311
Concord Mass.
1897.
Oct. [October] 29
  A superb day, clear, calm, very warm at noon, cool at evening.
  Spent the entire day walking in the woods on Ball's
Hill clearing out old paths and making new ones.
Dr. Gehring came from Boston by the late afternoon train
to spend the night.
  As I was standing near the cabin this noon
I heard the ordinary whistling call of the Canada Jay
given five or six times near at hand in the maples
by the canoe landing. Of course I was greatly excited
feeling sure that at last I was to see a Perisoreus in
my Concord woods. But when, a moment later, the
hopped out into clear view on a leafless branch
it proved to be a Blue Jay. It gave the call two
or three times more while I was looking at it &
then flew across the river. Evidently it must have
been a migrant from some more northern region
where Canada Jays abound. Only once before have
I heard the Blue Jay mimic this cry at Pine point
Lake Umbagog two or three years ago. The imitation 
given to-day was simply perfect.
" [October] 30
  Another glorious day, cold in the early morning, warm
at noon, with almost no wind.
  Took a walk with Dr. Gehring in the early morning.
He left for Boston on the 8 A.M. train. I spent
the remainder of the day working on my wood paths.
Just before sunset a Partridge was drumming at
short regular intervals on Blakemore Knoll & I flushed
another at the base of Ball's Hill.