April 09, 2014

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 55°F and partly cloudy with light breezes at 12:00 PM on April 9, 2014.
• It's actually been starting to feel like Spring.
• Eastern commas were out in numbers today.
• Pine warbler was singing in the Fern Glen and elsewhere.
• A first flower was seen... well, after skunk cabbage...

The Trails

• Starting in the Fern Glen today, I found spring beauty budding up by the main kiosk.
• I was delighted to have pointed out to me sharp-lobed hepatica just starting to bloom.
• The wild pubescence of the young stems is as attractive as the blossom.
• The leaves... well, I like them too. This is clearly sharp-lobed rather than round-lobed.
• At the back of the pond, the mystery willow had catkins popping out.
• On the Cary Pines Trail, eastern commas would erupt from sunny patchs on the trail, lunge towards us, then drop back into the leaves and disappear.
• The air was cool and a young garter snake was cold and sluggish enough to allow some portraits.
• Another long awaited sign of spring, trout-lily leaves were coming up along the Wappinger Creek Trail.
• Regular visitors to the trails will recognize the big old American sycamore at the water's edge.
• The view of the roots is probably more familiar.
• An interesting sight in the Old Pasture was a maple clinging to its seeds.
• The remains of a ring-necked pheasant were in the back Old Hayfield.
• Feathers must be like snow flakes: no two alike.
• A look at a bird's foot does much for the argument that birds are related to dinosaurs.
• The magnolia behind the Carriage House didn't look that much more advanced than the week before.
• The bottom of the Old Gravel Pit was surprisingly full of water. I suppose it did rain some the day before.
• Back tracking to the Deer Exclosure trail, we found two different club mosses growing together.
• One more surprise was lurking around the bend: a tree across the detour trail!
• It was nice to see some real signs of Spring today.