1892
June 13
(No 4)
Concord, Massachusetts.
Mass.
Concord.- was filled with a rich yet subtle fragrance
which varied constantly as I moved on through
the woods and across openings and the sources of
which I could not trace. At times it was spicy,
at others resinous, in quality. Doubtless its unusual
prevalence and intensity at this mid-day hour
was due to the great heat.
[margin]Woodland
odors[/margin]

  I was interested to find that the birds were
not in the least silenced or even subdued by the
heat. Indeed I have rarely heard more free and
energetic mid-day singing under any conditions.
Creepers, Oven-birds, Red-eyed Vireos, Maryland
Yellow-throats, Song Sparrows & occasionally a Thrasher
sang with delightful frequency in my woods or
swamp. The Robins & Tawny Thrushes alone were
silent.
[margin]Affect of intense
heat on the
birds.[/margin]

  As I was standing near the gate by Bensen's
landing a Least Bittern began cooing on the
opposite side of the river, apparently in a large
thicket of half-submerged button bushes mixed
with young white maples; còō, cŏ-hŏŏ-hòō repeated
every few seconds in a low, cooing, dove-like tone
a slight accent on the first & last syllables
and a very slight pause after the first syllable,
the remaining three syllables given very quickly.
The bird cooed for several minutes at these
short intervals, then ceased. The time was about
11.15 a.m. and heat at nearly its maximum
intensity.
[margin]Least Bittern[/margin]

  On my return paddle up river late in the
afternoon I saw a pair of Yellow-billed cuckoos
[margin]Yellow bill Cuckoo[/margin]