Concord, Mass.
1899
April 10
  Clear and cool with keen, rather strong W. wind, The ground
froze hard and sheltered coves on the flooded meadows skimmed
over with thin ice last night. Wind changed to N. in P.M.
  I heard a delightful concert of Robins, Song Sparrows & Bluebirds
assisted by a Tree Sparrow or two, a Phoebe and a Meadow Lark,
early this morning, as I lay in bed with the window open but
when I started for Ball's Hill at 9 A.M. the fields and
orchards were as silent as the graves for although the sun
was shining brightly there was an icy chill in the keen
west wind. It is singular how sensitive the birds are at
this season to such influences. I saw a Red tailed Hawk
soaring high in air over the Derby farm, seven or eight
Tree Swallows scattered along the river from Red Bridge to
Dakin's Hill and a few Red-wings and Song Sparrows.
I also saw my first Muskrat.
[margin]Early morning[/margin]
[margin]Singing near
the Keyes'[/margin]
[margin]Red-tail Hawk[/margin]
[margin]Tree Swallows[/margin]
  At Ball's Hill I found two pairs of Chickadees, a Song Sparrow,
and a Fox Sparrow, the last in the same place and no doubt
the self same bird that I watched on the 8th. There was also
an Osprey cruising about, whistling, and Gilbert reported a
flock of four Whistlers. A solitary [male] Goosander passed
about noon flying up river.
[margin]Birds at
Ball's Hill.[/margin]
  Sailed home in afternoon landing at Dakin's Hill & going to the Barrett farm
as usual. A robin was singing in the Barrett elms and three or four
Hylas (the first) were peeping in the neighbouring run a little before sunset.
Near the head of Great Meadow I saw a [female] Sharp-shinned Hawk
skimming low over the water. Just as I reached the Keyes' there
was a general outburst of Robin song in every directions.
Gilbert saw three Fox Sparrows & three Song Sparrows near the
cabin late in the afternoon.
[margin] Birds Singing
at evening [/margin]