July 21, 2020

Dun Skipper

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 82°F mostly clear and breezy at 1:00 PM on July 21, 2020.
• This week's trail report covers the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.
• As mid-summer approaches, new flowers wane and fruits wax.
• In butterfly news, northern broken-dash was ramping up in numbers and mulberry wing along with the big satyrs were still around.

The Trails

• It was mighty warm and the Old Hayfield behind Gifford House was starting to look a little dry.
• Pearl crescents were courting in the path before me.
• A well worn female little glassywing was basking low to the ground.
• On the Sedge Meadow Trail, a type of raspberry was ripening.
• Across the path, pokeweed was nowhere near ripe, but there was promise of plenty.
• As the trail rose, gray dogwood lined both sides, its berries still green.
• Invasive honeysuckle bushes were laden with ripening fruit.
• There was a hint of pink out in the Sedge Meadow.
• That was steeplebush starting to bloom.
• In the back Old Hayfield, the usually plain and unmarked dun skipper was on low flowers such as wild basil and here yarrow.
• The tops of shrubs and old goldenrod stalks was another place to look for skippers.
• Here is where the northern broken-dash would perch. Groups of half a dozen or more would spiral up into the sky only to return to their perches.
• There's a hint of orange on the leading edge of the forewing, and the pale hindwing spot band swells slightly in the center making it resemble a "3".
• The cool shade of the Wappinger Creek Trail was welcome, but a sunny spot would possibly be welcoming to a few butterflies.
• Indeed, a lone banded hairstreak was out there. No others came by for it to challenge.
• Hmmm, never noticed that chunk of wood before.
• Oh, I suppose it came from up there.
• And that would explain the big branch in the creek.
• "Ant hills" were scattered about around the "Appendix", as I like to call the area around trail marker 10.
• But the holes were pencil diameter... these were of the little burrowing wasps that are here every year.
• Next week: The Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.

Sightings