Concord, Mass.
Ball's Hill.
1900
October 5
  Early morning foggy. A brisk shower at 8 A.m. Remainder of
day clear, nearly calm & oppressively warm.
  There were a number of birds about the cabin this morning.
First I saw a Gray-cheeked Thrush, certainly not the same that
was here yesterday but a larger, tamer aliciae. He called once or 
twice as he flitted about among the bushes.
Gray-cheeked
Thrush. 
  Next I heard a Tanager calling simply chip (without the cheee).
He was in the tall river maples over the canoe landing but
he presently descended to a vine covered with straggling bunches
of large purple wild grapes which he began eating rolling
them somewhat awkwardly in his bill to remove the skins
and then swallowing the greenish pulp. He was an old
male with jet black wings & tail & plain autumn plumage
in which I could detect no trace of red. One of his
wings drooped lower than the other as if it had been
hurt in some way but he flew freely and vigorously.
Scarlet
Tanager
eating large
wild grapes.
  Of less interesting birds I saw or heard in the woods &
thickets along the south side of Ball's Hill not far from
the cabin a Golden-crested Kinglet, Brown Creeper, Black Poll Warbler,
Swamp Sparrows, Song sparrows, & Robins. I also twice
heard Bluebirds passing overhead as well as Rusty Blackbirds
& Titlarks. A Flicker & a Downy called in the distance.
Late in the afternoon I heard a Song Sparrow sing feebly
& a Swamp Sparrow vigorously & well.
Commoner
birds
  After I had finished writing my journal last night
a Screech Owl paid us a visit & wailed dismally many
times apparently in one of the oaks in front of the door.
The acoustics of the Screech Owl's voice are remarkable. This bird
was probably not 20 feet away yet his notes did not sound
as loud as when he was wailing on the other side of the
river earlier in the morning.
Screech Owl
100 