1892
April 1
Concord, Massachusetts.
Mass.
Concord. Cloudless with soft S. to S. W. wind. Very warm
for the season the thermometer rising to 58[degrees]. Nonetheless
there was a hard frost last night.
  Immediately after breakfast I took a walk to the
Damsdale via Derby's lane. The country was alive with
birds and the air filled with their music. Blackbirds
and Song Sparrows most numerous; only a few Robins
and but one singing (in full song at 9 a.m., the first
really sustained & perfect singing I have heard yet).
Saw a single Cow-bird flying high in air. Along a
bush-grown wall bordering a corn stubble I found
a flock of Sparrows including 14 Juncos, 5 or 6 Tree
Sparrows & several Song Sparrows. All were singing, the
Juncos giving their delicious spring warbling medley.
[margin]To Damsdale[/margin]
  In another place a single Tree Sparrow was singing
on the top of a birch. Its notes at once recalled those
of the Willow Warblers of England. Near the flock of
Sparrows was a flock of about a dozen Red-wings
in an oak singing in medley. This is the first
medley singing & the flock flock of Red wings I have
thus far noted.
  When I got back to the Buttricks' several Leopard Frogs
were croaking in the meadow in front of the house. I
have heard no Hylas as yet.
[margin]Leopard Frogs
the first
Batrachians[/margin]
  To Ball's Hill at 11 a.m. for the rest of the day. Sailed
the whole way down and nearly half of the way back
in the afternoon. Painted Tortoises out on floating logs.
Two Musk-rats sunning in the flooded bushes. Red-wings
very numerous. Song Sparrows swarming. From the top
of the hill I could see a snowy bank of water fowl
on the Bedford swamp meadow - most of them Gooseanders.
[margin]To Ball's Hill[/margin]
[margin]Painted Turtles[/margin]
[margin]Water Fowl
Gooseanders[/margin]