Concord, Mass.
1912.
April 4
[April 4, 1912]

  Brilliantly clear with high N.W. [Northwest] wind. Ther. [thermometer] 20 [degrees] and
ground hard frozen at daybreak. Very cool all day.

Fish Hawk.

  First Fish Hawk. He appeared flying low over the
river at 6.30 P.M., just as we were sitting down to supper.
Heading straight for my hawk pole rising above the flooded
meadows on the Bedford shore he alighted on it for an
instant, no more than closing his great wings before spreading
them again. Then he came towards us low over the
water until, at a distance of scarce ten yards, he
wheeled directly in front of our window and made
off up river. His near approach to a great flock of
Fox Sparrows feeding in the path in front of the cabin,
sent them scurrying off in every direction. One flew
against the window in its fright and was so
stunned that it sat for many minutes in
our little barberry bush, palpitating visibly.