May 20, 2015

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was mostly cloudy, windy and 55°F at 1:45 PM on May 20, 2015.
• And I was complaining about 60° last week...
• But when the sun came out this time, a few butterflies were seen.
• Rush hour was over: not thay many new plants were flowering.
• Some things have been setting seed e.g., twinleaf, Dutchman's breeches, bloodroot.

The Trails

• Having been stung by a bumble bee this morning, I was particularly aware of them today.
• Something wasn't quite right about the one that flew by and landed in the front Old Hayfield.
• The snowberry clearwing is also called bumble bee moth.
• I was half way down the path when I realized I was surrounded by creeping buttercup.
• Here and there were patches of bird's-eye speedwell.
• A tree swallow was eyeing me as I headed for the Sedge Meadow Trail.
• There I would find hooked crowfoot, another buttercup, one with tiny petals.
• At the edge of the Sedge Meadow itself a pair of mating craneflies was sitting out while others danced up and down in columns in the air.
• That Russian olive in the back Old Hayfield was blooming by now.
• Common barberry, In the back of that field, is less common than Japanese barberry, but both are invasive.
• A redstart was calling from the short cut to the Wappinger Creek.
• At ground level wild geranium was a little easier to photo.
• Back out in the sunny field was golden Alexanders.
• Along the Wappinger Creek Trail, yellow-throated vireo, and great crested flycatcher were calling.
• Waaaay up ahead a lone female common merganser was patrolling. Love that hair.
• In the Fern glen, swamp azalea was sweetening the air.
• A surprise farther back in the fen was limber honeysuckle. I hadn't seen even buds last week.
• Maybe next week will be warmer, but please, not too much...