1893
April 8
(No 7)
Concord, Mass.
  On my way up river a little before sunset I saw
a small bunch of Black Ducks flying in the distance
and heard a Red-Shouldered Hawk screaming near
Hunt's landing. Redwings were very numerous and singing
freely. The hordes of Fox, Tree & Song Sparrows on the
farm this morning seemed to have wholly departed.
The snow had all gone also and the fields were
bare and brown. The grass in front of the house
was slightly tinged with green this evening.
  After tea I walked to and across Red Bridge
to the meadow where my young friend heard the
Snipe drumming on the evening of the 6th. The birds
were there to-night for I heard at least two and
I think they rise and fly about scarping but none
of them drummed although the night was clear & very
warm with a light S.W. wind- just the right conditions.
Twice however I heard a Snipe cackle. Once the bird
was within 50 yds or less either on the ground or
skimming close over it. In such instance the sound
consisted of a series of cacs, very like the call note of
the Red wing but more husky, repeated on the first occasion [delete]once[/delete] [?] &
on the second seven times. It reminded me also of
the pig all of the VIrginia Rail but the notes were
delivered more slowly and were all on the same key.
The scaipe cry of the Snipe may be very closely
imitated by drawing a firm file quickly across the
end of a small iron wire.
[margin]Wilson's
Snipe[/margin]
  A dozen or more Pickerings Hylas were piping
near Egg Rock. I have heard only one before - on the 1st
[margin]Hylas[/margin]