August 21, 2018

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 76°F, breezy and partly cloudy 1:30 PM on August 21, 2018.
• Threat of rain tomorrow and a calendar change today made for an early walk this week.
• This week's trail report covers the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.
• Zabulon skippers were out in several locations today.

The Trails

• At the Gifford House trail head, common milkweed seed pods were growing large.
• Pokeweed berries swelling too.
• Across the Old Hayfield goldenrods were joining in to tell us summer has been moving along.
• The second brood of common ringlet continued to grow this week.
• The unusual feather-legged fly was out in both Old Hayfields. Its larva is a parasitoid of true bugs.
• Goldenrod bunch galls were everywhere once you notice them.
• The white edge of the hindwing identifies the female zabulon skipper.
• It stands out better in the more standard view.
• Several males were not far away.
• A mature monarch caterpillar was lounging on a milkweed leaf.
• A tawny-edged skipper was down below among the wild basil and spotted knapweed.
• If that weren't interesting enough, a gray hairstreak passed through.
• One last arrival to the party by the old spring house was an adult monarch.
• On the Sedge Meadow Trail, gray dogwood berries were another sign of late summer - they used to be ammunition at the school bus stop.
• Turtlehead was blooming inspite of its leaves having been thoroughly eaten.
• The intricately patterned common willow calligrapha was on purple loosestrife.
• I could hear the wood thrush before I could see it - but I did see it.
• Along the path, white snakeroot was just beginning to bloom.
• At the creek side of the Old Pasture, mushrooms were coming up out of the path.
• The creek was full after all the rain of late.
• This corner of the woods was full of mushrooms.
• One large one stood out with just a few bites out of it.
• A red one was hiding behind a log.
• Next week: the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.