Lake Umbagog.
Down the Androscoggin
1896
June 5
(no 2)
  In the afternoon we all went together in the large boat to
Errol Hill Pond. Grackles were numerous along the river banks
and we heard Parula Warblers, Yellow-rumps & Blackburnians but
no Bay-breasts & no Creepers or Kinglets.
[margin]Birds noted
along river[/margin]
Just as we entered Sweats Meadow a Bittern started (as I thought)
from the branches of a maple about 15 ft. above the water & flew
off croaking. Unfortunately I am not quite certain that it was
actually in the tree but there can be little doubt that such
was the case.
[margin]Bittern flies
from a
maple,
apparently[/margin]
  Landing at the usual place we crossed the ridge to the pond
hearing nothing by the way but D. caerulescens, an Oven Bird, and two or
three Red-eyed Vireos. We had nearly reached the shore of the
pond and I was stealing softly on ahead to look for waterfowl
when Jim thoughtlessly rapped an old stub in which he saw
a Woodpecker's hole. Instantly there was a great commotion out in
the pond and rushing through the bushes which fringed its
margin I saw nine Golden-eyes rising above the tops of the
trees and making off. Here was a lost opportunity. I have little
doubt that they were all drakes who had deserted their sitting
mates after the usual fashion of Ducks generally but had I
got them on the water I could easily have settled this point
with my glass. As it was I could not make out the sex
of any one of them.
[margin]Errol Hill
Pond[/margin]
[margin]Whistlers[/margin]
  During the half hour which we spent at this exquisite little
pond I noted down all the birds seen or heard. This is the list.
Turdus swainsoni 1*, Sitta canadensis 1, Parus atricapillus 1,
Compsothlypis a. usneae 1*, Dendroica coronata 1*, D. blackburniae 1*,
D. virens 1*, D. maculosa 1*, Sylvania canadensis, 1*, Seiurus aurocapillus 1*,
S. noveboracensis 1*, Vireo solitarius 2*, Carpodacus purpureus 1*, Contopus borealis 1*,
Cyanocitta cristata 1, Sphyrapicus varius 1, Glaucium americana 9, in all 17 species.
[margin]Full list of
birds found
at
Errol Hill
Pond.[/margin]