Concord, Mass.
1899.
May 4
  Clear and cool with strong N to N.E. wind. Ther 36 [degrees] at 6 A.M.
66 [degrees] at 1 P.M. A hard frost last night killing ferns, asparagus & even
the tender leaves of trees, but only on upland.
  For the first time this spring the woods about the cabin were
swarming with birds this morning. I heard them singing
at sunrise & when I got out at 6.30 I found the trees alive
with them. There were fully fifty Yellow-rumps, several Parula, 
Nashville & Black throated Green Warblers, a Yellow Palm Warbler, 
a Redstart, a Water Thrush, several Chestnut Sides & a Solitary Vireo.
I do not think that they had arrived during the night but on the 
contrary believe that they had come from the colder inland
woods to the sunny, sheltered, southern slope of the hill where
they were protected from the raw north wind. They stretched
all along the river front from the east end of the hill to
Bensen's landing & and many of them remained through the
forenoon although the flock dwindled steadily after the day
began to get warmer.
[margin]A cold wave.
[delete]of immigrants[/delete]
drives the birds 
from inland
to the river
banks[/margin]
  As I was digging ladies' slippers on Davis's Hill in the
forenoon I saw an im. [immature] Bald Eagle & heard a Greater Yellow-legs
& an Osprey. Late in the afternoon I saw the Eagle again.
A Marsh Hawk & two Night Herons also passed Ball's Hill at
7 P.M.
[margin]Bald Eagle.
Greater Yellow-legs
Osprey.[/margin]
  To the Barrett farm in P.M. Nothing singing within
hearing of the house[.] Saw a Purple Finch. Saw a Thrasher
in the birch field & heard another opposite the cabin
early this morning. Two Kingbirds along the river
at evening (arrivals).
[margin]Birds still
scarce at the 
Barrett farm.[/margin]
  I cannot understand the apparent & almost total alarm 
of birds at the Barrett farm. I saw only two there
a Robin and a Phoebe. First apple blossom (only one) open.
61