1891
April 5
Mass.
Cambridge to Concord. - A brilliant day, cloudless, with
bracing N.W. wind cold with the breath of the snow
banks which lie only a few miles to the westward
(nearly a foot of snow fell in Worcester Co. on the 3rd).
  Starting at 9.30 with Almy I drove to Concord
by way of the Lyman place, Sweetenborgian*[Swedenborgian] settlement,
& Lincoln. The sunshine was bright and cheerful
but the wind bitterly cold. We saw no snow until
just before we reached Lincoln. Between Lincoln
and Concord the northern exposures were white
with it and it lay two inches deep in swamps
and under pines. Wachusett white from base to summit.
  The country was alive with birds. In fact I
have not seen a heavier flight for years. Robins, 
Song Sparrows, Fox Sparrows, Tree Sparrows and
Juncos were the most numerously represented.
All four species of Sparrows were often seen in 
one flock but we saw some flocks composed
wholly of Juncos and one of Fox Sparrows - about
thirty birds. They were mostly in old fields along
brush-grown walls or among weeds or stubble. In
places they rose in clouds at our approach
flying into the [?] bushes or woods.
  On the Geo. Keyes place in Concord I heard
Fox Sparrows singing and following up the sound
came upon twenty or more in company with
about an equal number of Tree Sparrows and
Juncos. [delete]Every few minutes[/delete] They were flitting
in an*[and] out among some hazle*[hazel] bushes and
wild cherry saplings that bordered a stone
wall occasionally venturing out a little way