1892
Sept. 24
(No 2)
Concord, Massachusetts.
Mass.
Concord. When I first entered the meadow a female Marsh
Hawk was beating over it and I afterwards saw a very fine
old male. The brown bird remained in flight for over an hour
crossing & recrossing the same ground many times. I saw it
catch several of the small frogs (halecina or palustris) which
are swarming on the meadows now. The white bird crossed
the meadow in a nearly straight line & did not return.
[margin]Marsh Hawk[/margin]
  While I was watching the male Marsh Hawk, a Pigeon Hawk
suddenly appeared and began swooping down at it
apparently in play although its behavior was very threatening.
It made at least a dozen stoops, rising to a height of
about 40 feet and falling with a speed of an arrow then,
after just brushing the Marsh Hawk's back, shooting upward
again. Nothing could be more graceful and spirited than
this little Falcon's flight. It uttered several times a short
grating cry which I have never heard before. The Marsh
Hawk did not seem to be in the least annoyed by these
attacks but kept on steadily with its frog hunting not
once changing its slow flapping & sailing or even taking the
trouble to dodge the Pigeon Hawk's assaults.
 [margin]Pigeon Hawk bullying a Marsh Hawk[/margin]
  As I was approaching my landing at Ball's Hill I suddenly
discovered a young Red-shouldered Hawk sitting erect and still
on my wood pile. It was within shot but the sail was
in my way and when I tried to jibe it over the bird
flew and skimmed down the path behind the trees.
I found its fresh chalky excrement not only on the wood
pile but on my door step also from which I infer that
it had been sitting on the roof of the cabin earlier in
the morning.
[margin]Red-shouldered Hawk on my wood pile[/margin]