CONCORD 
1910 
September 26 , 
An Otter (?) 
in the 
river at 
Ball* s Hill 
Between sunrise and eight or nine o’clock this 
morning a number of birds were singing with a freedom and 
frequency rare indeed at this season. Among the number were 
Black-poll and Pine Warblers, Solitary Vireos, Song Sparrows, 
Swamp Sparrows, Phoebes, Flicker and Meadow Larks, For 
upwards of hal^-an-hour (7 -7,30) I heard Black-polls in 
full song, at frequent intervals, in various directions. 
Evidently at least two or three adult males were t aking part 
in this event which, as far as I could make out, was very 
like what we hear from them during their spring migration. 
One bird, in an oak near the cabin, sang once or twice a 
minute, for at least ten minutes, and his song at least 
was of normal strength and quality. The Phoebe, also, sang 
quite as well as in spring and so did the Pine Warbler and 
the Song Sparrow, The Flicker’s shout (given three times) 
was as loud and free as it ever is in March or April. 
Whenever, during this month, the evenings have 
been still and warm, I have rarely failed to hear, between 
eight and ten o’clock, some creature making a great 
splashing in the river directly in front of the cabin. The 
sound is fully equal to that which a la.rge dog would make 
by leaping well out from shore into deep water. Usually 
there is but a single ^lash at a time, followed, after an 
interval of half a minute or more,by another, with still 
others at equally long intervals. From this I have in¬ 
ferred that the beast is engaged in diving and that it must 
