August, 2012 - Trail Report Archive
Notes and changes since last report
- 70°F, clear and breezy at 12:00 PM.
- Butterflies were dropping in number.
- Warblers were getting confusing.
- Leaves were getting a hint of color.
The Trails
- There were a few yellow-collared scape moths in the front Old Hayfield this afternoon.
- The Sedge Meadow Trail was the hot spot today with tricky warblers above, Carolina wrens around me, and common white-tail almost landing on me.
- A katydid landed in front of me, too.
- In the back Old Hayfield, five wild turkeys kept just ahead of me the whole way along the path.
- Meadow fritillaries were to be seen several times today. I don't remember them this common or late in the season. I must check the records...
- Goldenrods support so many different insects. I used the zoom lens to great advantage in examining one large, unusual wasp in particular.
- A snowberry clearwing actually landed for a while to take in some sun.
- The bench in the Old Pasture looked inviting today.
- In the Norway Spruce Glade above the Fern Glen, I checked the tips of the shrubs for Zabulon skippers.
- Yup, on the left side; let's zoom in.
- The mud at the edge of the Fern Glen pond had four cabbage whites lapping up minerals.
- Deep in the shrub swamp section, a veery and I startled each other; it lingered a while.
- Near the deck, a pair of mushrooms looked very chummy.
- If it hadn't been for them I would have missed the coral fungus.
- White turtle-head was blooming in a couple quiet corners.
- The blossom is thought to resemble a turtle's head. Squeeze the cheeks and the mouth opens!
- One little cardinal-flower was still blooming.
- Heading back through the Old Gravel Pit, I came upon a pair of cabbage whites courting.
- Milkweed along the edge of the Little Bluestem Meadow had several caterpillars including monarch and milkweed tussock moth.
- Bluebirds at the end of the Scotch Pine Alleé were a nice finish for the walk today.
Notes and changes since last report
- It was partly cloudy, 82° and calm at 1:00 PM on August 23, 2012.
The Trails
- I started at the Fern Glen pond today where one of the spreadwing damselflies posed for me.
- In the Norway Spruce Glade along the road above the Glen, was a large Argiope or garden spider with an equally large cicada in its web.
- There were a lot of chewed remains of mushrooms along the trails. But on the Cary Pines trail, I came upon one untouched. I liked the moss too.
- I lingered at the foot bridge over the little creek feeding the Wappinger creek. The butterfly I'd glimpsed didn't return but right at my feet was an interesting opposite-leaved plant
- On closer inspection, I took it to be one of the skullcaps.
- Little bluestem grass was reddening in the Old Pasture.
- We don't often think of grasses as flowering plants, however...
- I always marvel at how easily the bright American copper can disappear on a grassy path.
- And on the way out of the Old Pasture, another perfect mushroom... with a nice view of sheep laurel, which seemed attractive to the copper.
- The back Old Hayfield had been mowed around its edge: a prelude for what is to come... But we must mow to keep our fields fields. And adjacent fields are mowed on alternate years to provide refuge.
- A pair of interesting flies allowed a photo.
- The boardwalk across the end of the Sedge Meadow afforded an excellent view of rough-leaved goldenrod, easily recognized by the large lower leaves and habitat.
- A large pokeweed was flourishing behind the Carriage House.
- The birds love the berries when they ripen to dark purple.
- We've seen a lot of goldenrods lately; what we haven't seen is ragweed with its tiny inconspicuous flowers - the actual cause of so much sinus discomfort.
- I've been avoiding thinking about it, but the view across the Little Bluestem Meadow was indicating the End Of Summer.
- Silver-rod - our only white goldenrod - on the Scotch Pine Alleé was indicating the end of the trails for me today.
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