April 28, 2020

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 50°F, partly cloudy with light winds at 11:00 AM on April 28, 2020.
• This week's trail report covers the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.
• It's still been cool and wet; spring ephemerals have still been hanging on to their petals.
• Lovelace Drive (by the Fern Glen) is being closed to cars for safety. Walking is welcome with parking at the main building and other designated areas.

The Trails

• On the way to the Gifford House trail head, the Carriage House was picturesque under the clouds.
• There, the grass was green but the trees were still bare.
• The sky behind me was free of pursuing tree swallows; they must be getting used to people.
• Alien purple dead nettle was still in bloom along the edge of the field.
• Above the corner of the field was a thin layer of blossoms.
• Shad bush is a pretty early bloomer.
• At its base were some unremarkable dead stalks from last year's weeds.
• But they were of burdock, the remarkable inspiration for Velcro.
• An eastern bluebird was calling from the tree line farther along.
• Back at the front of the field, a tree swallow seemed to be claiming one of the bird houses.
• A female bluebird seemed to have other ideas.
• Just at the beginning of the Sedge Meadow Trail, invasive garlic mustard was flowering.
• In the Sedge Meadow, things had continued to get taller.
• With two other sedges still in bloom, the possibility of tussock sedge joining in was exciting.
• It looked like it was getting close.
• In the back of the far Old Hayfield, a male yellow-bellied sapsucker was drumming.
• It hung around long enough to present plenty of good views.
• Back on the Sedge Meadow Trail again, violets were scattered along one stretch.
• The Wappinger Creek was full after the recent rains...
• ... full of mallards - about 30 of them.
• Dabblers, rather than divers, they stay on the surface when they feed.
• That was a male.
• A more elegant technique was better suited for feeding closer to the surface.
• That was a female...
• At the bottom of the trail, trout lily was still looking fresh.
• I'd been waiting for the rue anemone to bloom.
• But I'd never noticed it also came with red leaves.
• Finally, a bud, and opening! Pink will fade to white, but that's ok.
• The crotch of a tree made a nice frame to show off the form in an un cluttered view.
• False hellebore was rising farther along the creek bank.
• Something was missing here... barely a stump remained of the dead trunk that always sported big round shelf fungi.
• Nearly invisible, only a slight rustle betrayed it...
• ... a garter snake - the first of probably four that I would encounter this day.
• The creek was really moving along. Time for me to do the same.
• Next week: The Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.

Sightings