October 04, 2017

It was 70°F, clear and breezy at 2:00 PM on October 4, 2017.
This week's trail report covers the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.
Cool air and warm sun presented a dilemma: shorts or a flannel shirt.
Eastern commas and a painted lady were out today.

It was quite warm in the front Old Hayfield. Jeans and a t-shirt were a good compromise.
Along the edge, a tattered cabbage white probed a tired wild basil.
An eastern comma rose from the path and went into the honesuckle.
Overhead, a turkey vulture teetered into sight and out again.
Back on the ground, fading goldenrod was poking between the leaves of a blackberry species.
There was a commotion from the top of the tree line by the spring house.
It was only in view long enough to verify it was a red-tailed hawk.
On the Sedge Meadow Trail, something flew past my face: a painted lady.
It hung around long enough for a little view of the top side.
Another blur in front of my face as I left. Was it following me? No, it was another comma.
As if to admit it had been found out, it flashed its top side.
A usual haunt for them is the stretch of path that drops into the woods...
... and down to the boardwalk through the swamp.
Cool shade was creeping across the back Old Hayfield.
It's always a surprise to find winterberry thriving in the Old Pasture.
It was nice with the white pine behind it.
There was no color yet in the view from the bluff over the Wappinger Creek, but it's always nice.
Down below, the sun was low across the calm waters.
Farther along, in the floodplain there was an occasional disturbance on the surface.
It was gangs of trout!
Next week: the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.

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