Concord, Mass.
1908
April 28
  Cloudy & mild with light E. wind. Showers last night.
  I noted today for the first time this spring the following: -
Chestnut-sided Warbler 2 males in full song - one in Birch Field, other in Berry Pasture 8 A.M.
Purple Martin 1 in full song flying over Barrett Run at 4 P.M.
Eave Swallow. 2 flying high over farm house W. at 4.30 P.M.
making the cork-in-the-bottle sounds.
Spotted Sandpiper. 1 on shore of pond in our Berry Pasture 8 A.M.
Arrivals
  The Chickadees worked at excavating for their nest
in the apple tree at the rear of the house all day and
even more ceaselessly and energetically in the afternoon 
than in the forenoon. Thus far they have done nothing
but loosen and remove the decayed wood. I examined the
hole this evening & found it had been carried down about
six inches. At the bottom it tapered to a point. The
birds jump into it and out of it with surprising quickness
and precision like Jack-in-a box never pausing for an
instant at the entrance at least when going in.
Chickadees excavating hole
  As I was standing near our poultry yard about
10 A.M. a female Sharp-shinned Hawk scaled low over
it coming from Lawrence's field. She kept straight on
following our cart path & passing the old barn within
a few yards & below the level of the eaves. Not once
while within my view did she move her wings. There 
was something very impressive about her flight- a swift,
even, noiseless glide suggesting great momentum
yet absolutely effortless. This is the characteristic method
of hunting of the Sharp-shin & to a less degree of
Cooper's Hawk, also. It must be a deadly method
for the victim can have little or no notion of the
approach of the Hawk until it is too late.
Sharp shin Hawk hunting