1892
March 27
Concord, Massachusetts.
[margin]To Ball's Hill
with Bolles &
Spelman[/margin]
Mass.
Concord. A sunny day with clouds gathering in P.M.
Strong N. E. wind all day. Max. thm. above 42[degrees].
  Bolles & Spelman came up this morning and at
about 11 a.m. we started down river in my boat.
The strong, chilly wind which blew in our faces [delete]and[/delete]
probably exercised a depressing effect on the birds for
there was no singing whatever. We saw many Song
Sparrows & heard the calls of Bluebirds.
  Two Golden-eyes which rose from the flooded meadow
near the "Holt" as we appeared in sight were the
only Ducks seen above Ball's Hill.
[margin]Golden eyes[/margin]
  We landed at the hill and after eating lunch in
my cabin started for a long walk. As we came
out on the crest of Davis's Hill I suddenly discerned
a flock of Gooseanders standing on the ice on the
further side of the channel about 100 yds off. There
were six adult males and three gray birds. Through
the glass I could see the coral red legs & even the
salmon tinge on the breast distinctly. Further
down river other flocks were visable probably 20 birds in
all being in sight at once. There was one white
Herring Gull also.
[margin]Gooseanders[/margin]
[margin]Herring Gull[/margin]
  On the northern edge of Davis's birch swamp we
found an extraordinary track in the snow. There were
four foot prints all alike all exactly (or nearly so)
abreast, thus: [diagram]. These prints looked like those
of the hind feet of a Red Squirrel. The jumps were
about two feet in length. No fore feet seemed to
have tracked the snow. The track led over twenty
yards of snow. & was everywhere the same.
[margin]Strange track
in the snow[/margin]
  Ten or twelve Red-wings scattered along the river singing
as we paddled up in the early evening.
[margin]Red-wings.[/margin]