Concord, Mass.
1896
October 20
  Forenoon clear, afternoon cloudy; a strong, warm
S.W. wind.
  On the 13th I went to Cambridge and on the 16th
up the Hudson spending the 17th with John Burroughs
at Esopus and the 18th with Chapman at Englewood,
returning to Cambridge on the afternoon of the 19th
and to Concord this morning.
  In the afternoon I sailed down to Ball's Hill. The
woods were gloomy and wind-tossed and I saw but
few birds there. Two men beating the meadows with
dogs fired ten or twelve shots, presumably at Snipe.
Pat tells me that he has seen a number of Ducks
on the river during my absence last week. I saw a
fine Northern Shrike on Mill Brook meadow, a remarkably white bird.
" [October] 21
  Cloudy and warm with strong S.W. wind and heavy
showers in the late afternoon and early evening.
  To Ball's Hill at 8 a.m. sailing down. Saw a
Marsh Hawk, a flock of about forty crows and a
number of Song Sparrows. Yesterday I saw three
Tree Sparrows.
  Spent the day near the cabin clearing out paths etc.
Saw two Hermits & numerous Jays. During a
walk to Davis' Hill & beyond saw several Creepers
and at least four Red-bellied Nuthatches.
  As I was paddling up river at evening an immense
flock of Tit larks came from the meadows & circled
over me. A sportsman whom I met told me
that he had shot a Snipe & that six were killed by
another man in the morning.