Canoe trip on Sudbury River
1891 
April 27
(no. 4)
Mass
Concord. - after making a long flight dropped
into a tangle of long grass and button bushes.
I followed it and came suddenly on it
as it stood erect, neck stretched up and bill
pointing directly skyward.  It was within
twelve feet of me when I first saw it and
shouted to Bolles and the impetus of the canoe
carried me four or five feet nearer before the
bird flew. I had approached the place over open
water and in full view of the Bittern.
  Red-wings were very numerous along the
river banks, scattered about singly, singing
on the tops of the trees & bushes, as we worked
our way slowly up to Flints bridge. We saw
two or three Spotted Sandpipers and many
Robins, Song Sparrows etc. One Least Flycatcher
was singing just below the bridge and another
at the Manse.
  Bolles left me at 1 P.M. and I spent most
of the afternoon packing the boats and their 
contents, finally getting everything ready and
starting for home by the 6.40 P.M. train.