It was 80°F, cloudy and windy at 3:15 PM on July 24, 2013.
Afternoon sun was not as forecasted; I gave up waiting and at least started this walk before evening.
That and a surprise sore throat made for a shorter walk/report.
Annual cicadas had started singing and the mulberry wing was seen.
The Trails
Wild bergamot had suddenly taken over the front Old Hayfield during the past week.
Weaving along the grassy edge in its characteristicly unskipper-like fashion were several mulberry wings.
Below it resembles a dark hobomok skipper, but the male above is about as dark and unmarked as the male dun skipper. The background, however, has a reddish-brown dusting.
I thought I had the female too, but although it was female it was a little glassywing with larger spots on a background more like dark chocolate.
Nearby an easy to identify false crocus geometer flew by. Taken all together this is why I studied moths long before I undertook the skippers.
Along the Wappinger Creek Trail a great blue heron rose from the water at my approach. It's always surprising to see such a huge wing span skimming over a little creek in the woods.
The Norway Spruce Glade above the Fern Glen was one of several places to have the northern broken-dash. A ding on the hind wing of a basking female suggested she had stories to tell.
Creeping bellflower was here too. It was in the back Old Hayfield a report or two ago.
One reason for the distinction of "the path less taken" into the 'Glen may be the luxurious patch of wood nettle. More on the interesting flower later.
Back in the acid cobble, the flowers were going and berries were forming on the purple-flowering raspberry.
Out along the board walk through the fen, tiny blue flowers gave away the presence of water speedwell.
One last surprise for the day was green-headed coneflower. Rather than in its typical wetland situation, it was high and dry and looking fine behind the Carriage House.
I looked forward to returning to my own house to sooth my dry, sore throat and deal with the wetland that was my nose.
