Concord, Mass.
1902
August 9
  Brilliantly clear and rather cool with fresh W. wind.
  C. & I came to Concord by electrics this morning, dining
at the cabin. Early in the afternoon two men, each accompanied
by a setter dog, entered the marsh opposite Ball's Hill. They
fired several shots in quick succession when I went to the 
landing to watch them. Presently one of them flushed and
shot a Bittern. I then crossed the river and ordered them
out of the marsh. They admitted that they were shooting
Bitterns in mere wanton sport. The went off over the
high farming land to the south firing at frequent intervals
and no doubt slaughtering other harmless birds in default 
of Bitterns. Strange to say they were good looking fellows of
pleasant manners & not at all of the hoodlum class.
Ball's Hill.
Vandal gunners shooting Bitterns.
  In the late afternoon C & I walked to the farm. We 
had heard a Song Sparrow sing thrice and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo
twice, near the cabin, but dead silence reigned in the woods
through which we passed. Just before sunset, however, a Mniotilta
sang five or six times, and a Least Flycatcher over near the
farm house.
Birds in song.
  Across the road in the berry pastures a Golden-winged Warbler
sang seven or eight times as the sun was setting. I did
not recognize him at first for his song consisted of a long
succession of low, listless, chattering notes very unlike the
zee-ing ones uttered in spring. He was in a wild apple tree
and I had a good view of his black throat & bluish back
before he flew off. He looked like a fairly mature bird.
Strange song of Golden wing Warbler
 A Screech Owl began wailing in the heavily wooded run near
the red pines before sunset and after dark he came close about
the house. There were no insect sounds after dark save those of
one or two Tree Crickets in the distance.
Screech Owl
Insect sounds.
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