Concord, Mass.
1896
April 11
[April 11, 1896]

  Cooler with strong W. [West] wind, the sun veiled in the clouds.
  To Ball's Hill at 8.30 A.M. sailing down before 
the brisk west wind, Tree Sparrows in full song
near the Keyes' and in one or two places along the
river. A great increase in Song Sparrows seen yesterday.
I saw & heard them everywhere. At the cabin their
different voices singing at one time. This is apparently
about the height of their migration.
  Yesterday afternoon I saw a pair of Bluebirds inspecting
holes in the stubs along the river opposite Hutchins'
landing & this morning the same birds (probably) were
similarly employed lower down (just above the Holt).
At noon a pair (perhaps the same) flew over Ball's
Hill the male warbling. On the way down river
I saw five Tree Swallows, four together alighting on 
stubs & passing into holes, twittering joyously.
  Both yesterday & to-day I heard a Fish Hawk, yesterday
near the Marsh, to-day at Davis's Hill.
  The Ducks appear to be about all gone although
Gilman & his friend saw two which they took to be
Black Ducks, yesterday, near the Holt.
  Snakes are out to-day sunning themselves &
Turtles also. I saw two Muskrats sunning in bushes
yesterday & one to-day.
  Late in the afternoon a Carolina Grebe gave the cuckoo
call in the button bushes opposite the cabin & a 
Dove cooed several times on the Bedford shore.
As I was paddling across the meadows on the way
home I saw a pair of Gooseanders swimming near a 
cluster of bushes. 