April 25, 2018

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 66°F, cloudy and breezy with an occasional light mist at 12:00 PM on April 25, 2018.
• This week's trail report covers the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.
• Spring arrivals in flora and fauna have been ramping up.
• Even with the uninspiring weather, it was a grand day out.

The Trails

• The view from the Gifford House trail head wasn't much different from the week before.
• Closer inspection revealed that tree swallows had returned.
• Closer to ground were eastern bluebirds.
• A distantly familiar "Chick-a-per-weeoo-chick!" came from behind the crumbling Spring House at the back corner of the first Old Hayfield: white-eyed vireo.
• With the call being about all that comes out of the thickets this bird prefers, a 2nd unobstructed view was above and beyond expectation.
• Back around at the start of the Sedge Meadow Trail, invasive ground ivy (I like "creeping Charlie") was blooming.
• Invasive honeysuckles were leafing out, giving them an early edge on other plants.
• The trail seemed unusually open and bright as it cut into the woods.
• Down below, the boardwalk across the swamp looked unchanged.
• Skunk cabbage was advancing with leaves well under way.
• Ah, there was the eastern towhee heard from the Old Hayfield on the other side.
• Off the other side of the back Old Hayfield, marsh marigold was blooming in the little tributary.
• Benches were out on the trails, the Old Pasture being a favorite location.
• My favorite view of the Wappinger Creek had changed for ever when the little, pointy dead tree broke over the winter.
• Another tree's life was changed for ever. Many hemlocks on the trails suffered over this winter.
• A large scat had been neatly deposited on a hemlock bough along the trail's edge.
• At the bottom of the hill, Pennsylvania sedge was about to flower.
• Right behind it, trout lily actually was just one step ahead.
• In the flood plain, invasive lesser celendine was immitating marsh marigold but its petals are narrower and more numerous.
• A black dot was moving across a red trail marker.
• It was a beetle that seemed to have red trail markers of its own.
• Next week: the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.