Concord, Mass.
1893
July 20
(No 3)                                
  After reaching Fairhaven and sailing back & forth for
half-an hour listening to the birds that were singing 
about its shores I landed and walked past Staple's
camp up the wood path to the oak openings where
the Hermit Thrushes used to breed. I fully expected to
hear one or more singing for the sun was low down 
in the west and there was little wind but the notes 
of a Red-eyed Vireo and the distant whistle of a Quail
were all the bird sounds that came to my straining ears.
The deer flies were simply maddening in their attentions
as I strolled slowly along this wood path and there 
were many mosquitos, also.
  It was a great relief to escape them by returning
to the air and pushing out into open water.
I took my evening lunch off Martha's Point floating
idly in the canoe in mid stream. The sun had set 
and the evening was calm & very beautiful. I 
could hear Red-eyed Vireos, Towhees, Song & Swamp Sparrows, 
Robins, Red wings etc. singing on every side. Swallows
were flying up river in small flocks occassionally
descending to the river to drink, dozens striking the
surface in quick succession. At a distance when I 
could see only the plashes & dimples, the birds being
invisible against a dark background of woods, it looked
as if a school of small fishes were sporting & 
leaping.
  I paddled all the way home reaching the 
Buttrick's just as the last rosy gleams of sunset
were fading in the western sky.