Concord, Mass.
1896.
April 15
(No 2)
[April 15, 1896]

  At about 3 P.M. I heard a Bittern pump in the old
haunt on the southern edge of Great Meadow. At sunset and for
half-an-hour later he was pumping regularly & vociferously.
  The lone Goose is still here. The train which passes at
5:30 P.M. started him from somewhere on the south shore
of the meadow and a moment later he flew directly over
the east end of Ball's Hill so low down that I could
easily have shot him as I stood in the door of the cabin.
  Faxon [Walter Faxon] came on this 5.30 train having arranged to spend
to-night and to-morrow with me. After dinner we took
a walk through Bensen's field and back by Holden's meadow.
Swamp Sparrows were trilling, the Bittern pumping, and a
Robin singing when we started but it was nearly dark when
we got back. Wood Frogs were cackling in all my little
pond holes and a fair number of Hylas peeping but the
Leopard Frogs on the river meadows were making by far the
most noise and they kept it up all night without the
slightest cessation making it difficult for us to sleep. There
were also three Toads trilling near the cabin, an early
date for them to begin if I am not mistaken.
  At about 11 P.M. we heard a Great Blue Heron honking
& evidently passing our cabin low down. I have
not either seen nor heard one of these Herons before this
spring.
  The entire night was very warm - like a midsummer night
in fact. I doubt if the thermometer fell below 70 [degrees] but
I did not look at it after 5 P.M. when it stood at
85 [degrees].