252
Lake Umbagog.
Megalloway [sic] [Magalloway] River
1897.
Sept. 15
(No 4)
  The return down river was delightful. The
breeze had fallen and the light on the woods & mountains
was wonderfully pure & strong just before the sun
sank behind the ridges to the west. Twilight was
falling when we reached the Outlet and Herons &
Ospreys were winging their way over the stub forest
to their feeding or roosting grounds. Near the mouth
of the Megalloway we disturbed a Great Horned
Owl which flopped heavily off across the stream
towards Leonard's Pond. Will also saw a Snipe
darting in zig-zag lines athwart the sky.
[margin]Herons.
Ospreys.[/margin]
[margin]Great Horned
Owls.
Snipe.[/margin]
  On the way back we again paddled to the head
of the flooded meadows opposite Pulpit Rock.
We found only one Duck - a Wood Duck - there
& it rose out of range. As we were passing
around the island we flushed a Swamp Sparrow
from some grass. It was just disappearing among
the bushes on the island when a Pigeon Hawk
plunged into the foliage after it coming from
we knew not where. It struck the leaves &
branches with great force & went into them
quite out of sight but it must have missed
its aim for it appeared at once & skimmed
past us within a few yards with its feet 
drawn up and out of sight. At the same instant
seven Black Ducks alighted on the further side
of the island & by once tipping up their tails as
they explored the bottom for food. We tried to
paddle up to them but failed to get near
enough although I tried a long shot in vain as they
[margin]Wood Duck[/margin]
[margin]Pigeon Hawk
chases a Swamp Sp.
but fails
to seize it[/margin]
[margin]Black Ducks[/margin]