Concord, Mass.
1899
May 1
  Clear, calm, oppressively hot (ther. 88 [degrees] at 1 P.M.). Procession of
thunder showers from 6 to 9 P.M. cooling the air (to 68 [degrees] - 8 P.M.)
[margin]A hot wave[/margin]
  When I awoke this morning I heard a Redstart singing
near the cabin and soon afterwards a Cat-bird. Walked
around the Hill just after breakfast & heard a Chestnut-sided
Warbler in the blueberry swamp. Later in the forenoon heard
an Oven-bird in Prescott's pines and two Nashville Warblers
on the Barrett farm besides two more Chestnut sides
and two Parula Warblers. In the afternoon heard an
Eave Swallow on the W. Bedford side of the river and
at evening a Whippoorwill singing near Bensen's. All
these were "arrivals".
[margin]Arrivals[/margin]
   There was also a great increase in the number of Black &
White Creepers and a slighter one in that of Black-throated
Greens (of the former I heard at least fifteen males singing[)].
  Evidently the warm wave had brought a good flight
of early May birds. It is cheering to find some bird life
in the woods at least after the well-night birdless April.
But where are the Brown Thrashers? I have yet to
hear my first. Song Sparrows are pitifully scarce. Swamps
unusually numerous.
  Vegetation is advancing by leaps & bounds. Shad bush &
Cassandra in bloom to-day. Apple buds almost open on
early trees. Marsh marigold in bloom yesterday.
[margin]Vegetation.[/margin]
  Spent the forenoon at the Barrett farms, the afternoon
near the cabin & on the opposite side of the rivers.
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