CONCORD 
1892 
^ay 2 3 
Water 
Thrushes 
Yellow 
Warblers 
Least 
Flycatchers 
and Warbling, 
Vireos 
c atching 
flies 
over the 
river 
Spent the morning writing. At 3 P. M. took one 
of my canoes and paddled up the Assabet to "Bird’s Nest" 
landing at the hemlocks on my way back. The river was high 
and rising rapidly. I set a mark at 10 A. M. and at 3 P. M. 
found that the water had risen 2 inches while another inch 
was added at 6 P. M. At this rate, the Great Meadows 
will be flooded by to-morrow. The Muskrats were somewhat 
disturbed, I think, for I saw two swimming directly up stream 
in the middle of the river as if seeking new quarters. 
Water Thrushes very numerous along the Assabet, 
chirping and flitting on ahead of my canoe as I advanced, I 
counted eight different birds in going less than half a mile. 
During the past violent storm and more or less 
also to-day the Yellow Warblers, Least Flycatchers, Canadian 
Warblers, Warbling Vireos and a few other insectivorous birds 
have congregated in sheltered places along the river and 
resorted to catching flies just above the surface of the 
water or to picking insects from the half-submerged grass 
stems, perching on snags or low bushes. In some cases I 
have seen them this engaged along windy, exposed shores 
with their plumage drenched and bedraggled by the heavy rain. 
They have evidently been hard pressed. 
