Concord, Mass.
1901
April 5
(No 2)
honk once or twice in deep, sonorous tones, another
would answer him and then another until a dozen
or more were again calling at once. Everyone saw
and heard them; the men working at the farm,
Bensen at his house, Gilbert & Pat at the cabin.
The counts made of the flock varied from sixty
to seventy birds. They were evidently tempted to
alight on the flooded meadows for when they circled
back over Ball's Hill they lowered their flight
to scarce one hundred yards above the earth
but the sight of a couple of muskrat hunters in
a red canoe probably decided then to continue
on their journey northward.
  During my walk I started two Partridges and
heard a few Robins & Song Sparrows singing. There
were no birds, excepting Crows, at the farm.
After returning I took a stroll around Ball's Hill.
The air was calm and filled with a fine mist.
The clouds showed signs of breaking in the west.
Robins, Red-wings and Song Sparrows were singing
in every direction. The Robins were at their very
best as they always are when a quiet rain is
falling. One bird perched in the top of an oak
near Pine Park made the country side sing with
his loud, clear notes. I have never seen so many
Robins here before in early spring. They came into
the pines beyond the swamp in scores as it was
getting dark this evening. The Fox Sparrows also
roosted there again. Several were singing at once
and most gloriously while I heard others chirping.
There must have been 8 or 10 in all & perhaps more.
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