BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY. 



45 



ously from nowhere. The Short-billed Marsh Wrens are to be found in less 

 reedy places where the grass is short and tufted, or even in English-grass 

 meadows. 



The Yellow Rail rarely, the American Coot, the Dabchick, and various 

 species of Ducks, especially the Black Duck, Wood Duck, and both species of 

 Teal, frequent the marshes during the migrations, the Ducks dropping down 

 into the pools and river. So common are they at times that one portion of 

 this marsh is locally known as the " Feather-bed," another, as " Wood Duck 

 Bushes." Wild Geese frequently alight in these secluded regions during the 

 spring migrations, sometimes spending several days there before continuing 

 their northward flight. Often they leave behind so many tokens of their 

 moulting that the meadow looks like a poultry-yard. Green and Night Herons 

 are common summer birds, as is also the Great Blue Heron during the spring 

 and late summer months. 



Some actual records of the various bird-voices of this marsh during the 

 darker hours may be of interest, and show best the character of the fresh 

 marsh. 



May 22d, 1904; 7 to 7.15 p.m. The evening chorus of birds is still 

 strong, the Red-winged Blackbirds, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Swamp Sparrows, 

 Northern Yellowthroats and other Warblers, Catbirds, Long-billed Marsh 

 Wrens, Wood Thrushes, Veeries, and Robins being especially prominent. The 

 sun sets at 7.09 p. m. 



7.15 to 7.30 p. m. The Swamp Sparrows, Northern Yellowthroats, Cat- 

 birds, Wrens, Thrushes, Robins are still active, Red-wings sing only occa- 

 sionally while the other birds become silent at the end of this period. 



7.30 to 7.45 p. m. The first Whip-poor-will is heard at 7.30 p. m., calling 

 20 times, — 138 times, — 104 times, — 5 times. Swamp Sparrows, Northern 

 Yellowthroats, Catbirds, Wrens, Thrushes still sing at intervals ; Night 

 Herons quawk. It is otherwise silent except for the frogs, whose full chorus 

 has begun. It is now so dark that a Whip-poor-will that has alit near me on a 

 log cannot be distinguished. 



May 2 1st, 1904 ; 7.45 to 10 p. m. A clear night, no moon. Whip-poor- 

 wills are singing nearly all the time ; my largest count of repeated songs is 

 296. Long-billed Marsh Wrens frequently, Swamp Sparrows, Oven-birds, and 

 Northern Yellowthroats occasionally heard. 



May 22d, 1904 ; 12 to 12.30 A. M. Whip-poor-wills singing often. 



1.30 to 1.45 a. m. A Long-billed Marsh Wren sings three times, a Swamp 

 Sparrow twice, a Northern Yellowthroat gives its flight song once, and a Whip- 

 poor-will repeats its refrain many times. 



1.45 to 2 a. m. Songs of the Marsh Wren bubble up from several places, 



