58
Lake Umbagog.
1897
May 17
(No 3)
  Besides the Woodcock we heard nothing in the Sargent
clearing save a number of Spotted Sandpipers peet-weeting in the
twilight and an occasional song of the Savanna Sparrow.
[margin]Spotted
Sandpiper[/margin]
  But just as we were pushing off from shore on our
return a Barred Owl uttered a startling who-a near
at hand and another answered in the distance towards
B. Point. After we had reached the house boat we heard
them constantly for an hour or more & once two of
them came together and indulged the extraordinary
laughing, cackling & hooting medley so often heard along
the Florida rivers but which I cannot recall ever
hearing in the north before. I think there were in
all at least three & perhaps four birds, two in the
Sargent Cove & one or two on B. Point.
[margin]Barred Owls
hooting[/margin]