Concord, Mass.
1901.
May 18
  Cloudy with steady rain beginning at 10 a.m. and lasting through
the following nights. Light easterly winds.
  Birds sang freely through the entire forenoon. In the early morning
I heard near the cabin Robins, Cat Birds, Redstarts, Black & White Creepers,
Chestnut-sided Warblers, a Tanager, a Grosbeak, a Black-billed Cuckoo,
Ovenbirds, Red-wings etc. The only northern migrants noted during the
day was a Winter Thrush in full song at the cabin (two others were seen),
and a Swainson's Thrush. There was also an Usnea Warbler which was
probably on its way north and two Blackburnian Warblers one of which
(at Pulpit Rock) was doubtless settled for the summer while the
other (in the oak & pine woods behind Bensen's) may have been
a migrant. If there has been any considerable flights of north-bound
Warblers during he past week it must have passed on the 16th & 17th
when I was at Lancaster.
  I spent the forenoon at the Farm walking up & back through
the woods. I listened in vain for the song of a Wood Thrush
& I heard but an Golden-winged Warbler - in the bush grown
pastures west of the house. There were the usual number
of Grosbeak, Tanagers , Creepers, Chestnut-sided Warblers, Oven
birds & other common summer resident birds.
  The river meadows are still submerged and there is little
chance for waders to rest & feed. I have not heard a Rail this
spring & the Bitterns are evidently having a hard time of
it although two were pumping last evening. The Red-wings
are less numerous than they were a month ago & there
are few places where they can breed but Gilbert found a
nest with 2 eggs in a bush on the Bedford shore this evening.
There are no Grackle at Ball's Hill this spring & no Meadow Larks
within hearing. Strangest of all I have heard only one Leopard
Frog this year. Hylas are as common as usual.
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