Concord, Mass.
1899.
May 12
(No 2)
  We took the 9 A.M. train to Concord where C & E.R.S.
met us with the surrey and whence we drove together to
Lexington. Heard an Indigo Bird singing near the Emersons[']
& saw several Bobolinks (one a [female]) and a Meadow Lark
in John Moore's meadow. Orioles were abundant all 
along the road & I heard Warbling Vireos in Lexington.
[margin]Drive from
Concord to Lexington.[/margin]
  I returned to Ball's Hill by an early afternoon train.
After tea I walked to Bensen's pine ridge and back
by way of the wood shed. It was a perfect evening,
clear with a gentle breeze from the north. The birds
were singing gloriously - all but the Wilson's Thrushes which
are still silent. The Wood Thrush heard this morning
near the cabin had worked his way northward as far
as Davis's Hill where he was singing steadily. He had a
wiry, broken song of inferior quality. As I stood listening
to him a Nighthawk passed directly over me flying
due north at a rapid rate & no doubt migrating.
[margin]Evening at Balls Hill[/margin]
[margin]Wood Thrush
singing at cabin
in early morning, 
near Davis's Hill
at evening[/margin]
  The Holden Meadow east of Ball's Hill seemed to be alive
with Rails of both species which were very noisy at sunset.
When I got back to the cabin two Virginia Rails were singing
in Great Meadow and whenever I was awake during
the following night I heard their harsh voices. I have no
doubt that they called unceasingly through the entire night,
as they have done for several nights past. Both birds say
cutta-cutta-cutta.
[margin]Rails swarming in 
Holden's Meadow[/margin]
  A Bittern was pumping in the Holden Meadow just before
sunset. I had a fine view & watched him for a
long time. He crouched and shortened his neck just
[margin]Bittern seen
pumping[/margin]
73