36
Concord, Mass.
Spring and early summer.
1913.

88.  Screech Owl. This Owl is seldom much in evidence in our 
neighborhood at Concord in Spring or early Summer. My sole evidence 
of its presence there this year was afforded by the finding of a freshly-shed
flank feather at the rear of Ball's Hill on April 3 [April 3, 1913] and by a 
fleeting glympse [glimpse] at a bird which flew from an apple tree shading
the lawn on the Farm as twilight was gathering on the evening 
of the 26th [April 26, 1913].

89.  Sparrow Hawk. - On March19 [March 19, 1913] I saw a male sparrow hawk flying
low past our house at the Farm. What looked like another started
from the elm over the wood shed as I stepped out of doors about 
8 A.M. on June 15 [June 15, 1913]. Later that same day Gilbert saw it 
perched on the box directly in front of the house, in which 
there was a brood of young Tree Swallows at the time. The 
parent swallows were darting close about it trying to drive it 
off. On June 25 [June 25, 1913] I saw a female Sparrow Hawk skimming low 
over the flower garden pursued by a number of irate Tree Swallows.
Another appeared on the 28th [June 28, 1913] as Zeph Prosser & I were 
standing in front of the Bungalow. Suddenly swooping 
downward it hovered for an instant in front of a box on 
a short pole rising above the gable end of the carriage shed.
Zeph said that he saw it thrust one foot into the
entrance hole but this escaped my notice. A brood of 
young House Wrens had left this box only a day or 
two before. When the Hawk flew off it had, as I could 
plainly see, no prey in is talons.

90.  Fish Hawk. At or near Ball's Hill I noted this species,
usually flying low over the river or flooded meadows, on April 2 [April 2, 1913], 8 [April 8, 1913], 9 [April 9, 1913], 10 [April 10, 1913] & 
20 [April 20, 1913] and May 4 [May 4, 1913] & 10 [May 10, 1913]. At the Farm I saw them on April 7 [April 7, 1913], 8 [April 8, 1913] & 30 [April 30, 1913]. 
The one seen on the 7th [April 7, 1913]was flying low & heavily at evening through 
Pulpit Rock woods where it seemed to be seeking a roost in the tops 
of the large white pines. It passed actually below as well as near, several of them.