Canoe trip on Sudbury River
1891
April 27
Mass.
Concord. - Cloudless, the air chilly at sunrise but
the strong sunshine, in connection with a 
S.W. wind, carrying the thermometer to 78 [degrees] at
1 P.M., the highest point reached thus far 
this season.
  When we awoke this morning at 4.05 it was
nearly broad daylight and we had of course
missed the beginning of the bird chorus but
for the first four or five minutes we heard only
three species, the Bittern, a Thrasher, and a Song
Sparrow. Others followed in this order: Field
Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Downey Woodpecker (drumming)
Red-wings (first singing 4.15) Kingfisher (rattle),
Chickadee ("phe-be" at 4.18) Crow (4.20) Robin and
Carolina Dove (4.23), Spotted Sandpiper (4.28) ,
Bluebird (4.30), Phoebe and White-bellied Swallow
(4.35), Pine Warbler (4.39) Miniotilta (4.40), Bank
Swallow (4.41), Colaptes (roll & pink), Rusty Grackles,
sunrise 4.26 1/2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet. The Red
wings were not in full song until just before
sunrise. The Bitterns (there was a second bird
below Ball's Hill) pumped steadily until 5.15
where both stopped abruptly and finally.
There were two Carolina Doves cooing at our time.
Both because silent before the sun rose.
  After breakfast we started down river. As we
were passing [?] Davis hill a pair of Red-shouldered
Hawks emerged from the pines and drifted off
before the wind soaring in leisurely circles and
screaming a little. We could see no nest.
We landed just below this hill and took