1893
April 23
Concord, Mass.
  The sky all day filled with masses of clouds driven
rapidly before the blustering W. wind, the sun shining
frequently for brief intervals. Air raw but not cold. 
[margin]Ball's Hill[/margin]
  I started down river in the Rushton boat at 9.30
A.M. The wind was strong & fair and I made rapid
progress under sail, following the river as far as the
Holt and thence crossing the flooded meadows.
Bolles had agreed to join me at about ten o'clock
but I waited for him in vain all the forenoon sitting 
in the door of the cabin watching the opposite 
shore. An occasional Crow, a female Marsh Hawk
beating along the edge of the bushes, and a pair
of Gooseanders flying up river close to the water
were the only birds that attracted my attention.
There was no singing whatever and evidently very few
small birds about. Indeed I saw nothing but a solitary
Song Sparrow near the cabin.
[margin]Gooseanders[/margin]
  After dinner I walked around Ball's Hill looking at
my planted trees & shrubs. Mostly all seem to have wintered
well. The mountain laurel looks finely. One of the hepaticas
had a number of buds & one delicate flower fully open. 
This is the height of the willow season, ie for native
species. Such a variety of form, size & color in the catkins!
[margin]Hepatica in
bloom[/margin]
  I next took the boat and paddled to Holden's Hill.
Not a bird of any kind in these woods. A solitary
Yellow Palm Warbler on the Blakemore knoll. The paper
birches very conspicuous in the clear afternoon light.
Their buds have swollen nearly to bursting these past few days.