt Blue Heron plus many more sparrows in the field/brush, some Kinglets and warblers in thetrees.The plan is to monitor this late migration for maybe 2 more weeks depending on the weather - last year on 10/27 we had a crazy day with about 80 captures, so fortunately we have a great team to deal with surprises like= that.
