April 07, 2020


Magnolia

Notes and Changes since last report

  • It was 60°F, Partly cloudy and windy at 12:45 PM on April 7, 2020.
  • Cabbage white and spring azure were back today.
  • This week's trail report covers the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.
  • To avoid head-on meetings and maintain "social distance", the trails have been marked with one-way signs. Maps are posted at trail heads with QR code for smart phones.
  • See Cary Institute > About > Visit Us > Hike Our Trails for one-way maps and more information about visiting during these Covid-19 times.

The Trails

  • The basic idea is the main trail goes counterclockwise. If you start at Gifford House, all but one cross trail allow a quick return to Gifford. Start at the Fern Glen and you are committed to the full 3 mile loop.
  • At the Fern Glen Pond, two painted turtles were looking left and right seemingly to monitor the new one-way trails.
  • In the Roeller Bed, along the road, wild ginger was up and blooming before its leaves were fully unfurlled.
  • A corydalis was just a bit farther up the slope.
  • Right along the road, a young spicebush seemed to have stalled for a week now with buds about to burst.
  • At the head of the limestone cobble, spring beauty had taken off since the first blossom last week.
  • Clumps of Dutchman's-breeches had just started blooming last week as well.
  • Sharp-lobed hepatica was looking sharp, indeed.
  • New this week was trout lily.
  • Back at the edge of the fen, coltsfoot was up. The scaly stem helps distinguish it from dandelion.
  • Unassuming leatherwood is easy to pass by.
  • The buds make me think of little horse hooves...
  • ...until they stick out thier tongues.
  • The wrap-around leaves of bloodroot are distinctive even after they have unrolled and the short-lived blossom is gone.
  • With a nod to the sentry at the pond, I was back on the main trails.
  • It was pretty quiet until the Carriage House.
  • White blossoms could be seen in the tree around back.
  • It was the magnificent magnolia, of course.
  • On the other side of the drive, another magnolia and big old oaks framed Gifford House.
  • Next week: The Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.

Sightings

Birds
  • 1 Mourning Dove
  • 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
  • 1 Downy Woodpecker
  • 1 Northern Flicker
  • 1 Eastern Phoebe
  • 5 Tree Swallow
  • 3 Black-capped Chickadee
  • 2 White-breasted Nuthatch
  • 1 American Robin
  • 3 Pine Warbler
  • 1 Louisiana Waterthrush
  • 4 Song Sparrow
  • 1 Red-winged Blackbird
  • 1 Brown-headed Cowbird
  • 1 American Goldfinch
Butterflies
  • 1 Eastern Comma
Plants
  • 1 Bloodroot
  • 1 Coltsfoot
  • 1 Corydalis
  • 1 Leatherwood
  • 1 Magnolia
  • 1 Trout-lily
  • 1 Wild ginger