October 15, 2014

Notes and Changes since last report

  • It was 75°F, cloudy and windy at 11:15 AM on October 15, 2014.
  • I hoped to beat the forecasted rain with an early start; sun and sprinkles fell in equal amounts. Nice.
  • More leaves had fallen since last week, but those remaining... may have been close to peak.
  • The grounds close for the season at the end of October.

The Trails

  • The sky over the front Old Hayfield was typical of the whole walk: occasional patches of blue, occasional sprinkles.
  • Behind the Carriage House, fothergilla was turning dark red and I recalled its little white Buckingham-palace-guard-hat blossoms of spring.
  • A scan of the sky yielded flat wings, not the V of the earlier turkey vulture.
  • The wedge shaped tail of my first impression was not in the photo... so much for raven, but a little adjustment of brightness and contrast made obvious that it was a red-tailed hawk.
  • Back on earth, the larger Stewartia was almost the same red as the fothergilla next to it.
  • Looking around again, I found blue skies and company approaching.
  • From view from the Scotch Pine Alleé was different with the Little Bluestem Meadow mowed.
  • A wood frog jumped across our path in the Old Gravel Pit.
  • It was as easy to loose as last week's sulphur... It's in the center, of course.
  • Another find was a dead blister beetle. I'm guessing something tried to eat it and won't try again.
  • I almost squashed some little mushrooms right behind me.
  • Eastern commas were still at the sap run, one in pretty good shape and another missing most of a hindwing.
  • The colors in some places were amazing.
  • Right at the Fern Glen parking lot was one of the nicest displays.
  • On the bridge, a runner wearing bright red was almost invisible.
  • By the Fern Glen pond, I sought out last week's scrawny wahoo sapling.
  • Yes, the saddleback caterpillar was still there, too.
  • The Appendix (Trail Marker 10) was good for lunch and birding. White-throated sparrows were many but avoided open spaces.
  • Across the Wappinger Creek by the recently fallen oak was a wall of spicebush... and a spreading carpet of Japanese stilt grass. Let's take this picture next year and compare.
  • I always like the view from the bluff over the Wappinger Creek.
  • The Sedge Meadow seemed bigger with so many leaves down.
  • But that winterberry in the corner was holding onto its yellowing leaves making the berries really stand out.
  • Just around the corner was the entrance to the back Old Hayfield.
  • And soon my exit.
Sightings