October 14, 2020

Sugar Maple

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 65°F, clear and breezy at 1:00 PM on October 14, 2020.
• Leaf color had continued to improve over the week.
• Finally some birds and even a few butterflies today.
• This week's trail report covers the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.

The Trails

• Four red-tailed hawks were calling in the sky over the Gifford House parking lot.
• It's amazing how in a moment they can disappear in clear skies. It took a while to find just one.
• From the trailhead, it could be seen that some trees were already bare.
• The trail along the side still had plenty to offer.
• Hickory stood out brightest.
• Scattered all along was brilliant burningbush.
• In between were clusters of multiflora rose rose hips.
• Towards the corner of the field, gray dogwood was deep and dark.
• Nannyberry, a viburnum, was actually a mix of colors.
• Amazingly, a ruby-crowned kinglet was still there when the camera clicked.
• A moth was on the wing today, one dropping conveniently on a contrasting leaf. It took a couple passes through the old black & white field guide pages to narrow it down to green clover worm moth.
• Just a few butterflies were out today - the familiar clouded sulphur and one monarch.
• Over the Sedge Meadow Trail, cherry trees were showing an overall peach color.
• It seemed to be the result of a mix of colors and lighting angles.
• The Gifford Tenent House Barn is always a nice sight across the little meadow.
• Even oaks were beginning to show some color as the trail dropped into the woods.
• The boardwalk was getting burried under leaves.
• Birds were very active and again it was a stroke of luck to to get just one yellow-rumped warbler.
• The view across the back Old Hayfield had everything from green to bare trees.
• Zooming in on the turning leaves showed burningbush and a variety of others.
• The other side of the field looked like a lot of burning bush under maples.
• Indeed, a stroll along the back side went by a hedge of burningbush.
• A burst of yellow over them was chestnut oak.
• At the exit, a little sugar maple was very handsome.
• The Wappinger Creek Trail went through the Old Pasture to the bluff over the Creek.
• Afternoon light on the trail made for a warm fuzzy.
• At the bottom of the slope, long shadows parallelled the Creek.
• Gold was reflected in the water and seemingly in the shadows as well.
• Down in the floodplain, Japanese barberry was finally showing a little color - it's just seemed meager this year.
• The berries were having no problem.
• Bare branches over the creek actually held low hanging fruit.
• The odd fruit of musclewood.
• From the top of the knoll at trail marker 10, the view around the bend still needed a little more time.
• It's worth checking the little sunny spot for the turning of the maples.
• Next week: The Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.

Sightings