Concord, Mass.
1896
April 5
[April 5, 1896]

  Sunday. The north wind started up strongly again this
morning but its force was evidently spent for it moderated
to a pleasant breeze before noon & the day as a whole was
sunny & fine although by no means warm.
  I spent the forenoon in the house writing. Before
breakfast the sunny sheltered slope covered by the
orchard north of the house was alive with birds.
I counted a dozen Robins and over fifty Blackbirds on
the ground at once. Most of the Blackbirds appeared
to be Rusties [Rusty Blackbird] but there were a few Red-wings [Red-winged Blackbird] among 
them. Many of the Rusties [Rusty Blackbird] were females.
  I heard Song Sparrows singing below my window the
whole forenoon & at intervals the Nuthatch called.
  Late in the afternoon I walked to Dutton's lane starting
a flock of a dozen or more Tree Sparrows from a weedy field
on the Keyes place but seeing nothing else save a Crow or
two & a very few Song Sparrows. As I was passing the
Dutton house Mr. Dodge (the present owner) came out &
joined me. He took me back into his woods & showed
me a very tall & beautiful paper birch, one of the largest
I have seen in Concord. As we were passing an alder run
where a small brook takes its rise I remarked that
it looked like a good place for Woodcock. D replied that
found a Woodcock's nest & eggs there three years ago.

Grass Finches singing in twilight

  As I was passing Clark's pasture on my way home a
Grass Finch began singing & presently one or two more joined
in. I stopped & listened for several minutes. Their song lacked
much of the tenderness of their summer signing. It was twilight at the
time (6.45 P.M.)