Point Lepreaux, N.B. [Point Lepreau, New Brunswick]
1876
(April 19 [April 19, 1876]) swim with only the bill above water as
some of the fresh water ducks do. After 
this we started for the ledges and arriving
there found an immense bed of coots
sitting on the water. At least, 500 must
have been collected together sitting in
clusters with scattering ones between & covering
an acre or more of water. I got one 
good shot & knocked down two [male]
butter bills [butter-bill coot], both of which for a wonder
were killed dead. Then we went ashore
on the rocks leaving Mr. T [Mr. Thomas]. to scull about
in the boat and stir them up. Stone [William Stone]
got one good shot & killed one &
I knocked over a bird from a flock
at the longest distance I ever saw a
bird shot - 100 yds at least & this
with no 3 shot. It fell into the water
broken winged & got off out of sight
before the boat came. Mr. T. saw a
flock of about 50 T. maritima [Tringa maritima] & said
they were so shy that he could not
get within range of them. He also
also started an immense flock of brant
out of the water. Only two or three flocks 
of the latter birds flew this morning
& the flight has probably passed. As
we left the ledges I caught sight of
a brants head among the rocks above
high water mark & stalking it, got
a flying shot as it rose like a black
duck with a single quick spring.
It flew off some hundred yards then
lowered it head & finally striking
the water head first turned a somersault