1891
May 15
(No 4)
Evening in Fresh Pond Swamps.
Mass. 
Cambridge . - Two Long-billed Marsh Wrens were singing
among the cat-tails on the big meadow and at
least 25 White-billed Swallows flying over a
small pond behind the brick yard. I saw no
Bank or Barn Swallows, and no Herons, Wood Ducks,
nor King fishers. Nor did I hear any Least Bitterns
or Gallinules. It looked as if these swamps were
likely to be much less interesting this year than
during the two past seasons.
  As I walked down the Central track to North Avenue
after dark I heard besides the four Carolina Rails
which I left singing continuously, a cricket chirping
a few Hylas piping, several Green Frogs thumping, and
two or three Leopard Frogs snoring.  There were
positively no other nocturnal sounds rising from
these great marshes. I did not hear a single
Rail after passing the big meadow and believe
that the pair of Virginias which I robbed this
afternoon are the the only Rails of either species
which have settled anywhere on the east side
of Alewife Brook.
  During the afternoon I looked closely for migrants,
especially in the Maple Swamp, but could detect
nothing except the species which breed in the
region. Is it possible that the migrations
have entirely passed? The time of day was
less favorable than the morning, of course,
but the local birds were all singing well.
  I returned by the electric cards down
North Avenue to Howard Square.