| (Photo of bench plaque in memory of eagle N42, courtesy of Tom Lake)
OVERVIEW
Mushrooms have not often been the weekly featured flora or fauna (wherever they fit in), but Steve Rock has been teaching us that notable Hudson Valley wildlife need not have fur, feathers, or fins.
HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK
 9/17 – Manhattan, HRM 1: We went oyster diving today from two floating docks at Pier 25. However, we did not find any huge oysters. The largest was 115 millimeters [mm] valve length which was not as big as the largest oyster we have found in the past. It had nine rings which, without confounding size and age was, I guess, at least nine years old, which is how long the docks have been there. [Photo of wild oyster courtesy of Carrie Roble/Hudson River Park Trust]
– Cathy Drew, Nicolette Witcher
[On 8/25, Hudson River Park and The River Project surveyed the Pier 25 docks after they were pulled from the water for maintenance. They counted 269 live oysters. The largest were 95.0-183.5 mm valve length and included the largest wild oysters found at the sanctuary in more than a century. The largest of the dinner plate-sized oysters measured 183.5 mm.
– Melissa Rex, Elisa Caref, Carrie Roble]
NATURAL HISTORY ENTRIES
9/16 – Peebles Island, HRM 158: Just before sunset, I was kayaking at the mouth of the Mohawk River on the west side of Peebles Island in Waterford. I spotted a large, dark brown raptor – an immature bald eagle – flying past at treetop level. Minutes later, a second immature eagle flew right over me. When I turned around to paddle back, I saw two adult bald eagles perched in a tall snag, chittering loudly, on the north bank of the Mohawk. Was this a family, or maybe just a collection of eagles?
– Doug Morrison
9/16 – Albany County, HRM 144: The Helderberg Escarpment Hawk Watch at the overlook of John Boyd Thacher State Park was a busy place this morning. As soon as the Hudson-Mohawk Birders arrived and got set up, we almost immediately began seeing broad-winged hawks rising on updrafts and thermals. They were aloft before the local turkey vultures began circling, the opposite of what we normally see. Interesting observations included an American kestrel trying to perch on a split-rail fence along the cliff face, drawing the ire of resident blue jays and another kestrel catching and eating a dragonfly in flight. The largest kettle of broad-winged hawks was about 39 birds.
– Tom Williams (HMBirds)
9/16 – Columbia County, HRM 125: Over the last four days, I have had up to five painted ladies butterflies at a time feeding in full sun on a large clump of pink sedum [purple emperor; native to Europe] in my garden in Old Chatham. After apparently exhausting the pale pink flowers, they moved to a darker pink variety. They were accompanied by other pollinators, including many silver-spotted skippers.
– Elisabeth Grace
 9/16 – Ulster County, HRM 87: I fished Rondout Creek upstream of High Falls today from my kayak. While I caught mostly redbreast sunfish, there was also a nice mix of other sunfishes including smallmouth bass, rock bass, black crappie, and bluegills as well as yellow perch. The redbreast sunfish males were in their spawning colors with many showing the frayed tail fins from nest construction. I also caught a hybrid sunfish (redbreast x pumpkinseed). During my journey I managed to paddle directly below a perched adult bald eagle. It was a terrific day with nature’s beauty above and below the water. [Photo of hybrid sunfish courtesy of Tom Lake]
– Bob Ottens
9/16 – New Paltz, HRM 78: Several weeks ago, we found a monarch caterpillar that had formed its emerald-green chrysalis. Today, on Day 25, from a perfectly clear chrysalis a fully formed butterfly emerged. The literature suggests that 10 to 14 days from chrysalis to butterfly is normal, so we are puzzled as to why this one took so long. Regardless, we were delighted to welcome it.
– Peter Relson
9/16 – Kowawese, HRM 59: Two dozen of us were gathered on the beach for the 18th annual Hudson River Valley Ramble. Girl Scout Cadette Troop 10543 from Pawling provided enthusiastic assistance in handling our seine and catch in the delightfully warm water (76 degrees Fahrenheit [F]). We caught a nice mix of young-of-the-year blueback herring (44-68 mm) and striped bass (72-94 mm), part of the late-summer “river of life” heading seaward. In a repeat of our catch eight days ago, we also caught a few yearling alewives (90 mm), last summer’s young-of-the-year [YOY]. The salinity continued to creep upward to 2.2 parts-per-thousand [ppt].
– Carolyn Mussig, Tom Lake, T.R.Jackson
 9/16 – Putnam Valley, HRM 55.5: Monarch butterflies love perennial ageratum (blue mistflower). Today, at least six were using the flowers to recharge their metabolic batteries on their way to Mexico. [Photo of monarch butterfly courtesy of Edward Mertz.]
– Nancy P Durr
9/16 – Bedford, HRM 35: It was a great day for falcons – American kestrels (26), merlins (17) – at the Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch, feeding on the abundant dragonflies. Three adult bald eagles were seen “showing off” in midday, followed by four red-shouldered hawks, perhaps a family group, playfully interacting. Non-raptor observations included good numbers of monarchs (39), as well as ruby-throated hummingbirds (4) and common nighthawks (2).
