1892
April 14
Concord, Massachusetts.
Mass.
Concord. - A sunny morning and cloudy afternoon.
Early morning cold (26[degrees]) moderating rapidly after
sunrise. Afternoon soft & mild.
  To Ball's Hill by boat sailing all the way down.
Saw two Marsh Harriers over a brown bird, doubtless
a f[?][?][?][?][?]. Just below Hunt's Pond a Wilson's Snipe
started from the river bank as I was sailing
past and flitted a few yards alighting again in
plain sight on the bare mud. There were
doubtless others on the Great Meadows which are
now in perfect condition for their requirements.
At Ball's Hill I heard a Pine Warbler singing and
saw or heard Yellow Palm Warblers in various places,
– as well as along the river above – fully twenty
individuals in all. never more than two or three
together. They sang and chirped unusually freely
so that I heard more than I saw. Several were
out in the fields along brush-grown walls.
  While I was eating lunch some bird or
mammal kept uttering at short regular intervals
two short piercing whistles succeeded by a
rolling chirrup. I took it to be a Woodchuck
although the sound was not quite that which
this animal makes on ordinary occasions. The
creature, whatever it was, seemed to be on the
top of Ball's Hill. It became silent when I
reached the foot of the hill.
  The Leopard Frogs were holding high carnival through
the entire day but the Hylas have become almost
wholly silent and I have heard no Toads for
nearly a week. Maples shedding their blossoms to-day.