July 25, 2018

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 79°F, windy and cloudy with occasional rain at 1:15 PM on July 25, 2018.
• The forecast was not good for today, but a break in the clouds tempted me to come out anyway.
• This week's trail report covers the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.
• A surprising number of butterflies were out even in the rain.

The Trails

• Yellow day lilies at the Gifford House trail head brightened the day.
• It was a surprise to find a dun skipper right off.
• Red milkweed beetles didn't seem to mind the weather at all.
• There were already berries forming on the pokeweed.
• It looked like bumble bee but was flying unusually fast. Robberfly, I thought? But flies have 2 not 4 wings... Maybe carpenter bee.
• From time to time overhanging trees provided shelter from the rain.
• A large garden spider had no problem with it.
• Plenty of dragonflies were out, too.
• Butterflies were not very active and, therefore harder to spot, but also easier to study when found. That can be helpful for things like the northern broken-dash.
• Along the Sedge Meadow Trail, the common alien, butter-and-eggs could be found.
• Down on the wet side of the trail, a brown blur went around me. A little big for a Gypsy moth and too deliberate. It disappeared as it passed by a cherry tree.
• Some squinting revealed something exactly head high and exactly on edge.
• Slowly raising the camera confirmed that it was a northern pearly-eye.
• A little farther along, closer to the water, was another bit of brown, but flying about knee high. That would be the Appalachian brown.
• Out in the Sedge Meadow, purple loosestrife had been blooming for a week or so by now.
• But beyond it, steeplebush had just started.
• As the trail let out into the back Old Hayfield, a crane fly paused on gray dogwood.
• Next to it, a common wood-nymph took cover.
• Out in the field, a soggy song sparrow didn't seem to mind the rain at all.
• Several common yellowthroats seemed to follow my every move.
• It was nice to get a good view of a tiny orange mint moth. It did not last long.
• Dogbanes were making seed pods.
• So too was common milkweed.
• A very convincing wasp mimic was one of the thick-headed flies.
• On the Wappinger Creek Trail Indian tobacco was blooming here and there.
• The crazy areal spirals of male Gypsy moths were absent today, but many trees had tan egg masses. The black flecked white females could sometimes be found nearby.
• Down in the flood plane was that interesting grass that must have a name.
• The very familiar stinging nettle was blooming.
• Less familiar, but quickly learned, wood nettle was starting to bloom.
• Next week: the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.