Concord, Mass.
1901
June 23
(No 2)
  A pair of Cat-birds who settled near the cabin were also
despoiled of their eggs and went away for a week or more
but they have just returned. I have no doubt that
the Jays are responsible for all this egg robbing. It 
was interesting to watch the smaller birds attack him
this morning. They did not dare put themselves within
reach of the Jays when they were in the trees but they
pursued them closely whenever they took wing and on
overtaking them, which they did easily enough, pecked
their heads viciously evidently causing them much
annoyance.
  I went to the Farm in the forenoon finding the
usual birds there. The Solitary Vireo was singing in
the woods near the grove of red pines & a Yellow-
throated Vireo had taken his place in the oaks
behind the barn. A Blackburnian Warbler sang a
few times among the tall pines behind Bensen's house,
as I was passing along the road.
  On my return I started a breed of five young Blue Jays
in Davis's Swamp. They were sitting huddled close
together in an alder just over the path and took
wing all at once with a loud fluttering. They could
fly only a few rods at a time. Both parents came
close about me screaming and uttering their imitation
of the cry of the Red-shouldered hawk.
  At evening I strolled along the river path to
Holden's Hill seeing a Kingfisher & hearing the "Kicker"
out in the Great Meadow.
  The Swifts have been in the cabin chimney much of
the day but I can see no signs of a nest there. At present
they are evidently using the shaft as a roosting floor where they
can retire from the glare of the sun. They are fluttering & twittering
in the chimney at short intervals as I write (8.30-9 P.M.).
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