Concord, Mass.
1899.
April 25
  Sun shining dimly through the clouds or dense haze; no 
wind; an oppressively sultry and very warm day for the 
season. Thunder showers late in the afternoon. Ther. 54 [degrees]
at 6 A.M., 80 [degrees] at 1 P.M.
  Spent the entire day at Ball's Hill - the forenoon 
directing Bensen's work on a new wood path which
I am opening to reach the north-eastern base of the Hill.
Saw a White-throated Sparrow by the river and heard
a Ruby-crown and a Solitary Vireo singing behind the
Hill. Saw, also, a single Yellow-rump. At about noon
A Black and White Creeper began singing near the
cabin. The first and last named, with the Vireo, 
were noted for the first time here this season.
[margin]Arrivals[/margin] 
  Early this morning two Herons, flying together, appeared
over Ball's Hill. They were almost as high up as
Geese fly. After circling over the Great Meadows
they turned back and on reaching Davis's Hill
turned again and went off over the land to the
westward. One of them twice uttered a deep, raucous
note unlike anything that I remember to have heard
before. One was distinctly larger than the other.
They carried their legs stretched out behind & their
necks well shortened. Through the glass I could see
that they were striped on the under parts and
that their bills were long and slender. They certainly
were not Night Herons & I am nearly sure they
could not have been Great Blue Herons. They looked
like Bitterns but I have never seen the Bittern
fly at such a height not heard it utter such a cry.
[margin]Peculiar flight
& call note
of the Bittern(?)[/margin] 
54   