May 09, 2018

It was 78°F, partly cloudy and calm at 3:00 PM on May 9, 2018.
This week's trail report covers the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.
The weather has been finally feeling like the time of year it is.
And returning birds and plants have been appearing just about daily.

At Gifford House parking lot, lilacs were just beginning to bloom.
The view from the trail head was definitely getting greener.
Along the edge of the Old Hayfield, a bumble bee was working over the apple blossoms.
On the other side of the field, a red-tailed hawk screeched...
... and flew off...
... only to circle back, but not for long.
The high and dry spot on the Sedge Meadow Trail had mixed patches of wild strawberry and dwarf cinquefoil.
Down along the damper section, blue violets were up.
And invasive garlic mustard was blooming.
In the Sedge Meadow, tussock sedge was in bloom.
On the far side of the back Old Hayfield, flowering dogwood was doing just that.
At the bottom of the hill on the Wappinger Creek Trail, wood anemone was blooming through the Pennsylvania sedge.
In a few places, Eastern tent caterpillar could be found - typically on cherry.
Near the first foot bridge, that big fungus was back again.
At ankle level, yellow violets were out.
On the other side of the trail, ostrich fern was unfurling.
Mixed in with the invasive lesser celandine was cut-leaved toothwort.
Regular toothwort was blooming as well.
A scent was in the air: Japanese barberry, another invasive plant.
Yet another invasive, narrow-leaved bitter cress was getting big. Start pulling now and avoid flowers and seeds!
At the Appendix, a veery hung out long enough for one portrait.
Next week: the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.

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