June 10, 2020

Indigo Bunting

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 84°F, mostly cloudy and windy at 3:30 PM on June 10, 2020.
• This week's trail report covers the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.
• The weather was withering. These temps rob me of energy, but boost that of butterflies. This is a short one.
• The warmer weather has been bringing back the butterflies. On days this warm, they are quite active. That means they are easier to find, but harder to watch... or photo.

The Trails

• It was looking and feeling like summer at the Gifford House trailhead.
• Plenty of common ringlets were bobbing through the tall grass.
• Common milkweed was forming flower buds. As well as feeding monarch caterpillars, it is a great attractor for adult butterflies of many species when in bloom.
• A little spider seemed as eager as I for what the flowers would bring.
• Across the way, an eastern bluebird was collecting food perhaps for his young.
• I don't know if this was showing off or just stretching.
• Along the driveway was a tree with some dead branches at the top.
• Various birds like to perch up there.
• Today it was the indigo bunting.
• The shade of the Sedge Meadow Trail was welcome after the open fields. Here, a garden escapee, mock orange was adding to the atmosphere.
• At the edge of the Sedge Meadow - and in many other locations - multiflora rose was blooming.
• The fragrant blossoms of this well known invasive can fill the air well beyond the bush itself.
• Along the edge of the back Old Hayfield, wild grapes were looking prolific this year.
• Finally! A little wood-satyr paused to soak some sun. On the wing, it looks very much like the common ringlet pictured before.
• Sometimes mistaken for giant mosquitos, crane flies were hanging out in the shade.
• Just the week before, alien cow vetch had started blooming in the back Old Hayfield.
• It seems to be a popular nectar source among the skippers, such as the newly returned European skipper.
• The Wappinger Creek Trail was a relief. An interesting fly seemed to be enjoying the shade as well.
• At the little confluence by the Watershed kiosk was a colony of a favorite plant to hate.
• The seed pods of narrow-leaved bittercress were getting too mature to pull and leave - they could mature on dead stalks at this point. See the 5/27 trail report for more ID info.
• Maple-leaved viburnum was just budding up last week.
• Aniseroot's tiny white flowers had given way to larger fruit.
• A little spider found the fruit to be a good place for a its web.
• Surprise, an eastern wood-peewee landed in front of me and stayed put long enough for a photo.
• Next week: The Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.

Sightings