June 01, 2021

Common Merganser

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 72°F and cloudy with light winds at 1:30 PM on June 1, 2021.
• This was the first sunny day after several days of constant rain.
• This week's trail report covers the Wappinger Creek Trail Trail side of the trail system.
• The red-spotted purple was back today but only passed through very quickly.

The Trails

• From the Gifford House trailhead a tall dead tree can be seen.
• That little lump on top was a cedar waxwing.
• Down below, common milkweed was growing tall.
• On board was a mating pair of perhaps March flies.
• Closer to the stem was a swamp milkweed leaf beetle.
• Across the Old Hayfield, yellowwood was blooming.
• By the flower, one can see that it is a legume.
• Bedstraws were flowering now.
• Extensive caterpillar nests were in some of the shrubs.
• Fall webworm was my first thought, but the caterpillars were naked - without hairs. We'll have to check back when they are bigger.
• Invasive dame's rocket was still blooming and smelling nice.
• The white-banded toothed carpet is a day-flying moth whose caterpillar feeds on bedstraws.
• Tower mustard is a familiar inhabitant of open areas.
• This particular crane fly was out in numbers today.
• Close to the ground, bird's-eye speedwell made little colonies.
• The little meadow at the head of the Sedge Meadow Trail is a good spot to observe butterflies - today a Zabulon skipper was taking some sun.
• A little farther along, a little wood-satyr was warm enough and was aligned to cast a minimal shadow.
• The Sedge Meadow beckoned.
• Right at the edge, larger blue flag had started blooming.
• A commotion in the maple a little deeper in was from a common yellowthroat.
• There was an unfamiliar chatter too - it was a female joining him.
• They don't usually linger long in one spot, but this time they did - especially the female.
• Oh, she'd found a caterpillar. I never noticed until the last photo...
• Though the eight-spotted forester is a day-flying moth, it is secretive preferring to land under leaves.
• In the back Old Hayfield, the peculiar fruit of ironwood was developing.
• Hawkweeds were looking a little like tall dandelions.
• Easy to spot, ox-eye daisy was out in the middle of the field.
• Easy to miss, long-leaved stitchwort is a little chickweed species.
• Cow vetch is always worth looking at - a few butterflies stop for nectar.
• The Wappinger Creek didn't look as full as expected after all the recent rains.
• A common merganser never noticed me passing - or didn't care.
• Christmas fern against the water was pleasant scene.
• Again, a little wood-satyr, but this one welcoming the sun.
• Inconspicuous aniseroot was up in the usual place.
• A song sparrow popped into view, and then was gone...
• Next week: the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.

Sightings