Concord, Mass
1893  
Sept. 6.
  Clear with strong N. wind. A fine, bracing day.                                           
[margin]Ball's Hill[/margin]
  To Ball's Hill at 9.30 a.m. wading most of the
way. Spent the day on the south slope of the hill
near the cabin cutting down trees the were killed
or irreparably injured by the fire of last year.
A flock of Chickadees with two young Black-poll Warblers
(the fist I have seen) and a Red-eyed vireo were 
flitting about among the oaks & pines near where I
was working.
  As I paddled homeward at evening I saw or heard
along the river banks a Solitary Red-wing, two Bobolinks,
a Phoebe, several Crows, a Swamp Sparrow, an Indigo
Bird (in wild rice) several Song Sparrows, two Green Herons
(both old birds apparently in full plumage) and a
Wood Duck.
  For the first time this season I failed to see a single                                   
Swallow of any species on the river to-day. The Swifts
were also missing. Both Swallows & Swifts were present
in fair numbers on 4th (I spent the 5th in Cambridge)
[margin] Departure of 
Swallows & 
Swifts[/margin]
  I put the little cocking spaniels into the bed of wild                                    
rice at Beaver Dam Rapid this morning & pushing off
into mid-stream watched the results of there active
exploration of the matted beds of reeds & water plants. Within
three or four minutes six or eight Carolina Rails showed
themselves either taking flight or skipping across
openings a few yards in advance of the little dogs.
Nothing else was driven out.
[margin] Carolina 
Rails[/margin]