35 



were movements of Swallows, Flycatchers and -Warblers along 

 the coast, and during the third week the frosts in the interior 

 of northern New England started flocks of Warblers toward 

 the south. Great numbers of birds in northern New England 

 began moving before September 1. The early Hawk migration 

 began during the last few days of August, and a great flight of 

 Nighthawks appeared. Bird song continued later than usual 

 in some places, particularly where more than the normal rain- 

 fall had been noted. Many northern Gulls appeared during 

 the month as far south as the Connecticut coast. Shore birds 

 were abundant in Massachusetts. 



September. 



September was noted for a great variety of weather and tem- 

 perature. There was much fair weather in southern New Eng- 

 land but many storms to the southward. In Massachusetts, 

 the first part of the month was fine and was ideal for bird 

 migration. During the first week great numbers of Sparrows, 

 Warblers and Thrushes moved through New England south- 

 ward. Light frosts occurred early in the month, and about the 

 20th there were severe frosts with heavy snow on the White 

 Mountains and less in Maine. The latter part of the month 

 was mainly clear and warm in southern New England, with 

 only a few cloudy or rainy days. The thermometer during 

 the month ranged from 26 to 90 degrees. Bird migration was 

 heavy throughout a large part of the month, but, nevertheless, 

 there were many localities where very few birds were to be 

 seen in the daytime, although large flights went over at night. 

 In other places flocks of migrating birds were seen in daylight. 

 These reports cover nearly every day of the month. Practi- 

 cally all the fall migrants and some of the winter residents 

 were observed. 



Early Migration of Geese. — There was a small early move- 

 ment of Geese, and Brants arrived in goodly numbers on Prince 

 Edward Island, while Double-crested Cormorants came in 

 considerable flocks. During the month there was a great mi- 

 gration of Gulls and an unusual flight of Wood Ducks and 

 Blue-winged Teals in southern New England. Large flights 

 of Black Ducks occurred in the Maritime Provinces, reaching 



