April 01, 2020

Morpho species

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 51°F, Partly cloudy and breezy at 2:00 PM on April 1, 2020.
• Eastern commas were out in a number of locations today.
• This week's trail report covers the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.
• Just a reminder: the deck overlooking the Wappinger Creek is temporarily closed for safety during the Corona virus outbreak.
• Some of our smaller parking areas have been full lately, especially around noon.

The Trails

• The trailhead at Gifford House was ever so slightly greener than last week.
• I nearly had to run along the front Old Hayfield with a brilliant blue tree swallow dive bombing me to protect its nest box.
• It hit me in the head, knocking my hat off and itself out. It was actually a species of morpho, a genus of butterflies typical of central American rain forests.
• It's amazing what will be reported on April Fool's Day...
• Farther ahead, the Sedge Meadow Trail was just a little greener than last week.
• The honeysuckle didn't look much different, though.
• A red-winged blackbird was being very difficult.
• It wasn't until the return trip that the wing bars were in view.
• In the meantime, ten of them flew across the open Sedge Meadow where tussock sedge was growing taller.
• The back Old Hayfield looked exactly the same as last week.
• But closer inspection along the edges revealed bedstraws coming up.
• On the way to the Old Pasture, garlic mustard was coming up through the leaf litter. There are recipes for garlic mustard pesto. Let us eat our invasives into control.
• Along the side of the trail through the Old Pasture was a little colony of a club moss.
• There seemed to be two forms one weeping and one more erect.
• Just as the path drops to the creek, there was a piece of absolutely green rotting wood.
• The Wappinger Creek was still running full.
• At the bottom of the hill, Pennsylvania sedge was starting to bloom!
• The leaves of Japanese barberry were looking mature now.
• Mysterious trout lily leaves were pushing up from the forest floor. How will their flowers be this year?
• A favorite spot along the creek has been experiencing erosion due to its popularity.
• The trees and their roots make for many interesting ways to frame views of the creek.
• In the floodplain, invasive lesser celendine was blooming and looking a lot like our native marsh marigold.
• Each plant has a dense network of roots and tiny tubers. Just one plant is a challenge to remove. A colony...
• Next week: The Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.

Sightings