August 19, 2015

Notes and Changes since last report

  • This week's trail report covers the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.
  • It was 80°F, partly cloudy and windy at 2:00 PM on August 19, 2015.
  • It's been pretty warm and dry; threats of showers have been empty.
  • Finally tawny-edged skipper has shown up here - it's been elsewhere for some time.

The Trails

  • It was tough to leave the patch of shade in the Giffird parking lot, but the fields were calling.
  • Milkweed pods were fattening in the front Old Hayfield.
  • The high and dry section of the Sedge Meadow Trail was lined with gray dogwood full of ripening berries.
  • The little notch into the Meadow offered a bit of shade and a view of purple loosestrife.
  • It was a few minutes before I noticed turtlehead right at my feet.
  • Birds were the distraction; I was surrounded by gray catbirds; hummingbirds were feeding in front of me and worm-eating warblers were skulking with common yellowthroats in the silky dogwood.
  • The back Old Hayfield had a hummingbird clearwing. I recalled that I had few decent photos and prepared to take a few more and it was gone in a flash.
  • On the Wappinger Creek Trail, something went a round my head and clamped onto a tree trunk. Northern pearly-eye? No, one of the catocala underwings. A 2nd shot and it was gone.
  • Where the trail comes close to the water, trout of various sizes could be seen.
  • A chewed up enchanter's nightshade was offering its clinging seeds to pants and socks of passersby.
  • Invasive Japanese stilt grass was growing plenty of its namesake stilts.
  • Know it by the shiny midvein.
  • That it flowers late in the season after other grasses aids in its removal.
  • One-seeded bur cucumber was a little farther along the trail.
  • Lower to the ground was agrimony, already done flowering.
  • It too sports hitch hiking seeds.
  • Right below the Appendix, i.e. around Trail Marker 10, stinging nettle, wood nettle and false nettle could all be found in one spot.
  • Next week: spots along the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.
Sightings