Concord (Farm)
Ther [Thermometer] Wednesday, Oct. 21, 1914 [October 21, 1914] Wea [Weather]
Perfect.
Brilliantly clear & deliciously warm
with fresh west wind.
An immense flock of Crow Blackbirds,
containing as nearly as I could estimate
upwards of 500, appeared suddenly about
8 A.M. Sweeping low over flower garden
from eastward they alighted in the big
oaks that overhang the road. Here they 
remained several minutes making an
almost deafening clamor. Then the sable
hordes took wing & circled all about our
place. Afterwards, at intervals through
day they passed and repassed the house in
smaller companies of 75 to 150 each.
Not many other birds about. Perhaps
20 White-throats [White-throated Sparrow], half a dozen Yellow
rumps [Yellow-rumped Warbler], a few Chippies [Chipping Sparrow] & Robins, a
[female] Canada Nuthatch, a Cat bird, a
Downy [Downy Woodpecker].
  Most of my men excavating for pond
around boulder front of house. I was
with them much of time. Out after
Pheasants 3.30 P.M. Started 2 [females] in Berry
Pasture & shot at old cock in Ritchie
asparagus bed. He flew like a meteor & I
missed him at 40 yds [yards]. Out again with
[margin]Tim just after sunset. Flushed 4 Partridges in run & shot at one. It pitched down
into a leafy treetop apparently badly hurt but I never saw it again.[/margin]

Concord (Farm)
Ther [Thermometer] Thursday, Oct. 22, 1914 [October 22, 1914] Wea [Weather]
Fine cock Pheasant bagged. Glorious
Brilliantly clear with high, cool N.W. [northwest] wind.
Hickory foliage still handsomely colored on
many trees; oak foliage fine in places.
Birches mostly bare.
  Two flocks of migrating Crows, flying
S.W. [southwest] high in air & in straggling order.
One, containing 32 birds, passed at 8 A.M.
the other, having 45, at 9 A.M. A
flock of 18 Crow Blackbirds passed
at 8 flying N.E. [northeast] just above tree tops.
About 15 White-throated Sparrows, several
Yellow rumps [Yellow-rumped Warbler] & one Black-poll [Blackpoll Warbler], seen
near house. Winter Wren in pile of 
brush in pine woods near Barrett Spring.
At 11 A.M. I took the little 20 gauge
gun and went to Ritchie place in hope of
getting the wary cock Pheasant who
eluded me there yesterday. This time I
stole along the brush grown road until
about opposite the middle of the asparagus
bed & then sprang quickly through a gap
in the wall when the splendid bird rose
almost instantly, some 15 yards away, on
keenly whistling wings going nearly straight off.
Before he had flown four rods I got the
gun on him & fired bringing him down stone
dead on a grassy slope where he lay breast
up his glorious plumage glistening in the sun.
Rarely if ever have I been more thrilled by
similar success. I shall preserve his skin.
  Out again just before sunset taking Tim.
We started 3 Partridges but I did not fire at
[margin]any of them. Spent most of day in front of house where the men worked digging.[/margin]