Concord, Mass.
1900.
August 16
  Forenoon cloudy with heavy showers following one
another in quick succession then last, at about noon, a
downpour of unusual violence. Afternoon clear with rather
sultry air.
  Left Jaffery at 7 A.M. and reached Concord at 9.
Gilbert & Peterson met me at the station. We drove to the
Keyes's landing where Gilbert had left the little open
canoe. I paddled it down to Ball's Hill stopping with
an umbrella raised as a shelter when the rain came to too
heavily for comfort.
  At the foot of the Holt I saw a Bittern standing
on the high grassy bank. It discovered me a moment
later and at once started off at a rather rapid but
very clumsy run, tripping over slight obstacles & falling once
or twice. On reaching some bushes which grow along a wire
fence it entered them, as I supposed, to hide but when
I passed them I saw it standing erect & still on the 
other side. I paddled in near it whence it half squatted
at the same time raising its head & pointing up its bill.
When within six or eight yards I raised my paddle
& the Bittern flew. It rose with difficulty & after
going a few yards struck against the wire fence coming
to the ground immediately rising again &
flying about 20 yards very slowly & feebly and at
length alighting on the edge of a field of corn into
which it ran quickly. Its plumage was soaked &
bedraggled which, I think, accounted for its halting flight.
During the descent of the river I heard two Short-billed
Marsh Wrens in full song. A Song sparrow, a Swamp
Sparrow and a Creeper each sang once.
Peculiar
behavior of
a Bittern.
  There was a Water Thrush at the cabin. 
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