June 29, 2021

Orchard Oriole

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 90°F, mostly clear and breezy at 12:00 PM on June 29, 2021.
• Orchard oriole was listed for the first time on this report.
• Banded hairstreaks were breaking records today.
• This week's trail report covers the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.

The Trails

• In spite of the temperature, the milkweed at the Gifford House trailhead had to be inspected.
• A little glassywing was working its way around the shady side.
• The mystery caterpillars from a few weeks ago had pupated and emerged in mass (quite the scene), leaving empty pupal cases.
• A few adults were still lingering. Oak webworm moth was a relatively easy determination now - none of my books had had the caterpillar.
• Constant chatter had been coming from above. It was an orchard oriole - so much darker than the more familiar Baltimore oriole .
• In the same tree was a rose-breasted grosbeak.
• It's not unusual for a common wood-nymph to land on a sock or leg to get a little salt.
• Yarrow doesn't attract a lot of butterflies or moths, but plume moths are one of the several interesting things that do come.
• A pair of mating cabbage whites was resting in the shade on sensitive fern.
• Tree swallows occupy the bluebird boxes in the Old Hayfield by Gifford House.
• They must be mistaking me for somebody else, for they seek me out and swoop down from above, delivering a scolding chirp inches from the top of my head.
• A colorful - and peaceful - bee was working over another yarrow.
• In the welcome cool of the Sedge Meadow Trail, a female rose-breasted grosbeak passed by the boardwalk.
• Way up ahead on the left, a tiny dark triangle stood out.
• It was one of several mourning cloaks to be seen lately.
• In the back Old Hayfield, another common wood-nymph paused in the sun... on poison ivy.
• It obliged with good views above and below.
• Hidden way in the back, Canada lily was blooming.
• Back out in the open, yellow-collared scape moth was on milkweed.
• A flash of hotdog mustard went by - no doubt about the Delaware skipper.
• All the way at the end of the Old Pasture there was a little blur by the oaks: the first banded hairstreak of the day.
• There would be clusters perched on and spiraling above all the bright leaves along the Wappinger Creek Trail ahead.
• Down by the Watershed kiosk, tall meadow-rue was stretching towards the water.
• The flower is like little white fireworks.
• Down in the floodplain, stinging nettle was flowering.
• Innocent looking wood nettle grew in an expanding colony.
• Its flowers had a way to go yet.
• A red admiral was laying eggs on the youngest nettles. Several butterflies use nettles as baby food.
• It wasn't a great view from below, but enough to tell that it's quite different from above.
• The bench at trail marker 10 was the place to be today.
• A common merganser floated by below while a ruby-throated hummingbird perched above.
• In between, dozens of banded hairstreaks were on the leaves, in the air, on tree trunks...
• ... and on yours truely.
• Next week: the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.

Sightings