June 12, 2013

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 70°F and blustery at 12:45 AM on June 12, 2013.
• Skies ranged from mostly cloudy to mostly sunny.
• The lilacs at Gifford parking lot attracted a number of "leps", but the wind made photos tough.
• Cedar waxwings were overhead everywhere; I assumed it was the same pack.
• There was a special guest in the Fern Glen.

The Trails

• Right along the edge of the parking lot, birdfoot trefoil was blooming.
• Well off the edge, lilacs were still going a bit.
• Constant motion from the wind may have made the butterflies easier to approach, but also wildly moving targets to photo.
• Among them were eastern tiger swallowtail, snowberry clearwing and silver-spotted skipper.
• In the front Old Hayfield, rough-fruited cinquefoil held still for a moment.
• Back by the old Pump House, a hickory was sporting galls on some of its leaves.
• A yarrow stood out in the sea of bedstraw.
• On the Sedge Meadow Trail, gray dogwood was blooming.
• I ducked in and sat a while on some logs with bittersweet nightshade blooming above.
• Dragonflies were all around - mostly common whitetail.
The male is more distinctive.
• In the back Old Hayfield, multiflora rose was blooming.
• With the wind and clouds, butterflies were concentrating on keeping warm as was this common ringlet engaged in "lateral basking".
• The Wappinger Creek was running high with the rains we had lately.
• This must be trumpet creeper on the Cary Pines Trail. Never noticed it before, but it does look young...
• Above the Fern Glen, Venus's looking-glass was blooming on the dry hillside.
• So too was black swallowwort - a difficult to eradicate invasive plant.
• Its relationship to milkweed can be seen in the shape of its little "black" flower .
• Near the bench by the cobble, one of our mystery plants was beginning to bloom.
• The old apple log across the cobble had a strange fungus growing out of it.
• The angelica by the back of the pond was doing well now.
• It was popular among the white-striped blacks. Great to know, for they seem to rarely perch.
• At the front of the pond, a painted turtle had adopted a peculiar posture to get some sun.
• Fragrent sweetflag was lurking amongst the cattails.
• Here was a surprise on the path by the kiosk: a wood turtle! It was here for the Sunday tour as well. I never expected to see it again.
• Darn, this looks familiar. White avens? Hmmm, not much left of the flower.
• Sheep laurel in the fen had indeed survived the winter and the deer.
• The flower has some tricks worth reading about.
• By the stone bridge, Indian cucumber root was blooming.
• A close examination is necessary to appreciate this tiny lily.
• Back at Gifford parking lot, a monster grass was thrusting in from the edge.
• What I was looking for was milkweed - my favorite butterfly nectar source may well be opening...
• ...by next week.