September 07, 2017

It was 68°F, mostly cloudy, and breezy at 2:00 PM on September 7, 2017.
This week's trail report covers the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.
Wednesday's several inches of rain delayed this walk until today.
Some fields have been mowed.

Birds were active at Gifford House parking lot with young eastern bluebirds going back and forth between the drive and kiosk and trees.
It took a while to notice that the front Old Hayfield had been mowed...
...then, that hints of Fall had crept in too.
At the head of the Sedge Meadow Trail, a stink bug played hide and seek on the leaves of a white ash.
Around the corner, goldenrods, unsupported, were leaning towards the middle of the path.
They were another center of activity, this time for bees and other insects.
At the top of the hill, American goldfinch were working between the junipers and the tall weeds.
The back Old Hayfield was left unmowed as refuge.
Several spiders had webs among the wild bergamot and goldenrods.
In the Old Pasture, coral fungus was errupting along the side of the path.
Towards creek end of the trail, rose hips were forming on that non-multiflora rose.
Almost into the woods was a cluster of puffballs - will they survive the mowers?
The view from the bluff promised a full Wappinger Creek.
Along the descending trail, wreath goldenrod, another "easy" woodland goldenrod, was starting to bloom.
Just below, our only white goldenrod, silverrod was beginning to bloom, too.
Around the "Appendix" was a familiar shelf fungus.
A field of tiny mushrooms spread before me.
What appeared to be a darker version of the previous shelf fungus was on a mossy log.
Not much farther along was now what seemed to be a lighter version.
Next week: the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.

Breadcrumb