Canoe trip on Sudbury River
1891
April 26
Mass.
Wayland to Concord. - A superb day with cloudless
sky and cold, bracing N.W. wind, rather violent
and gusty during the forenoon but dying to
a gentle breeze later in the afternoon and
falling to dead calm at sunset. 
  At sunrise Robins, Bluebirds, Grass Finches, Meadow Larks,
Chippies, a Least Flycatcher and a Purple Finch
were singing near the house and when I 
came down to breakfast fully fifty White-bellied
Swallows skimming close over the turf on
the sheltered slope of the hill and quarrelling
with each other over the two bird houses on
poles near the back door. There were a few 
Barn Swallows, also. 
  After breakfast we embarked and started down
river. It was hard work paddling against the
strong wind but the current helped us and
we made good progress. We heard and saw
a Red-shouldered Hawk circling about a
pine-clad hill near the railroad bridge and
just below the lower bridge started a fine
adult male Pigeon Hawk from a bit of 
uncovered marsh on the margin of the river.
It rose heavily, carrying something in its
talons which looked like a large frog, and
alighted on the ground under the willows
on the causeway. We landed and followed
but although we flushed it twice more we
failed to positively determine the nature of its
burden. 
  Hoisting our sails and drawing in the sheets