Lake Umbagog.
Outlet Marshes.
1896
August 29
  Clear, cool and calm.
  We all spent the morning at or near camp. In the
afternoon Dr. Gehring & his step-son left me and went to
Lakeside by steamer. A little before sunset I paddled across
the Lake and through Leonard's Pond where I saw nothing
of interest save a flock of six Bronzed Grackles a Robin (an
unaccountably scarce bird here this season) and a Great Blue Heron.
The last sailed past me within thirty yards and alighted on
a stub. What a superlatively graceful, picturesque creature is
this fine bird whether it be perched or flying. I observe that
when one intends flying only a hundred yards or less it carries
the neck stretched out to its full length or nearly so and the
legs hanging more or less down but when it starts on a long
flight the legs are stretched out behind like a spurious tail
and the neck doubled in on the breast with the head resting
between the shoulders.
[margin]Dr. Gehring
leaves me[/margin]
[margin]Quiscalus
aureus
Ardea
herodias[/margin]
  I chose for my stand this evening the slough nearly
opposite Leonard's Pond. I was unlucky with the shooting as usual.
A flock of a dozen Black Ducks came low over me but the
gun missed fire & I found I had put in no shells! Afterwards
these Black Ducks came swimming up behind me & stopped
within 20 yds. I tried to turn in the canoe but they rose
instantly & I was so cramped that the two shots I fired after
them were both close misses.
[margin]Duck shooting
at evening[/margin]
  I heard at least four or five Snipe this evening. They alighted
all about me scaiping & making a sound of rustling wings. One
drummed thrice. Two young Cat Owls screaming among the
stubs. Herons everywhere barking & clamoring.
[margin]Snipe.[/margin]
[margin]Bubo[/margin]