Concord, May 24, 1904
  Clear & hot with light S.W. [southwest] wind.
  Spent day on farm working with Pat & Hansen, weeding 
etc. At evening walked to Birch Field & back through
the oak woods along Benson's lane. Ladies slippers
in full bloom. Apple blossom & rodora [rhodora] past their prime.
Lilacs in bloom. Mosquitos more numerous than I have
ever seen them here before. The Toads spawning & in full cry.
  The only northern birds noted to-day were 2 [male] Black-polls.
This evening about 7.30 as I entered the lower end of the
new road that connects the farm lane with the Ritchie place
I saw a Woodcock standing erect & still on the smooth graveled
roadway. As I advanced she began beating her wings on the
ground and uttering a low, harsh, nasal ch-ch-ch-ch. She
kept ahead of me, following the road, & occasionally flying a few yards
to the barn at the head of the lane where she flew around it &
alighted in the oak grove behind. Of course she had young but I
saw no signs of them.