Concord, Mass.
1896
April 10
[April 10, 1896]

  Cloudless, the air very clear, no wind until late in the
day when a fresh S.E. [Southeast] breeze started & lasted until after
sundown. The warmest day of the month thus far the therm. [thermometer]
rising to 60 [degrees].
  I spent the 8th [April 8, 1896] & 9th [April 9, 1896] in Cambridge returning to
Concord last evening. In Cambridge many of the leaves
were quite green but the grass here has started only
along the edge of the river where the water first took
over the frost & then receded leaving the ground bare.
  After exposing a dozen plates along the river shore near
the Manse I started for Ball's Hill at 10 a.m.
returning at my usual time (4.30-5.30) in the
afternoon. Arthur Gilman & a young friend of his
appeared at the Cabin at about noon & dined with
me. They had walked down from Concord and reported
a Pine Warbler singing on Ripley's Hill and a Tree
Swallow at Belmont yesterday. I saw three of the
latter & a Kingfisher on my way down the river.
After dinner we walked to the Mason field where we
started a Carolina Dove. It alighted in a tall oak
and cood there a number of times. Gilman had never
seen this bird before.
  There were two Fox Sparrows at the cabin today both
silent & probably both females. There was also a
Phoebe, singing and accompanied by a mate. I hope they
will nest on the cabin walls.
  Leopard Frogs moving all over the meadows today, a
single Hyla peeping in Davis Swamp. Dr Emerson tells
me that his son heard a Hyla on the night of the 6th [April 6, 1896].
  First river maple blossoms out to-day.
  Three flocks of Geese passed over Concord yesterday.