Concord, Mass.
1912
April 1
[April 1, 1912]

  Forenoon brilliantly clear with light north wind.
Clouds gathering & chill easterly wind rising, in afternoon.
  First Kingfisher and Marsh Hawk, both flying
over river opposite Ball's Hill.

Two flocks of Whistlers

  Two flocks of Golden-eyes, one of eight, the
other of five, were flying back and forth past the
hill at intervals through the day, occasionally
alighting well out in the flooded meadows about
opposite Davis's Hill. I found the flock of eight
there early in the forenoon and sailed up to within
about 300 yards of them. There [were] 4 old drakes &
4 females. The drakes looked snow white at a distance;
they and the ducks intermingled in varying order as
they swam about, occasionally diving for food. When 
the wind failed & I took to paddling the birds seemed
to notice me for the first time & at once flew. Whenever
I saw either flock in the air I heard the musical
sound of their wings, sometimes almost half a mile away.