260
Concord, Mass.
1898.
October 2
 Cloudy (or very densely hazy), warm and calm.
 I came to Concord last night and have settled
at the Keyes' where I am to spend the next two weeks.
  There were great numbers of birds about the house
this morning. At sunrise several Song Sparrows were
singing, most of them feebly and fitfully, but one,
evidently an old bird, at short, regular intervals and
with as much strength and finish as in spring.
A Phoebe also sang fairly well and a number of
times in succession. A Purple Finch sang brokenly
as did some Meadow Larks. A Flicker shouted in
full times separately and a Chickadee gave the
Phoebe call. Besides these I saw or heard a
White-bellied Nuthatch, several Robins and
White-throated Sparrows, a number of Rusty
Blackbirds, Crows, Blue Jays, Chipping &
English Sparrows etc. Bluebirds were in
sight or having most of the day and there
must have been a good many of them. An
old male Warbler repeatedly near the house.
  In the forenoon I drove down to the Barrett farm.
The foliage has reached the full perfection of
its autumn coloring in places, especially in
the low lands along the river, but in others
scarce a leaf has turned. The sumacs and
some of the maples on the Barrett place
were ablaze with color. I saw few birds
there.
[margin]Autumn 
coloring[/margin]