Concord, Mass.
1896
October 22
(No 2)
three Hermit Thrushes, several Canada Nuthatches, two
Fox Sparrows (the first), Juncos, White-throats etc.
Partridges appear to be very numerous. I start them
wherever I go. Pat & Benson both say that at least
three broods were reared on my land this year.
  Will Bartlett came down to see me late in the
afternoon and we paddled home in company starting
just as the sun was setting. Nothing of interest
occurred until we reached Hunt's Pond where we
saw a Snipe fly swiftly across the river and a
moment later heard a Carolina Rail calling Kep
in the rushes.
  A little above Hunt's Pond or, to be more exact,
about opposite "the tent", I saw a bird which
looked like a Screech Owl fly up into a maple
on the river bank. It proved to be a Megascops,
a pretty plump little fellow who sat for several
minutes on a leafless branch silhouetted against
the sky & showing no fear of us although we
stopped the canoes nearly under him and
commented freely on his attractive appearance. After
awhile he flew off across the open fields showing
great breadth of wings & a ridiculously short tail.