1893
April 21
(No 4)
Concord, Mass
(Ball's Hill)
  As I was walking slowly along a path through
these pines, making no noise and so perfectly screened
from the river that I could only just catch the
glimmer of the water, I heard a great flapping of
wings on the water near the shore below the ridge. Rushing
out into the open I saw a pair of Gooseanders
flying swiftly off down river past Davis's Hill.
It is remarkable that they could have discovered my
presence under these conditions but such was
evidently the fact for there was no other visable
cause for alarm on their part. They are singularly
alert, wary creatures at this season, much more so
in fact than Black Ducks. 
[margin]Gooseanders[/margin]
  After cooking and eating supper in the cabin I
started for the Buttrick's just as it was getting dark.
A fine fresh easterly wind had risen and hoisting the
sail I sped swiftly over the Great Meadows. A Dove
shot past and skimmed over the crest of Ball's Hill.
Robins & Red wings were singing & I heard a Swamp
Sparrow chirping in a flooded thicket. The piping of
Hylas mingles with the snoring of Leopard Frogs and the
rough croaking of Wood Frogs rose from every side of
the broad sheet of water swelling and sinking alternately
but never ceasing for an instant. Suddenly a steadily
increasing, low, muffled whistling of wings came from
behind me and the next moment five Scaup Ducks
(Greater Scaups I thought) followed closely by four more
passed overhead flying very swiftly and soon 
disappearing in the gloom. They were apparently
on their way to the Wayland meadows.
[margin]Birds at
evening[/margin]