On the Trails of IES

Trails

• I don't usually cover the front of Gifford House on my walks; I'm glad I did today; it had a wonderful tropical flair.
• The gardens in back presented many colorful views.
• Taking my time through the Scotch Pine Allee and along the Little Bluestem Meadow, I saw a few more things than ususal.
• I Paused in the Old Gravel Pit to spy the northern cardinal just because its "chip" was so close. It was an indigo bunting!
• Finally, this week, I've managed to get a photo of the Indian pipes along the Cary Pines Trail. I think the problem is their features are subtle and the lighting is low.
• As Cary Pines descends to meet the wappinger Creek Trail by post #11, a leave fell UP and stuck to a tree. It was the exquisite Clymene moth!
• Here, alas, I discovered that my extra camera batteries were already in use. One blurry shot will have to do.
• The "Appendix" was lively today with many birds to be heard and a not just a few to be seen.
• Along the Wappinger Creek Trail, near post #9 is a population of northern pearly-eyes. These interesting butterflies launch from their perches to investigate passers by. They may even alight on you.
• At the opening to the Old Pasture, a mushroom fell to the ground near my feet. Huh? A scratchy scrambling noise from above disclosed a squirrel.

In the Fern Glen

• On the previous day several unusual hammer-headed worms were found under a pot.
• Today, a great spangled fritillary was enjoying one of the several clumps of swamp milkweed.
• Heard, then finally seen were 3 common ravens as they worked their way down behind the Glen. They spent some time there and thier squawking could be heard from a fair distance.

Moths

• 1 Hummingbird Clearwing
• 2 Snowberry Clearwing

Birds

• 1 Red-tailed Hawk
• 2 Mourning Dove
• 1 Chimney Swift
• 1 Belted Kingfisher
• 4 Downy Woodpecker
• 1 Northern Flicker
• 1 Eastern Wood-Pewee
• 2 Eastern Phoebe
• 3 Great Crested Flycatcher
• 1 Yellow-throated Vireo
• 2 Red-eyed Vireo
• 3 Blue Jay
• 3 Common Raven
• 14 Black-capped Chickadee
• 1 Tufted Titmouse
• 1 White-breasted Nuthatch
• 1 Carolina Wren
• 2 House Wren
• 2 Wood Thrush
• 14 American Robin
• 4 Gray Catbird
• 1 Blue-winged Warbler
• 2 Scarlet Tanager
• 4 Eastern Towhee
• 1 Chipping Sparrow
• 1 Field Sparrow
• 2 Song Sparrow
• 3 Northern Cardinal
• 2 Indigo Bunting
• 2 Common Grackle
• 4 American Goldfinch

Butterflies

• 4 Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
• 1 Spicebush Swallowtail
• 37 Cabbage White
• 1 Clouded Sulphur
• 3 Orange Sulphur
• 2 American Copper
• 2 Eastern Tailed-Blue
• 13 Great Spangled Fritillary
• 15 Pearl Crescent
• 1 Question Mark
• 4 Northern Pearly-eye
• 5 Appalachian Brown
• 3 Little Wood-Satyr
• 1 Common Ringlet
• 24 Common Wood-Nymph
• 7 Monarch
• 4 Silver-spotted Skipper
• 2 Mulberry Wing
• 8 Dun Skipper