August 29, 2012

Notes and changes since last report

• 70°F, clear and breezy at 12:00 PM.
• Butterflies were dropping in number.
• Warblers were getting confusing.
• Leaves were getting a hint of color.

The Trails

• There were a few yellow-collared scape moths in the front Old Hayfield this afternoon.
• The Sedge Meadow Trail was the hot spot today with tricky warblers above, Carolina wrens around me, and common white-tail almost landing on me.
• A katydid landed in front of me, too.
• In the back Old Hayfield, five wild turkeys kept just ahead of me the whole way along the path.
• Meadow fritillaries were to be seen several times today. I don't remember them this common or late in the season. I must check the records...
• Goldenrods support so many different insects. I used the zoom lens to great advantage in examining one large, unusual wasp in particular.
• A snowberry clearwing actually landed for a while to take in some sun.
• The bench in the Old Pasture looked inviting today.
• In the Norway Spruce Glade above the Fern Glen, I checked the tips of the shrubs for Zabulon skippers.
• Yup, on the left side; let's zoom in.
• The mud at the edge of the Fern Glen pond had four cabbage whites lapping up minerals.
• Deep in the shrub swamp section, a veery and I startled each other; it lingered a while.
• Near the deck, a pair of mushrooms looked very chummy.
• If it hadn't been for them I would have missed the coral fungus.
• White turtle-head was blooming in a couple quiet corners.
• The blossom is thought to resemble a turtle's head. Squeeze the cheeks and the mouth opens!
• One little cardinal-flower was still blooming.
• Heading back through the Old Gravel Pit, I came upon a pair of cabbage whites courting.
• Milkweed along the edge of the Little Bluestem Meadow had several caterpillars including monarch and milkweed tussock moth.
• Bluebirds at the end of the Scotch Pine Alleé were a nice finish for the walk today.