Lake Umbagog.
1896
May 23
[May 23, 1896]

Pine Point.

  Clear with fresh N.W. [Northwest] wind.

Empidonax flaviventris
Woods alive with Warblers

  I spent the forenoon at camp helping Jim make some
alterations in the new sailing canoe. A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
calling among the spruces just above the landing. The woods
all over the point alive with Warblers.

Nest of Canada Nuthatch

  Watrous scoured the country to the eastward (where Mason
logged several winters ago) and coming in at noon
reported finding a Red-bellied Nuthatch's nest and also
the nest of a Downy Woodpecker. Immediately after dinner
Jim and I accompanied him to these nests taking a
long rope, axe, saw, etc. The Nuthatch's [Red-bellied Nuthatch] nest was in a
balsalm stub about 15 ft. above the ground. Watrous sawed
off the stub thrice, once just above the hole, once a little
below it, and again below the nest which contained a set
of six eggs so near hatching that it is doubtful if we can 
save them. The [female] was sitting. She came out when we tapped
hard on the stub & we did not see her again. There was
much pitch about the hole.

Nest of Downy W. [Downy Woodpecker]

  The Downy's [Downy Woodpecker] nest was about 35 ft. [feet] above the ground in a
very rotten yellow birch stub. Watrous strung the rope across
near the hole and attached both ends to sound trees. He
then went out on the rope clinging by his hands until he
reached the stub about which he twined his legs and
cut out the hole at his leisure. The Woodpeckers (both birds)
kept flying to & fro alighting on the stub & entering the hole
once or twice while W. [Watrous] was within a few yards of it. The
nest contained a fine set of six nearly fresh eggs.
  We spent a good part of the afternoon tramping
about over the rough logging roads which intersect this