April 14, 2022

Magnolia

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 71°F, mostly clear and breezy on April 13, 2022.
• The grounds opened early this season, and the one-way COVID-19 restrictions on the trails had been removed.
• This is the first trail report of the season, and we have some catching up to do.
• This week's trail report covers the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.

The Trails

• It was a warm, early spring day at the Gifford House trailhead.
• Going the "wrong way" and down the Carriage House drive seemed at once like a forbidden treat and at the same time just as it always was.
• Around the Carriage House a couple trees were starting to blossom.
• They were magnolia and were showing promise for the next week or so.
• Around back a yellow haze hovered around some shrubs.
• Japanese cornelian cherry was starting to bloom.
• The Scots Pine Allée stretched out beyond the shrubs.
• Dark-eyed juncos scattered at my approach. Most would soon be leaving for more northern nesting grounds.
• Irregular tapping up ahead was traced with binoculars to a yellow-bellied sapsucker. The white wing bar helps distinguish this woodpecker and the white throat makes her female.
• The trail came out at the sunny Norway Spruce Glade above the Fern Glen.
• Garden escapee, myrtle was in bloom. A scan for early butterflies was in vain; even the fuzzy little bee flies seemed absent.
• Down the hill, the top most bed of the Fern Glen reached along the edge of the road.
• Even last week the hepatica had begun to bloom.
• They are almost as interesting before they bloom.
• Spring beauty too, with its grass-like leaves, only numbered one or two last week.
• And Dutchman's-breeches were but buds then.
• Bloodroot was new. It always seems overly modest.
• Above the pond, trillium was getting ready to bloom.
• At the back of the pond, marsh marigold been going for several weeks by this time.
• Of course, skunk cabbage had been up for some time, too.
• The water of the pond was very clear.
• A few amphibian egg masses were visible at the bottom.
• Red-spotted newts were lounging near the surface.
• There was plenty of skunk cabbage leafing out off the side of the pond.
• A closer look would turn up another early comer, coltsfoot, easily mistaken for roadside dandelion.
• Oh and there was a trout lily.
• The front of the pond is usually worth slowing down for.
• Indeed, painted turtles were out in the sun.
• A large bullfrog seemed afraid of nothing.
• Looking back along the pond path gave a view of a smoky looking tree.
• Binoculars revealed pussy willow.
• If you weren't looking for leatherwood, you would miss it.
• The buds had swollen to resemble (to me...) little hooves.
• That illusion doesn't last long and an unlikely yellow flower soon emerges.
• Leaves of ramps appear in the spring but are gone later in summer when flowers appear.
• Along the boardwalk, speckled alder was blooming with red female flowers and dangling male flowers.
• Last year's fruit could still be found all about.
• Along the edge of the fen, past the boardwalk, the broad leaves of Carolina spring beauty distinguised it from the earlier species.
• On the way out of the 'Glen, a closer look at the new leaves of wild ginger revealed there were flowers as well.
• The posts along the wood edge beyond the parking area were marking American hazelnut.
• They were still blooming since the week before with now familiar male catkins...
• ... and tiny red female flowers.
• Out on the Cary Pines trail, patches of sun had potential for eastern commas or mourning cloaks.
• There were a few commas this day, but right here just last season's partridgeberry was in the sun.
• Today's walk ended at the "Appendix", as I like to call the loop in the trail by marker 10. It looked like a new tree was down along the edge of the Wappinger Creek.
• Next week: the Wappinger Creek Trail the side of the trail system.

Sightings