6 THE WREN 
followed the cliff-walk from Beverley, by Manchester and Mag- 
nolia, to Gloucester. A more perfect walk on a more perfect day 
I never took. All day the Grebes were most abundant. We 
found Herring and Black-backed Gulls, two Northern Loons, 
and a pair of Golden-eyes, for the common water birds. Near 
the mouth of Manchester harbor, a pair of Ruddy Ducks called 
our attention. One was a handsome male. It was the first time 
we had observed them on salt water. 
The land birds along the heavily wooded shore formed the chief 
component of the day’s list. Just after leaving Beverley, we saw 
a Brown Creeper, a Robin, and three Red-breasted Nuthatches. 
At Manchester we noted Flickers, Chickadees, Song Sparrows, a 
Pheasant, a flock of Redpolls, and two of American Crossbills, 
one of which was quickly dispersed on the appearance of a Sharp- 
shinned Hawk. In the juniper bushes near Gloucester, a large 
flock of Myrtle warblers were wintering, and just outside of Rock- 
port, where we spent the night, we flushed a Red-shouldered Hawk. 
Again, the total list for the day was 20. 
Our third day, December 30, was no longer warm and pleasant. 
The sky was cloudy and a raw east wind made it rather uncom- 
fortable. We started out at 8 o'clock and before we had gone a 
mile found a Dovekie or Little Auk. It seemed ridiculous that so 
tiny a bird should brave the storms of Cape Ann. He was quite 
tame, stayed close in shore, and entirely satisfied our desire to see 
him well. As he dove, we could see him open his wings as if to 
use them under water, which, I think, is actually the case. From 
Rockport to Annisquam, the granite quarries were too frequent 
for good bird country. However, we noted several Holbcell’s 
Grebes, Herring Gull, two Scaup Ducks and an American Scoter. 
Among the land birds were Flicker, Crow, Siskin, Song Sparrow, 
Myrtle warbler, Chickadee, and Brown Creeper. 
Owing to lack of navigating facilities we took the cars from 
Annisquam to Essex and walked from there to Ipswich, our destina- 
tion. It was 3.30 Pp. M. when we reached the beach and the light 
was failing fast. ‘Che next half-hour produced several good birds 
notwithstanding. A Kittiwake Gull, a Gannet, and a Bald Eagle 
were the most notable. A Black-backed Gull, several hundred 
Red-breasted Mergansers, Downy Woodpecker, Horned Lark, 
