1903.
May 17
  Clear with light S.W. wind. Warmest day thus far. Ther 88 degrees.
  Spent most of the forenoon in the neighborhood of Ball's Hill.
There seemed to be only a few migrants about. I noted for
the first time a Hummingbird at the farm, a Black-billed
Cuckoo opposite Ball's Hill, a Solitary Sandpiper at Benson's
landing, & a Green Heron flying over the woods near Ball's Hill.
Herbert Holden reported hearing a Long-billed Marsh Wren
near Beaver Dam Rapid. The only northern birds noted
beside the Sandpiper was a Black-poll Warbler (male in full song) at
the farm, & a Black & Yellow Warbler (male in full song) in white pines
near the larch grove behind Ball's Hill and two silent
Water Thrushes at the edge of the river near the cabin.
Arrival
  As I was talking with Benson in front of his house
at 9.25 A.M., the sun shining down & hot from a cloudless sky,
I was surprised to hear a Great Horned Owl hoot twice in the
Davis Swamp. Soon afterwards the pair of Red-shouldered Hawks
which have a nest there began screaming loudly & incessantly.
Next several Crows joined their voices to the general clamor.
Then the Owl hooted again six or eight times causing the
Hawks & Crows to redouble their cries. When at its height
the din was most exciting to listen to. Thinking there
must be something wrong at the Hawks' nest I went there
but all the birds were beyond in the middle of the swamp.
I afterwards learned that Gilbert got among them & started the
Owl from a large pine. Its hoot was regularly hoo, hoo-hoo,
hoo-hoo-hoo, hoo given very hurriedly & in soft smooth tones.
Bubo in hoots at 9.30 A.M.
  Gilbert started a Nashville Warbler from a finalized but
empty nest in Birch Field this forenoon.