May 12, 2020

Belted Kingfisher

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 56°F, partly cloudy and blustery at 2:15 PM on May 12, 2020.
• This week's trail report covers the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.
• It's still been cold and wet - there were even snow squalls over the weekend. The spring ephemerals have endured
• On the other hand, few butterflies have been out. Only one eastern comma today, but there have been spring azures and even a couple eastern pine elfins recently.

The Trails

• From the Gifford House trailhead the grass has grown long, but the tree leaves have barely begun.
• In the usual corner of the field, bird's-eye speedwell had just started blooming.
• On the Sedge Meadow Trail, wild strawberry had been blooming for a week.
• It is always accompanied by dwarf cinquefoil.
• It was getting quite green around the boardwalk at the end of the swamp.
• As if in reverse motion, what appeared to be a leaf blew by, then up and onto the tip of a branch where it should have come from.
• It was an eastern comma come to sun itself in an unconventional position.
• Off the side of the boardwalk, clumps of violets were pretty in the dappled light.
• You could smell the apple before you saw it.
• Trees around the Sedge Meadow were just beginning to get green.
• By now, the tussock sedge was in full bloom.
• Compare these flowers to those of Pennsylvania and plantain-leaved sedges in recent trail reports.
• In the back Old Hayfield, an invasive bush honeysuckle had a little white on top.
• The first blossoms were opening.
• Farther along the path, invasive olive had buds, but they would be a while yet.
• In the back of the field, invasive Japanese barberry was blooming and adding a little fragrance to the air.
• Burningbush is not known for its flower. The fruit are showy and the brilliant autumn leaves are what brought this invasive to our region.
• In the Old Pasture, honeysuckle looked more pink.
• Maple leaves were just beginning to unfold.
• The Wappinger Creek was full today.
• Pennsylvania sedge and Canada mayflower would make a great "no mow lawn", I keep thinking - they don't get much bigger thank this.
• Baltimore oriole had been calling, but what suddenly streaked by was the wrong color.
• It did not stay long in any one spot, but it was long enough to tell it was a scarlet tanager.
• At the same time, a belted kingfisher was calling as it worked its way up the creek towards me.
• If that weren't enough, a pack of warblers was also passing by overhead. They got away without even a blurry photo.
• At the bottom of the hill, wood anemone was still looking good since their appearance two weeks ago.
• It was almost looking summery along the floodplain even if it still felt like March.
• Toothwort was still holding up.
• Some trout lily were still blooming, some were finally forming fruit.
• Next week: The Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.

Sightings