Canoe trip up Sudbury River.
1891 
April 25
(no 2)
Mass.
Concord to Maryland. - passed down river flying
very swiftly the duck first, then the drake
leading.
  The big Owl was silent when we first awoke,
and afterward up to 4.25 when he began
hooting, it being merely broad daylight at 
the time. Late in the night (about 2 A.M.
I think) there were two Horned Owls hooting
in the pines, answering one another.
  Soon after we had finished breakfast and
just as we were about to start off in the
canoes it began raining and the wind
rose to half a gale.  We put on our rubber
covers and pushed off, padding to Martha's 
Point where we landed and filled our jug
at the spring. Taking to the boats again
we made Sherman's Bridge by 10 A.M.
padding most of the way. It rained hard
at times and the wind came in fierce
gusts. Few birds singing. Heard one Solitary
Vireo and many Swamp Sparrows. Saw a
Red-shouldered Hawk and a fine old male
Sheldrake.  The latter was in the river just
above its outlet into Fairhaven and was
evidently a wounded bird for after diving
twice it came up gasping painfully within
two rods of my canoe, then essayed to fly
but failing to clear the surface after
flapping a hundred yards or more down
and disappeared, probably into the
button bushes.