Concord, Mass.
1907
April 5  
  Forenoon cloudy and showery with strong, cool
S. W. wind. Afternoon sunny with moderate W. wind.
Evening cloudy and much cooler with violent N. W. wind.
  Our side of the river was nearly barren of bird
life to-day no doubt because it was exposed to
the searching and rather chilly southerly winds. I
saw only one Fox Sparrow and but two or three Juncos
at the seed bed. A Pine Warbler (the first I have noted 
this year) was in full song on the crest of Ball's Hill
about noon. Our Phoebees (the paired birds were together
for the first time) were very active and noisy flitting
about the horse shed, entering it once or twice and
frequently alighting on its projecting stones. There seemed
to be a number of Fox Sparrows and Juncos on the
sheltered shores of the meadow near the stone boat
house whence their songs came distinctly to my ears
at intervals through the forenoon. A Carolina Dove
was cooing there for half-an-hour or more in the
early afternoon.
  I had begun to fear that I should see no large
water fowl here this spring but not long after breakfast
this morning a beautiful Herring Gull glided
majestically past the cabin on set wings. An hour
or so later Gilbert called me out from my writing to
show me a pair of Gooseanders. He saw them rise
from the river close in to the canoe pit but they
were opposite our upper landing flying swiftly off
over the flooded meadows towards the S.W. when I
first caught sight of them. The drake, a superb
old bird with bottle green head, led the way
Herring Gulls
Pair of Gooseanders the drake taking the lead in flight.