1892
July 1
(No 5)
Concord, Massachusetts.
Mass.
Concord. at first the usual click then changing this
to a loud, explosive cry not unlike the pip of
an excited Robin and at times giving these cries
so rapidly & incessantly as to run them together into
a sort of prolonged scream. I left the nest at once
but the irate mother bird pursued me a long distance
through the woods evidently calling down all manner
of maledictions on my innocent head.
[margin]Grosbeak &
young[/margin]
  In the swamp behind the hill three Veeries, a Catbird,
a Maryland Yellow-throat and a Towhee were all singing
steadily. I also heard the warbling summer song of
Mniotilta and the cooing of a Dove. A brood of young
Chickadees came about me as I entered the pitch pines
on Bensen's knoll.
  The sun had set and the western sky was glorious
with rose and salmon-tinted clouds when I started
up river and sailed to and beyond the Beaver-dam rapid.
Veeries, Red eyes and Cat-birds were singing in Holden's
woods, two Marsh Wrens in the meadow grass. Every
now and then an Oven bird mounted above the trees
and gave the flight song. I heard two Virginia Rails
but no sound from the "Kicker". Swallows & Swifts
were mingling with Bats in a mazy dance over
the shining pathway of the river.
[margin]Evening[/margin]

  As I approached the head of the rapids I was surprised
to hear a large number of Red-wings singing in one
spot producing the medley effect so often heard in early
spring. Presently I discovered that they were all in a
a small patch of tall (canary) grass & sweet flags just
above the island. This must be an incipient roost!
There were at least a dozen old males but I saw no
females nor young.

[margin]Red wings
flocking to
roost & singing
in medley[/margin]