October 23, 2019

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 60°F, partly cloudy and breezy at 1:00 PM on October 23, 2019.
• Katydids and spring peepers were still calling.
• One butterfly was out today: a cabbage white along the edge of the front Old Hayfield.
• This is the last trail report of the season. It covers the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.
• The grounds close Nov. 1 and should open again April 1.

The Trails

• A lot of leaves were down when looking out from the Gifford House trailhead.
• Invasive burningbush was easy to spot now.
• The sun was actually warm over the Little Bluestem Meadow.
• Our native little bluestem was waving like grain.
• Along the Scots Pine Allée, poison ivy was handsome in yellow.
• And it ranged to red.
• The snag by the cedar in the corner will often be a bird perch, but not today.
• One last view of Gifford House across the meadow before diving into the woods.
• A few mixed flocks of chickadees and kinglets slowed our passage but we arrived at a sunny Fern Glen.
• The pond begged for a closer look.
• Golden leaves on black water were striking.
• Bright spicebush was draped over the rocks along the edge.
• The path at the back of the pond passed through a glowing mass of sweet pepperbush.
• Care needed to be taken on the bridges: some were a bit slippery.
• By the deck along the Wappinger Creek, striped maple was still holding on to its leaves.
• The view upstream off the stone bridge was pleasant.
• And a look downstream included the new deck.
• Delicate maidenhair spleenwort was poking out of the cracks between the rocks.
• Out of the 'Glen on the Cary Pines Trail, something looked not quite like sumac.
• Sumac doesn't have leaves with spines...
• ... nor stems like that - this would be invasive Japanese angelica tree. Beware, there is a similar native plant, devil's walking stick.
• Farther along, a shelf fungus blended in and was easy to miss .
• Partridgeberry was abundant.
• The color of maple-leaved viburnum seems pretty consistent.
• Out at the "Appendix", the timing was just right to catch the little maple in the sun.
• Once upon a time a bob cat strolled along that log as I watched from the bench here.
• Along the Wappinger Creek Trail now, a dark spot on the bark of an ash tree suggested a click beetle.
• No, it was a chrysalis. With luck, it will spend the winter here and produce a spicebush swallowtail in late spring.
• We'll look for it then.

Sightings