Byrd Masses

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.

Posted on April 2, 2017 04:08 AM by scottking