27
Concord, Mass.
1898.
March 22
  Early morning clear with heavy white frost. The sky
clouded over by 8 A.M. and a strong S.E. wind rose
changing to S.W. and bringing snow, sleet and rain in
the late afternoon.
  As there were three Fox Sparrows about the cabin all
day yesterday I decided to spent the night at Ball's Hill
hoping to hear them sing this morning. But although
I was awake at daybreak and out a little after
sunrise and although two of the birds remained and
came to breakfast on our seed neither if them would
utter more than a low chirp. I heard one Tree
Sparrow sing well, however. There was also a Robin
in full song and of course a full chorus of Red-wings
and Song Sparrows. But most interesting of all were five
White-bellied Swallows which were flying together over the river for
half an hour or more (4.30 - 8 A.M[.]) passing & repassing the cabin.
[margin]Arrival of
Wh. bel. Swallows[/margin]
  In the forenoon I sailed down river to the Swift farm
where I dug a number of Stay-home wintergreen plants.
Saw a Creeper and a few Red-wings & Song Sparrows
and heard a Blue Jay. Not a Duck of any kind.
In the afternoon I saw a flock of about 30 Juncos in the Mason field.
  A pair of Red-shouldered Hawks appeared early
this morning on Holden's Hill and spent the day
there making the woods ring with their wild clamor.
  Late in the afternoon I returned to Concord
sailing across the meadows & paddling the remainder
of the way. Saw four Muskrats, all above
Hunt's Pond.