1893
 June 19
 (No 4 )
 Say brook Ferry, Conn.

We left the Bittern's stronghold at about 2 P.M. and
rowed  a mile further up the river landing again at
some oak woods where a short walked revealed nothing
more interesting than a Red - eyed Vireo which was actually
the only bird seen or heard. Returning to the river
we lay down on a clean sandy beach dotted thickly with
mink tracks. A fox had sampled this, also.
We saw a Bald Eagle flying over the river and a
Kingfisher passed us twice, each time with a fish
which it took into a hole in the bank. It was a
male bird & was probably taking this food to its
sitting mate.

Late in the afternoon we rowed back to the
creek and I paddled the boat to its source at
the head of the meadow. On the way up we startled
four Least Bitterns from the edge of the water & saw
a musk rat & several small turtles swimming.

A pair of Marsh Hawks, the first on we have seen                                                 
in this state, passed over the marsh flying rather
light.  The male carried some prey in his talons. Just
as they were above the cedar swamp the female
rose above and dashed down at his mate forcing
him to drop his mouse or frog and catching it
by a graceful downward swoop before it had fallen
many yards.
[margin]Marsh Hawks[/margin]

At last three Quail were whistling in the field
above this marsh & a chest singing.

We reached the house at 6.30 P.M.