Concord, Mass.
1899. 
April 6
  Weather closely similar to that of yesterday but warmer &
with less chill in the continued N.E. wind. I have not
noticed a single cloud these past three days and nothing
could be clearer than the air & sunshine.
  The birds were in full song again this morning and
well into the forenoon. Near the house and on the way
down river I heard one or two Robins, four male Bluebirds
(two accompanied by their mates), two Phoebes, two
Meadow Larks (the first), two Cow-birds (do [ditto]), three Song
Sparrows (where are the multitudes that I have always
found here before at this season?), numerous Red-wings,
two White-bellied Swallows (the first), a Kingfisher (do [ditto]),  
2 Blue Jays and a number of Crows. At the cabin
Gilbert had seen only a Chickadee, a Phoebe and a Downy!
[margin]Early morning
Singing[/margin]
[margin]Scarcity of
Song Sparrows[/margin]
[margin]First Swallows[/margin]
  Gallent, whom I met hunting "rats", asserted that he
had seen a flock of five Wood Ducks up the Assabet [River] but
he is not very trustworthy about such matters. He
had five or six Muskrats in the bow of his old
skiff but he says that comparatively few have been
killed this Spring, Holden leading with some fifty skins.
[margin]Wood Ducks[/margin]
[margin]Muskrats[/margin]
  After leaving some things at the cabin I kept
on down river, paddling against the strong wind
nearly to Carlisle Bridge, and having a glorious sail
back. Flushed a pair of Goosanders from Holden's
meadow and thirty or forty, with nearly as many
more Whistlers, from the long, straight beach below 
Birch Island. Here only the river was open the
meadows on both sides being covered with
[margin]Water fowl[/margin]
33