1891.
May 25
Mass.
Concord. - Weather much like that of yesterday
excepting in the early morning when the sky
was filled with gathering cloud masses which
obscured the sun at times but which finally
dispersed before 9 o'clock.
  We arose at 4.30. While S. was getting 
the breakfast ready I took a brisk walk
along the east path that follows the river
bank and back over the crest of Ball's Hill,
chiefly to get warm for the air was
exceedingly chilly and the South wind very 
searching. The Bittern was pumping regularly
(from the time I first awaked to about 5.30)
and a Partridge drummed at short
intervals in the woods on the Bedford shore
of the meadow. A Brown Thrasher, Robins,
Song Sparrows, Red-wings, a Pine Warbler and
Black-poll Warblers were singing steadily and
a Wilson's Black-cap and Water Thrush fitfully,
the last two species in the belt of thicket
that borders the river. In the swamp on
the North side of the hill I heard a
Canadian Warbler and several Chestnut-sides.
There was a Grosbeak and Bobolinks in
the distance. On the while, however, the 
bird chorus was less full and fervid than
usual. The Wilson's Thrushes were calling
around us but none sang. Indeed I have 
not heard one sing during the entire trip
except late in the evening.
[margin]Birds singing at sunrise[/margin]
[margin]Wilson's Thrushes[/margin]
  We made a hurried breakfast and