I'm not always optimistic, but today I definitely felt it. The warmest day so far this spring, the first of April, clear skies, and sunshine—it seemed possible that the first migrant dragonflies could show up on a day like this. So I set out to check the local ponds for Common Green Darners.
Sitting on the bench watching the pond in hopes that the first dragonfly of the year might fly by, I begin listening to the voices. A Blue Jay. Boreal Chorus Frogs. And new today, Wood Frogs. This early in the spring there is still a simplicity to the composition, a pared-down part song. The William Byrd Masses for 3, 4, and 5 Voices come to mind.
Nothing like the gravity of old church music to add ballast to an unchecked ebullience. I didn't see any dragonflies. They're not here yet. But, in addition to the Wood Frogs, I observed a few other firsts: the first Eastern Comma, the first Golden Dung Fly, the first Painted Turtle, and the first Northern Paper Wasp. And, later in the evening, I turned on the mothing light for the first time as well.
Wood Frog call
St Olaf Natural Lands
Northfield, Minnesota
Spring Cankerworm Moth
attracted to moth light
Northfield, Minnesota
Small Phigalia Moth
attracted to moth light
Northfield, Minnesota
Wood Gnats
attracted to moth light
Northfield, Minnesota
Speckled Green Fruitworm Moth
attracted to moth light
Northfield, Minnesota
Northern Paper Wasp
St Olaf Natural Lands
Northfield, Minnesota
Golden Dung Fly
St Olaf Natural Lands
Northfield, Minnesota
Eastern Comma
St Olaf Natural Lands
Northfield, Minnesota
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