1892
June 21
Concord, Massachusetts.
[margin]Ball's Hill[/margin]
Mass.
Concord.- Clear & hot with strong W. wind. Ther. 90° at noon.
  To Ball's Hill by canoe at 10.30 a. m. sailing
down before a strong wind. Common birds singing
freely. I hear one Carolina Rail calling cut in rather
feeble tones. Bronzed Grackles have been very numerous
along the river for a week or more. At first I saw
only old birds but latterly there have been many
young also. Yesterday I started fifteen or twenty in
one place among button bushes. They spread dismay
among the Robins & Red wings.
[margin]Bronzed Grackles[/margin]
  There is a Yellow-billed Cuckoo's nest in a leaning
birch over the river just above Hunt's Pond. I saw it
first on the 18th when the bird was sitting as she
was on the 20th & again this morning. On two of
these occasions her mate was calling in the next tree.
The nest is fully 30 ft. above the water and is
nearly as large & substantial looking as a Blue Jay's.
[margin]Nest of
Yellow bill Cuckoo[/margin]
  Made the rounds of my place just after lunch.
At 1.30 P.M. the male Grosbeak was on the nest
in the young oak. At a little after 3 P.M. I heard
him singing near the river and on visiting the
nest again at 4 P.M. I found the female sitting.
I must watch this nest more closely.
[margin]Nest of
Rose br.[breasted] Grosbeak[/margin]
  My Red-eye's nest held 3 eggs (the same number as
yesterday) but no bird at 1.30 P.M. At 4 P.M.
the female (I suppose it was) was on. This is the
first time I have caught her sitting since the 17th
when I started her from the empty nest.
[margin]Nest of
Red eyed Vireo[/margin]
  Cat-birds were singing freely in my swamp and
a Flicker across the river.