1893
April 27
Concord, Mass.
  A lowering, misty day with showers in the forenoon
and a rather heavy, continuous rain during most of
the afternoon. Wind S.E. rather chilly, but not really cold.
[margin]Ball's Hill[/margin]
  To Ball's Hill at 9 A.M. paddling down in the open
canoe. Saw nothing of especial interest by the way
except a pair of Gooseanders which rose from the 
channel of the river just above Hunt's Pond and doubling 
back flew out of sight up river the female leading. The
drake looked like a very fine bird. Spelman tells me 
that he startled about fifteen of these Mergansers in the 
Nashua River last week (April 22 & 23). They are staying 
surprisingly late this spring. 
[margin]Last seen of
the Gooseanders[/margin]
  I spent the entire day in the cabin. There were few 
birds about save once when a flock of about eight Yellow 
Palm Warblers, a dozen or more Yellow-rumps, then Ruby-
crowned Kinglets & a Chickadee came flitting along the 
water's edge moving quite rapidly towards the westward.
There was a Phoebe following in their train.
[margin]Birds about
the cabin]
  Later in the day a [female] Marsh Hawk skimmed over the
crest of Ball's Hill. It is probable that this was a 
local bird for the migration apparently came to an
end a week or more ago.
[margin]Marsh
Hawk[/margin]
  I sailed all the way home at evening. A Bittern
pumped twice on the south side of Great Meadow
and a few Red-wings were singing in the river maples. 
A fine rain was falling obscuring all but the nearer 
objects. There were no Hylas or frogs & but one Robin
singing. The water is leaving the meadows rapidly