Concord, Mass.
1900
April 17
(No 2)
about the edges of the swamps and along the
river banks far more than was the case during
the winter flood of several years ago. Many young pines
standing on ground which I have never known the
water to reach before are broken off a foot or more above
the ground. In the swamps the alders and high blueberry
bushes seem to have suffered most and many of them 
are completely stripped of branches. To offset this sad
havoc the upland woods appear to have gone through 
the winter with exceptionally little injury. Indeed scarce
one of my pines has lost so much as the smallest
branch and I have found thus far but one there
that has blown over.
(Ball's Hill)
Trees & shrubs
on low ground
damaged by 
mid-winter
rise of River.
  In the afternoon Purdie & I walked along the
river path to the Barrett meadow. It was raining
steadily & harder than at any other time during
the day but there was no wind, the air was warm
and soft & the birds were singing freely as is their 
wont under such conditions. In the oaks on the knoll
by the river just beyond the bars we found a flock
of small birds containing seven or eight Chickadees,
a Golden-crested Kinglet, a Pine Warbler and a
Yellow rump the last then in full song. Over the 
half-flooded meadows across the river we could see
directly through the veil of fine rain a swarm of 
Tree Swallows skimming close over the water. I tried
in vain to count them but had t ogive it up. There 
were probably between thirty and forty & perhaps
more. While we were watching them I was very sure
that I heard Geese honking in the distance.
Tree Swallows
Wild Geese?
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