July 07, 2021

Broad Beech Fern

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 86°F, mostly clear and breezy at 1:00 PM on July 7, 2021.
• Acadian flycatcher was calling near the Fern Glen again.
• Common wood-nymph was out in number today.
• This week's trail report covers the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.

The Trails

• We begin where we left off last week: the bench at the "appendix", as I like to call the area about Trail Marker 10.
• Banded hairstreaks were still perching in the sun and rising in spirals when ever another passed by.
• Down by the water, Japanese spirea was starting to bloom.
• The flowers are the obvious reason for the introduction of this invasive.
• After all the rain we've been having, a few mushrooms were no surprise.
• On the way to the Fern Glen, something rose off the path and flew into the open woods off the side.
• Barely visible was a mourning cloak that landed on a tree trunk.
• From the side its dark triangle registers to the trained eye.
• On the hillside above the Fern Glen, invasive black swallowwort was growing unmolested. Monarchs recognize it as a milkweed relative and will lay eggs on it, but it is deadly to the caterpillars.
• The deep maroon flower looks almost black.
• The smooth, slender pods often occur in pairs, resembling a swallow's tail.
• Our native narrow-leaved mountain-mint was growing not far away.
• The small but interesting flowers are attractive to a number of insects including plume moths.
• A red admiral was licking the pavement.
• They can be almost invisible when the wings are closed showing only the cryptic underside.
• Spikenard at the top of the 'Glen was not as large as in other years.
• But it was blooming and attracting small beetles and flies.
• Ah, tall yellow up ahead.
• Great St. Johnswort was blooming.
• In the limestone cobble, broad beech fern was doing well this year.
• Tiny-flowered honewort was easy to miss.
• Red-eyed vireos call incessantly, but are not that easy to see.
• The pond was very clear today.
• Red-spotted newts were floating just below the surface.
• The leaves of lopseed look very much like those of white snakeroot.
• The little flowers however, look like no others.
• Out in the poor fen, that mystery St. Johnswort blooming again. It may be shrubby St. Johnswort
• The books are finally yielding some clues, but that will require a closer look at the stems, flowers and leaves.
• A monarch passed by and landed in the afternoon sun.
• Swamp milkweed was in good shape this year.
• It was just starting to bloom. Compare the individual blossoms to those of black swallowwort.
• At the front of the pond, lizard's tail was just beginning to bloom.
• It seems surprising that such an odd flower would smell so sweet.
• Something had been eating the spotted touch-me-not.
• The flower too, on closer examination, showed some damage.
• Back out in the Old Gravel Pit section of the Cary Pines Trail was a nice little stand of enchanter's nightshade.
• Why does such a tiny flower have such a big name?
• Next week: the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.

Sightings