54
Concord, Mass.
1898.
April 10
  Early morning clear; remainder of day cloudy with
occasional light showers; a remarkably soft, warm day
with but little wind.
  In the early forenoon I paddled up river nearly
to Flint's bridge my chief object being to get a
lot of willow cuttings. The morning was dead
calm and very mild yet the birds were strangely 
silent. I doubt if I heard in all more than
four or five Red-wings or Song Sparrows. The Phoebees
were the only birds that seemed to be singing
at all freely. I heard three males one of which
was accompanied by his mate. There was a
fifth at Ball's Hill which entered the cabin through
the open door just before breakfast and attempted
to alight on a rod directly over the fireplace.
Gilbert & Pat were in the room at the time.
  I saw the first [female] Red-wing this morning in
button bushes along the river - a solitary bird.
  Pat started two birds on Great Meadow which he
thinks were Snipe. Ten or twelve shots were fired
there yesterday afternoon. 
  A [male] Red-shouldered Hawk flew into the woods
on Holden's Hill carrying a frog in his talons. A
few minutes later be began screaming. Is it possible
that there is a nest there?
  The Hylas & Leopard Frogs were very noisy through
the day & well into the night. Almost no birds
singing at evening. Virginia Rail has just begun
calling cutta in the bushes beyond the boat landing (8 P.M.)
[margin]Va. Rail
arrived[/margin]