CONCORD 
1886 
Birds 
along the 
river 
Red-bellied 
Nuthatch 
Off in my boat at 6 A.M. Paddled slowly down 
through the meadows, stopping frequently and going ashore 
in several places. Orioles, Cuckoos (both species), Robins, 
and Red-Wings (were)resorting in numbers to the white maples 
along the banks. Some of the larger denser-foliaged trees 
were literally alive with these birds, with also an occa¬ 
sional Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and not a few Song Sparrows. 
In a single tree I repeatedly saw eight or ten birds of 
these species. They were actively feeding, hopping from 
twig to twig among the clusters of leaves at the ends of 
the branches; the Cuckoos performing this action clumsily, 
making a distinctly audible rustle and shaking the tender 
twigs violently as they moved. I saw both Cuckoos and 
Orioles with large green worms (Caterpillars) in their beaks 
and these were probably the attraction for all. The number 
of birds diminished after the sun got well up in the 
heavens but there were some at work all day. 
Passing close under Ball*s Hill I was surprised 
to hear the whining pipe of a Red-bellied Nuthatch and a 
moment after I distinctly saw the bird fly from a pine on 
the crest of the ridge and after zig-zagging through the 
air for fifty yards or more alight in another pine. I 
landed and climbed to the spot to no purpose for the bird 
was either gone or obstinately silent. An hour or more later 
while exploring the fine old woods a mile below; where I shot 
