June 29, 2016

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 80°F and partly cloudy with light breezes at 1:00 PM on June 29, 2016.
• This week's trail report covers the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.
• It's been 2 weeks since the last report - new arrivals of species are over that period.

The Trails

• The action today started right over Gifford House parking lot when a pack of eastern kingbirds and red-winged blackbirds mobbed a red-tailed hawk.
• Around the edge of the parking lot, common milkweed and Canada thistle were quietly starting to bloom.
• Movement in the middle of the road to the Carriage House stopped me.
• There on the hot gravel in the blazing sun was a American green frog.
• Behind the Carriage House stood Stewartia, the tree with sycamore-like bark and an un-sycamore-like flower.
• At the back of the Little Bluestem Meadow, the stand of spreading dogbane was doing very well.
• Near the bottom of the Old Gravel Pit, shinleaf was a surprise.
• In the Fern Glen, new fruits were forming such as those of bluebead, bellwort, and Soloman's seals - false and true.
• Tall meadow rue, and lopseed were among the few things starting to bloom.
• It was apparent that purple-flowering raspberry had been going for a while.
• All the way in the back of the 'Glen, wild sarsaparilla was producing berries surprisingly larger than its tiny flowers of earlier.
• In the fen, swamp candles had been going a while already.
• Swamp milkweed still had quite a way to go.
• Easy to miss in spite of its name was large cranberry.
• Near the front of the pond, Turk's cap lily was budding up.
• Carrion flower had finished flowering and was working on big clusters of berries.
• Right at the front of the pond, lizard's tail and wild mint were starting.
• A little patch of mud attracted an eastern tailed-blue for moisture and minerals.
• Off the edge in the water, broad-leaved arrowhead seemed to be starting up.
• On the way out of the 'Glen was tiny enchanter's nightshade.
• There too were spikenard and black cohosh just barely beginning to open.
• Next week: the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.