Concord, Mass.
1901.
July 14
  Clear and warm with strong, steady W. wind; a
rare day with exquisite lights & shades.
  The weather although not oppressive was warmer than
it has been for several days and the birds seemed to
feel the change. At least they sang less often and
with less vigor. I heard only the usual species. Only
two Wilson's Thrushes and one Robin were singing at
evening (ie only this number of individuals of each species).
I heard two Oven birds one of which sang on wing.
  At about 9 A.M. five Black Ducks dropped into the
marsh nearly opposite the cabin and almost exactly
where the flock of six alighted yesterday. No doubt
it was the same flock but what has become of the
sixth bird?
  At evening the brood of young Screech Owls again
appeared close about the cabin.
  Herbert Holden, whom I saw this morning, tells me
that a Long-billed Marsh Wren has a nest nearly
completed on the river bank at the Holt. He also
says that a Ring-necked Pheasant has been seen
twice lately in West Acton. 
  During the past week the Bull Frogs have made
the marshes resound every night with their heavy, sonorous
bass voices. The Green Frogs have also tinged ceaselessly
and the tiresome, irritating summer squawk of the
Garden Toads has been at times almost unbearable.
It is perhaps the only natural sound of our
country meadows that is positively discordant as
well as out-of-keeping with the surroundings.
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