Concord, Mass.
1910.
April 18
[April 18, 1910]
  Cloudy with fine, steady rain. Forenoon cool with
chill east wind; afternoon warm with light, soft, south wind.

Bitterns

  Gilbert kept a close watch for the Bittern during
the forenoon (when I was at the Farm) but nothing
was seen of them until about 2 P. M. when both
birds appeared in the marsh near the canal but
on its eastern side. H. G. Purdie was now with
us (having come to Ball's Hill yesterday forenoon). He,
Gilbert and I had the Bitterns under observation
for more than an hour, using our glasses freely, of
course. During this time the birds rambled about
over several acres of the lawn-like
marsh, keeping for the most part, however, near the
edge of the river, here about 150 yards in width.
There was no tilting on this occasion nor did they
once approach each other nearer than thirty yards while