September 12, 2018

It was 60°F, and overcast with light breezes at 2:00 PM on September 12, 2018.
4-1/2" of "showers" this morning made today's walk doubtful.
With the Fern Glen closed, this week's trail report again covers the Wappinger Creek Trail Trail side of the trail system.
The Fern Glen will remain closed while the deck is being replaced.

Radar showed several hours of no rain, but boots were the choice for the wet Old Hayfields.
Everyone knows the wooly bear, but there is also a yellow bear.
A young dogbane tiger moth caterpillar was under a dogbane leaf.
An eastern tailed-blue was trying to keep warm.
A meadow fritillary went by, then another.
It looks like a 1/4 size great spangled fritillary from above, but is distinctly different below, lacking the silvery spots.
In the back Old Hayfield, clouded sulphurs were out in number.
Once in a while an orange sulphur would pass by. Either can easily disappear in the goldenrods.
A monarch really stood out against the yellow background of goldenrods.
No surprise, the Wappinger Creek was running pretty high.
Down along the floodplane of the Wappinger Creek Trail, a big maple had a big fungus.
Low light made for a shaky zoom photo.
Flash didn't reach well at that distance.
Stepping back and zooming out worked better and revealed multiple clusters on the one tree.
Farther along, downy rattlesnake plantain was surprise. It was here a few years ago, but hasn't seen since.
Grape fern was another nice less common find.
In the next few days, wreath goldenrod should bloom.
The creek was pretty loud the whole time today. Every view showed it was right up the banks.
Maybe it should have been a surprise that only one tree was down with all the rain and wind we've had lately.
Next week: the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system... unless I change my mind again.

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