Concord, Massachusetts
1894
Oct 11 to
Nov. 21
(No 11)
Resume of Field Observations                                                                                                  
  One of the most interesting experiences of my stay           
at Concord this autumn happened Oct. 29 with what I         
 took to be a Short-eared Owl. Will Storm & I had                
been passing the day at Ball's Hill and were on our
way up river where, as we were approaching the head
of Beaver Dam Rapid, a large bird suddenly came out
of the gloom which shrouded the meadows on our left
(the sun had set half an hour or more before) and after
circling over the river alighted on the top of a tall pole
which someone had driven into the mud at the water's
edge. Here it sat bolt upright for a minute or more
bobbing its head slowly up and down by lengthening and shortening
the neck in the manner of most Owls. Against this strong
afterglow in the west it stood out most distinctly but no
silhouette showing no colors. Presently it took flight again
and skimmed about over the meadows flying very
gracefully but in an erratic manner very like a big
moth or perhaps still more like a Night-Hawk,
alternately appearing and disappearing as it rose against
the light in the west or dipped down close to the
surface of the ground. After a few minutes it returned
to the stake. Its manner of alighting and taking
flight was very abrupt and decided. It flew a
second time soon after this and did not again return.
[margin]Short-eared
Owl.[/margin]
  On the evening of Nov.1st I saw what appeared to be
the same bird beating the meadow at Holt very
much in the manner of a Marsh Hawk and on the
next evening an Owl of similar size and appearance
started from a maple opposite this meadow as I was
passing.