October 03, 2012

Notes and changes since last report:

• It was overcast, 68°, with occasional mist or very light rain at 1:00 PM on October 03, 2012.
• No butterflies today, but instead a number of mushrooms.
• The Scotch Pine Alleé and the Old Pasture were the birding hot spots today.

The Trails

• There was some fair color in the foliage around the Carriage House, but some trees were looking a little thin already.
• A classic mushroom was just off to the side along the Scotch Pine Alleé.
• Bluebirds, warblers and sparrows were active along the whole length.
• In the fork at the end, fading ferns stood out against a dark background.
• A flying ant had scaled a mushroom along the path through the Old Gravel Pit.
• As I rose off my knees I noticed some perfectly shaped - and perfectly tiny orange mushrooms.
• At the other end of the same branch was a fresh looking shelf fungus.
• I remember these gray mushrooms near the bottom of the Old Gravel Pit from years before.
• There was a coral fungus as well.
• A very fine, light rain began to fall as I approached the Fern Glen where last week's black cohosh was now forming seed pods.
• The boardwalk through the fen was surrounded by different shades of yellow.
• Spicebush had strong yellow leaves, elliptical with pointy tips.
• Witch hazel was just a little more orange and much rounder with lobed edges.
• Winterberry was almost ghostly pale.
• At the end of the shrub swamp is a patch of grass that always catches my attention.
• It strongly resembles Japanese stilt grass, but the mid vein is not shiny and it has a rhizome.
• The sound of water rushing under the stone bridge was in the air.
• Low light conditions actually allowed a rare photo upstream where the contrast is usually too great for the camera.
• The large fairy ring near the shed has not appeared for several years. By the railing along the road, however, is an arc of mushrooms.
• And they appear to be the same kind - they remind me of pierogies.
• On the Cary Pines Trail, a log being colonized by mosses and lichens caught my eye and reminded me there are even books on moss gardening.
• Farther along, at the ridge leaves were glowing golden above the gorge.
• On the Wappinger Creek Trail, a sample of Japanese stilt grass demonstrated the multiple roots that drop from nodes along the stem.
• An elm was colonized by interesting orange mushrooms with dark - almost black - stems.
• Right behind me was wood nettle. I didn't realize they can penetrate jeans...
• Near the Watershed kiosk was the biggest mushroom of the day.
• A favorite view is from the bluff above the Wappinger Creek.
• The high and dry side of the Sedge Meadow Trail held something new for me: little nebulous spider webs.
• The falling mist was fine enough to highlight rather then wash away the webs.
• Just past them were puffballs that I'd seen last week; I didn't expect them to survive living on the edge of the path.
• At the edge of the front Old Hayfield was finally a view that showed off the mist.
• And there was plenty more on the way home.