August 16, 2017

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 80°F, partly cloudy, and breezy at 1:15 PM on August 16, 2017.
• This week's trail report covers the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.
• It was a pleasant day with moderate humidity.
• Be aware yellow jacket nests can be encountered anywhere especially under rocks and rotting logs.

The Trails

• The front Old Hayfield was full of invasive spotted knapweed.
• A fresh looking common wood-nymph posed for a photo behind the Carriage House.
• Along the side of the Little Bluestem Meadow, giant puffballs were coming up.
• In the Fern Glen, spikenard berries were ripening.
• Cardinal flower was coming up in a new place but was missing from its usual haunts.
• The well known invasive, purple loosestrife, was flowering in wet places.
• Near the deck, regular puffballs were coming up in a row.
• Behind them was a cluster of spotted wintergreen.
• Also on the path near the deck was a yellow jacket's nest.
• Fortunately it was the disturbed moss along the path that I first noticed rather than a disturbed yellow jacket.
• Overhead, I finally had a glimpse of a bird I've been hearing. Some kind of flycatcher - not a phoebe, maybe acadian.
• Along the boardwalk through the fen, a blue aster was blooming.
• Climbing hempweed was sweetening the air in a couple different places.
• Throughout the 'Glen, trillium was having a good year for producing fruit.
• Orange rose from a sunny patch on the Cary Pines Trail. It looked a bit large for a comma - it was a question mark.
• On the hindwing below, the silver arc and dot that make the question mark were plain to see.
• Near the "Appendix", a wood frog narrowly avoided being stepped on.
• A new feature was a downed tree - I do not expect to see it come spring...
• Next week: the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.