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135 1897 — May 10 Continued. worms. They were quite terrestrial in their habits. The Gray Squirrels are very abundant in the trees. I watched one breaking off the ends of small branches and taking them to his big nest. The tree had not been in leaf his nest was very plain in sight. He would run up over the sides and disappear in the centre. He was evidently smoothing off the interior of his home.
May 11th 2 m. Total 597 m. Heavy rain last yesterday P.M. & during the night. This A.M. before breakfast in W's garden I saw two male Orioles chasing each other, and a female hopping about on an apple tree. I wheeled up to Mt. Auburn getting there at 8.30 but there were not many birds. I saw four Parula Warblers, one pair in a Hemlock, another in a small willow by the large pond. They were so tame that I got close up to them and watched them through my glass as long as I wanted. A King Fisher was rattling away over the pond and I heard Phoebes singng. In the same Hemlock as of yesterday I saw my Black & Yellow Warbler and a pair of Parulas. Saw also the Myrtle. I saw quite a number in a Norway Spruce. Returning home I saw on the Walcott's place a Humming Bird. He was flying about a Pyrus japonica and soon he lit on a linden and staid there a long time, preening his feathers. He flew away only when an English Sparrow lit near him. I dont wonder he felt about such society. The Orioles are singing everywhere. this AM. Mrs. Kettell heard & saw an Oven Bird. Wyman's in the PM.
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136 1897 May 12 — Cambridge, Mass — Rainy. Worked at the Herb this AM. Saw in the willows by the pond, Parula & Black & White Warblers. I am stamping the sheets of the Club. The Orioles were singing everywhere. Later as I was writing in the Museum, I heard a most delicious warbling. I went to the window in the small room and saw a Purple Finch sitting on a branch close by and singing beautifully.
May 13 This A.M. while working at the Herb. I walked two or three times over the grounds. Clouds heavy with occasional showers. I saw a pair of Warbling Vireos in the willows by the pond and later I saw & heard one singing in the very top of the Gymnoeladus in the center of the grounds. It was a strong firm warble. Saw a ♂ {male} & 2 ♀ {females} Purple Finches in the willows and a Chebee.
This P.M. as I was writing in the Museum, a Warbling Vireo lit on the Halesia tetraptera and began peeling off fine shreds of bark, till he had filled his bill. Then he flew off. I saw a Yellow Warbler doing the same thing on a tree by the Museum later. I went up to Mt. Auburn and tramped about but saw little. It was misty. Saw Redstart, Black & Yellow Parula & Black & White Warblers. Heard a Flicker and Blue Jays calling.
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137 1897 — May 14 — — Cambridge, Mass — Lowering to-day — Worked at Herb. this AM. Typewrote this P.M. and worked over my letters. This A.M. I saw a pair of Rose-breasted Goosbeaks iin Wills gardens among the elms and on the lawn. I saw thim finely and admired the beauty of the male. I heard him sing long. At one time he had a twig in his mouth and still kept on singing. I also saw a pair on Dr Wyman's with Mrs. Kettell.
May 15 Cambridge 13 m. Total 610 m. This morning I wheeled to the Willows Belmont with Gladys Gilmore & a little friend of hers. It has been a gorgeous day. On the estate opp. to the old Payson Place I saw a Parula and on the crest of the slope going down to the meadow beyond I saw four Kingbirds by the road playing about and love-making. It was a pretty sight. At this spot too I saw a Yellow-throated Vireo. He was a beauty. What a beautiful throat and breast he has. He was singing well. I saw two others later on. I presume they are common now. At the willows on Concord Ave. the air was filled with the music of the Bobolinks. I didn't see very many other birds. Black & White Creepers were plenty I saw a Catbird. He was in full song as he sat on a bush quite near. In a bushy pasture off Concord Ave. South side. East of Mr. Brown's, I traced after some work a pair of Prairie Warblers by their note. Pretty birds they are. Home to lunch. Heard an Overn Bird at the Willows. This P.M. went to Mt. Auburn, but saw nothing to speak of.
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138 — May 16 — 1897 — — Cambridge, Mass. — 9 m. Total 619 m. This A.M. Geo. & I wheeled up to the Willows Belmont. In the wood opp. the Reservation we followed up for some time an Oven Bird that was singing loudly but he was shy and although I saw him two or three times flying away for a tree, I couldnt get a good sight of him. In the willows I had my first introduction to a Maryland Yellow-throat. It was a beautiful sight to see the little fellow flitting about with his black marks on his cheeks. How quickly I knew him. I saw another one on Marsh St. At the corner of Marsh St. We saw a pair of Chestnut-sided Warblers. They were either so tame or so much enjoyed in love-making that they got within a few paces of us and we could observe all their beautiful colors finely. We also saw at the same spot some on the top a small tree and sang to us for nearly 5 min. with but slight intermissions. It was quite a treat. I heard but didn't see a Nashville Warbler — Saw a ♂ {male} Chewink with in reaching distance of him. He was an elegant plumage. In the willows, we saw a very tame Veery and got all his markings perfectly. His only note was a cluck. Two Black Ducks passed over our heads near Brown's house —
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139 May 17, 1897 Cambridge
Rainy Threatening. No birding to-day. Club work.
May 18 Cambridge 12 m. Total 631 m. This morning I started off alone for Waverly & the Willows. Just beyond the Meadow Lark meadow in Waverly in the wood, I had a nice view of a Red-eyed Vireo singing. I went on and entered the wood opp. the Reserv. where 2 days ago I heard the Oven Bird. I took my wheel with me and left it under the trees. The Oven Bird was there singing his impetuous song. For 3/4 hr. I tracked him, walking slowly, crawling, sitting down ever on the look out for the author of the pervading sound. Sometimes he seemed very close and his notes filled the air all about me but I couldnt see him. Once or twice I caught a glimpse of a phantom shadow sliding away from where I had last heard the song. At last he was so near I felt sure that I crept cautiously a little way on and after peering for some time at the branches I spied the little fellow sitting perfectly still on a branch some 15 ft above the ground and a little way in front of me. I got my glass on him and as he poured forth his song I saw him open & shut his bill at every note while his wing trembled as long as his song lasted. He sang on an average 3 times a minute and I counted 22 songs ere he flew away. He had been singing half a dozen times before I