68
Concord, Mass.
1898.
April 30
  Clear with violent N.W. wind; rather cool in
the early morning but warm at noon.
  Purdie and I took a long walk in the
forenoon covering most of my land to the
north of Ball's Hill and rambling through
Mrs. Barrett's woods as well. A good flight of
Warblers must have arrived last night for
in the oak woods on the sheltered side of
Davis's Hill we found a dozen or more Yellow rumps,
half as many Yellow Palm Warblers, a Black &
White Creeper and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet,
the last two being the first that I have
noted this spring. There was a general
arrival of Creepers, apparently, for we heard
others in different places later, at least 
four birds in all.
  In Bensen's field we came upon a flock of
sixteen Goldfinches feeding among some weeds.
Some of the males were in full summer
plumage & all showered more or less bright
yellow. They sang exquisitely when the flock
flew up & alighted in the trees.
  Walking at evening in the Blakemore woods
we started two Partridges and heard a
Night Heron quawking. We also watched an
Osprey circling over Barrett's meadow looking
for fish, but vainly. A Bittern also seen
on the edge of this meadow.