Canoe trip on Sudbury River
1891
April 26
(no. 3)
Mass.
Concord. - and Hermit Thrush, both slient, flitting
above near us. Chimney Swifts and Swallows 
passing overhead. Kingfishers rattling about
the shores of the bay. They have been met
with in minimal numbers during the entire 
trip.
  At 4 P.M. we started down river again
padding to the Manse and sailing most
of the remainder of the distance to Ball's Hill
where we landed first as the sun was
setting. Saw a great many common birds
on the way but nothing of particular interest.
The colony of Grackles on Judge Hoar's plain
have thribled in numbers since 1887. There
were fully 25 birds assembled there this
evening stalking along the edge of the river 
and flying into and from the white pines where
they breed. They cannot have been migrants
for they have been building in Cambridge
from several days past.
  A Bittern was jumping steadily on Great
Meadow when we came within hearing at about
5.30 P.M. He stopped abruptly and finally some
time before it became fairly dark and although
the night was clear with a moon only two
days on the wane was not heard again until
daylight next morning.
  We passed an uneventful night sleeping
a good deal but lying awake enough to feel
reasonably sure that no Owls hooted within
ear-short. A Night Heron came over us at 9.30 P.M.
and there were a goodly number of Leopard Frogs & Hylas.