1894
Sept 25
(No 2)
Lake Umbagog, Maine.
  Beetle-head & a Golden, which flew about together for
some time each uttering his characteristic whistle. Finally
they alighted a long distance off. I went after them 
at once but did not succeed in finding them.
[margin]Beetle head
Golden Plover[/margin]
  Meanwhile the steamer passed on her way towards Errol.
She had about reached the mouth of the Megalloway when
three or four shots were fired in quick succession,
evidently from her deck. Immediately afterwards six
small Ducks appeared over the trees, circled around the
marshes and dropped down into Leonard's Pond.
They had a strange "look" & we at once
started in pursuit of them. We found them sitting
on the mud at the water's edge near the head of
the island. Jim paddled me to within about 40
yards where I aught to have fired for they took to
the water & put up their necks but I hoped to get
a little nearer & waited. The next instant they flew
and I gave them both barrels killing one bird & 
wounding another which, however, made off across the
woods flying very slowly & laboriously. The other four
went down the pond & out over the Lake flying very
swiftly in a close bunch. As we were approaching them
I took them at first for Scaups but before they
started I saw unmistakably that they were all
Ring-necks (Aythya collaris), a rare duck here, The
bird that I killed was a fine young [male] & I skinned
it of course. I do not think that there were any
but young birds (with possibly an old [female]) in the flock.
[margin]Aythya collaris[/margin]
  After this I crossed the marshes again killing a
solitary Pectoral & missing another. There were a few
signs of Snipe but I could not flush a single bird.
[margin]Pectorals[/margin]