IPSWICH RIVER BIRD TRIP 
RALPH LAWSON 
The 14th annual Ipswich River Bird Trip was made on 
May 22nd and 23rd, 1920 and a total of 99 species was recorded 
between 2:00 p. M. on Saturday and 6:00 p. M. on Sunday. 
Owing to a heavy northeast rain storm on Saturday, the 
night was spent at Mr. Hubon’s camp which has always been 
generously held in readiness for just such an emergency. The 
heavy rain ceased about 6:00 on Saturday afternoon and Sun¬ 
day was cloudy and cool with a northeast wind and occasionally 
a driving mist. In view of the conditions it will therefore be 
seen that the list, which is a record for the fourteen trips, is 
most remarkable. 
As an innovation this year it was decided to start from the 
Middleton Paper Mills early Saturday morning, this party to 
arrive at Howe Station in time to join the main party at 2:00 
p. M. The morning party started from Town House Square, 
Salem, on schedule but owing to the heavy rain it was deemed 
advisable to remain in the vicinity of Spofford’s Boat Houses, 
at Howe Station, from which point several short observing 
expeditions were made. Shortly after the arrival of the main 
party at Howe Station, about 2:00 p. m., the mile or so of river 
between Spofford’s Boat Houses and Mr. Hubon’s camp was 
covered in canoes, and Saturday afternoon was spent in and 
about the camp, with many exploring expeditions covering a 
radius of perhaps a mile or so. Saturday evening was enjoyably 
spent around the great stone fireplace of the camp where 
experiences were swapped and many songs and impromptu 
entertainments rendered. 
The camp was astir at daylight and the surrounding country 
well explored before breakfast after which canoes were entered 
and the paddle down stream begun. 
A few members of the party went direct from Mr. Hubon’s 
camp to Ipswich Beach by motor but the larger part spent 
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