1891
June 1
Mass.
North Truro. - Cloudy and warm with S.W. wind, light
during most of the day, blowing fresh towards evening.
  A Redstart and at least five or six Black-polls
besides common birds were singing about the house
at day break. On going down to breakfast we
found the Nonpareil still in the garden stuffing
himself with the dandelion seeds.
  At about 8 A.M. we started for the Eel Pond loaded
down with guns, wading boots and the other necessary
paraphernalia. On reaching the boat-house we found
a light, tight, handy boat that our host had
got ready for us. It was partly decked over and 
proved admirably adapted to our purpose. We
pushed off in it at once and explored the creeks
near the landing, one after another, seeing two
Carolina Rails, one of which Miller shot. The other
was feeding on a bare mud flat and was very tame
but we did not molest it. As it stepped it jerked
up its short tail the creamy white under [?]
flashing very like those of a Gallinule.
  On a mud flat near the boat house Miller shot
three Least Sandpipers at one discharge. The
report of his gun started a Bonaparte's Sandpiper
which we had not hitherto seen and which
so alighted again falling an easy victim to my
gun. It was a beautiful specimen in full
spring plumage.
  We next followed up a long, winding creek
which enters the pond on the south side. Two
Night Herons came over us and Miller shot one
of them but it fell in the tall flags & could