Lake Umbagog, Maine.
1895
Sep.14
[margin]Outlet &
Leonard's Pond[/margin]
  Yesterday and to-day have been essentially alike clear and
cold with a raging N.W. wind which died away at sunset
yesterday & sank to a gentle breeze by four P.M. to-day.
The thermometer stood at 38 [degrees] at day break yesterday; this
morning it fell to 32 [degrees] (Fahr.).
  I sailed across to the Outlet yesterday morning & paddled
down the river to Richardson's Carry but saw no living thing
save one Blue Heron. At evening Jim rowed me across.
We found three Blue-winged Teal, no doubt the three
which escaped me on the 12th, sitting on the water close
to the grassy island but they flew before we could get
near them. A single Black Duck & a Whistler came over
the marsh at evening but we saw nothing else except
a few Blue Herons & a Kingfisher which poised on
the water near us several times & finally got his fish.
This was long after sunset & I could not understand how
he could possibly see anything beneath that black, ruffled
surface.
[margin]Blue-wing Teal
again[/margin]
  This morning I again sailed across the Lake & finding nothing on
the marshes paddled to Leonard's Pond. Landing I approached the
inner channel under cover and peeped out but could see
nothing except a Whistler which was diving out in the open water.
After watching him while I returned to the canoe and paddled
around the point. Fatal mistake! No sooner had I brought
myself into full view of the river channel than I discovered
a perfect swarm of Ducks swimming close in shore or standing
on the mud bars. The tall wild rice had effectually concealed
them when I had looked out on the pond from the shore.
There were about 20 Wood Ducks & fully 40 or 50 Black
[margin]A swarm of
Ducks in
Leonard's Pond[.margin]