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125 1987 May 5 — Cambridge, Mass — 2 m. Total 560 m. Club work at Gray Herb. This afternoon as I was type-writing at Wills in the house, I heard a note that didnt seem to resembel exactly that of the Yellow Warbler. I looked out of the window and saw a Redstart in the Elm close by. I watched him with my glass for some time as he flitted from bough to bough. The sun was shining brightly on him and I had a beautiful chance to see his bright plumage. The deep black & salmon stand out in fine contrast. I could see him so plainly that when he sang I saw his little red throat. Pardie called this evening. —————
May 6 5 m. Total 555 m. At the Herb over Club plants in the AM. Distributed pamphlets this P.M. & evening. I have been working some days over my pamphlets. Did some type-writing this PM. The Yellow Warblers are singing all day in Will's garden. I knwo their note now well.
May 7 10 m. Total 575 m. This has been a most successful bird morning. I wheeled up to Waverly right after breakfast. In the wood opp. the house at Beaver Brook Reservoir I heard a new note. I went in and some found a Black-throated Green Warbler. He was very tame and I had a splendid sight of him as long as I wanted. All his beautiful markings were as clear in the bright sunlight as possible. I enjoyed my first introduction to the little fellow. As I resumed my walk over the road I heard the Field Sparrows in full song. I went in a large pasture
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126 1897 May 7 Continued north of the Upper Pond and sat down close to an apple tree on top of which a Field Sparrow was singing his best. He didnt mind me at all, but kept up his beautiful notes at short intervals as long as I staid there. I noticed particularly his unmarkeda breast and reddish lower mandible — A Towhee was running about among the bushes and Field Sparrows were singing in abundance. I went on to the Brown farm on Concord Ave., left my wheel there and walked off down the road to the Willows. The first Flycatcher, singing his Chebee-chebee, with a most active shake of the head — A little farther on some Yellow-rumped Warblers were flying about among the willows. The bright yellow spots, 4 in number on the sides of the breast, the top of the head and the rump harmonized beautifully with the soft green leaves and yellow catkins of the willows, which were bathed in warm sunlight. Presently some Black and White Warblers or a Creepers appeared on the scene. Their black & white stripes and creeper-like habits make them unmistakeable . Soon the aire was full of the music of the Bobolinks and I saw them perched on the top of the willows pouring forth their sweet notes. A Barn Swallow and some Chimney Swifts were circling
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127 1897 May 7 Continued overhead and the Redwings were very noisy. In one place by the roadside a large number of young males had congregated, and they were do their best to express their joy. I got up very close to them. The aggregation of their notes made a heavy volume. The first part of each song had a very flute-like note in it, and that sound pervaded continually the noise. It was very striking. I crossed over the meadows to the hill on Marsh Street and started a Towhee from some scrub by the road. I heard soon a peculiar melodious note and a Brown Thrasher appeared in the bushes running about among the branches in true cat-bird style. He was evidently not in full song, but what I heard was very melo sweet. Of course during my trip I saw plenty of Crows, Bronzed Grackles, Robins, Song Sparrows, Chippers and Yellow Warblers. The last are very common and in full song. I returned home by 1 P.M.
May 8th 13 m. Total 588 m Another glorious day, and a successful bird-hunt — This morning after breakfast I went down to the Museum and got the pictures of the Nashville & Prairie Warblers well in my mind, and then started off on my wheel down Concord Ave. for Arlington Heights. I went right over the hill and down Marsh St. to the sheltered cutting where I locked my wheel and then sat down ready to see whatever might come. In a few minutes there hopped on to a branch near me
