267
Concord, Mass.
1898
October 7
  Clear and warm with light S. wind. A sharp
hoar front last night.
  Paddled down river this morning proceeding
slowly and stealthily in the hope of getting
a shot at a Duck. Started a Bittern at
Hunt's Landing & another directly in front of
the cabin. As I was passing Dakin's Hill an
adult [male] Buteo borealis flew past me & alighted
on the top of a green pine on Holden's Hill.
A few minutes later a pair of Buteo lineatus
appeared soaring in circles over Great Meadow &
screaming loudly. They drifted in over Holden's
Hill & later I saw & heard one at Ball's Hill.
[margin]Buteos[/margin]
  As I approached Beaver Dam Rapid I saw two
Pied-billed Grebes at the entrance to the lagoon
on the right & a moment later a Coot (Fulica).
The latter had evidently discovered me for it
was making for the pickerel weed which I soon
rushed & entered. I paddled to the spot where
it had disappeared & stood up in the canoe
when it rose within 20 feet of me and flew
up to the extensive end of the lagoon. The
two Grebes, meanwhile, had passed me under
water and gone to the head of the lagoon while
I cornered them and had a fine view of them
through the glass. They kept diving & reappearing
in nearly the same place evidently hoping that
the pickerel weed covered them. At length
they swam out past me under water. I did
not see the Coot again.
[margin]Coot &
Grebes[/margin]