86
Concord, Mass.
1898
May 8
  Cloudy with violent and very cold N. E. wind.
  A thoroughly disagreeable day with few birds to be seen
or heard. A Hermit and a (Wilson's Thrush spent the
forenoon in the bushes along the river path.) At evening
the Bittern in the swamp behind Ball's Hill was
pumping persistently. It is now evident that he intends
breeding there. It is a singular place, for the entire space
free from trees is not over 100 yards long by 10 to 20 yards
wide and of this less than one tenth is meadow, the
other nine tenths being covered with tall, densely-growing
high blueberry and Adromeda bushes. 
  The Keyes party dined with me to-day and we had
a long walk in the woods in the afternoon.
" [May] 9
  Clear with strong E. wind. A fine day but rather too
cool for comfort.
  Saw very few birds and of these few none were
new to my May list. A little flock of Yellow-rumps
spent the forenoon near the cabin and a pair of
Phoebees were there, also.
   At sunset fully 100 Chimeny Swift were dashing in
and out among or just over the tops of the oaks
on Ball's Hill. With them were thirty or forty Barn
Swallows, two or three Bank Swallows, a Martin, a few
Eave Swallows and at least one Tree Swallow.
  The Bittern was pumping for an hour or more at
evening in Ball's Hill swamp & another answered from
Great Meadow. Wilson's Thrushes calling in the twilight.