1893
May 10
Concord, Mass


[margin]Walk to Damsdale [?] [/margin]
  Clear with fresh N[orth] W[est] wind which, however, scarce
tempered the excessive heat for the day was by far the
warmest that we have had this spring. At 6[?] P.M. the
thermometer at Ball's Hill stood at 78[degrees]. It must have 
risen to 85[degrees], at least, at noon. For the first time this
year the shade was grateful &[and] the sun rays oppressive.

  A Robin singing in the elm in front of the house
awoke me this morning before any signs of the coming
day were visable*[visible] through my windows (facing S[outh] &[and] W[est])
He had sung scarce a minute before a Bittern began
pumping in the meadow at the foot of our hill.
It was some time after the Bittern began before I
heard the next bird, a Song Sparrow.
[margin]Bittern
begins
pumping
before the
day has
fairly dawned[/margin]

  Immediately after breakfast I walked through the
orchard &[and] down into the field. Five Yellow-rumps in
the willow at the landing; a Savanna*[Savannah] Sparrow on
the knoll. Swallows, Bluebirds, Robins, Least Flycatchers
Kingbirds etc[etera] but nothing new. A Rusty Blackbird
creaking across the river. No Orioles or Warbling Vireos.
Several Bobolinks in full song. A Wilson's Black cap singing in
the pine hedge &[and] a silent Yellow winged Sparrow in the fields.
[margin]Birds about
the farm[/margin]
  At 9 A.M. I started for a walk. A Meadow Lark
singing in Mr. Derby's field. As I turned into Derby's
lane a Rose-breasted Grosbeak poured forth its rich song
in the tree tops above. In and about the big hemlock
I found a large &[and] interesting flock of Warblers which
acted like migrants just arrived from the South.
They were not singing much at first so I lay down
on my back in the path and watched the tree tops.
[margin]Bird in 
Derby's lane.[/margin]