– Silvan Laan, Charlotte Catalano, Ray Ferrara, Tait Johansson
9/16 – Yonkers, HRM 18: The Beczak Center for the Urban River had a public seining program for the Yonkers Riverfest. Our catch, while nothing unexpected, perfectly reflected the late-summer river: Atlantic silverside (25), white perch, American eel, a bay anchovy, three YOY striped bass, blue crabs, shrimp, and moon jellyfish.
– Elisa Caref
9/17 – Newcomb, HRM 302: Two adult common loons and their single chick were spotted on Arbutus Lake today. Another nearby pond still had both adults and two chicks. Fall foliage was coming on quickly and was at about 25% color change. The colors do not appear to be as vibrant as last year. After recording the wettest summer in 85 years, we are now experiencing a dry spell and above average air temperatures. Leaves are looking crispy on the trees and falling to the ground before changing color.
– Charlotte Demers
9/17 – Town of Bethlehem, HRM 141: We motored south on the river today fourteen miles to Stuyvesant. We had become used to seeing many bald eagles but today we spotted only one adult perched in a tree and a single immature in flight. Where were the others? The most interesting creatures we saw on the wing were monarch butterflies, at least a dozen individuals throughout the day, all flying southwest on their migration.
– Jeff Deal
[This is a transitional time of the year for eagles, a real mixed bag in autumn. Some of the ones you have been seeing have left in migration. Others are just moving around, heading to areas they believe will be reliably ice-free come winter. Others will stay around although not necessarily in the general vicinity of their nest. Come late autumn, you will see an influx, depending on how severe the winter promises to be, of eagles from Canada and New England. If we get early freezing, especially in the uplands, you might see a lot of eagles hanging around by late December. – Tom Lake]
 9/17 – Columbia County, HRM 139: I went kayaking this evening on the Moordenerkill; my paddle was highlighted by common mergansers that had made themselves scarce since spring. I saw one immature eagle in flight but most of them have moved on. Two male belted kingfishers made quite a racket and a whole slew of red-winged blackbirds were swishing from one side of the creek to the other. [Photo of common merganser hen courtesy of Sharon Askew.]
– Sharon Askew
9/17 – Bedford, HRM 35: The last hour of the day was best at the Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch with broad-winged hawks (74), American kestrels (8) and merlins (5). Kestrels had their high count of the season (36) as well. Non-raptor observations included another good count for monarchs (27) as well as ruby-throated hummingbirds (2).
– Silvan Laan, Allen Kurtz, Charlotte Catalano, John Salmon , Lynn Salmon, Megan Comerford, Ray Ferrara
 9/17 – Town of Poughkeepsie, HRM 68: Twenty-five of us (The Soul of NY62) gathered today to dedicate a new park bench in memory of a beloved bald eagle from nest NY62 that died February 24 after being struck by a train. He was banded by DEC (N42) in 1995 from a nest along the Delaware River in Sullivan County. Across sixteen years, he and his mate produced sixteen fledglings from three different nests along the Hudson River. [Photo of N42’s leg bands courtesy of Tom Lake.]
– Tom Lake, Debbie Quick, Bob Rightmyer
9/18 – New Paltz, HRM 78: A female scarlet tanager came to our platform-type bird feeder today. We had never seen one at a feeder before. While she was taking some black oil sunflower seeds, she shared the area with an eastern phoebe and an eastern wood-pewee, both hawking insects from the same tree. Seeing these two flycatchers together was very instructive. An immature male ruby-throated hummingbird was visiting our flower bed; a small patch of red was just beginning to show in the middle of his throat.
– Lynn Bowdery, Allan Bowdery
9/18 – Town of Wappinger, HRM 67: Today was the last day I saw a ruby-throated hummingbirds at my feeders. An adult female took a long drink and then was on her way. Over the last four years, we saw our final hummingbird on September 19, 26, 29, and 25.
– Tom Lake
 9/18 – Newcomb, HRM 302: We spent five nights in the High Peaks of the Adirondacks and found that the mushrooms there were similar to the ones in Putnam County except everything was bigger! Most notably we found Adirondack-sized “lobster mushrooms” (Lactarius sp.) that had been attacked by Hypomyces lactifluorum (parasitic fungus), turning an inedible mushroom into a delicious and very edible one. We also came upon the “blonde” Amanita muscaria var. guessowii, the lilac-colored Cortinarius traganus, and multiple variations of specimens in the Boletus edulis complex, one of which was almost as tall as my mushroom basket! I love autumn in New York. [Photo of Amanita mushroom courtesy of Steve Rock.]
– Steve Rock
9/18 – Bedford, HRM 35: Good numbers of merlin (15) again today at the Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch. Broad-winged hawks (40) were the high count. Non-raptor observations included monarchs (21) and a ruby-throated hummingbird. Cedar waxwings (53) were also on the move.
– Silvan Laan, Allen Kurtz, Charlotte Catalano, Charles Bobelis, Jack Kozuchowski
 9/18 – Yonkers, HRM 18: We had our fourth visit today of third-graders from the Dalton School in Manhattan. The students helped us seine and were delighted by the sparkling Atlantic silverside (70). Other fish included American eel, mummichogs, naked gobies, and YOY striped bass. Crustacea were represented by blue crabs and shore shrimp. Moon jellyfish and comb jellies added to the magic of the catch. [Photo of naked goby courtesy of Chris Bowser]
– Elisa Caref
9/19 – Fishkill, HRM 61: I saw my last two ruby-throated hummingbirds today, both females. I wished them well on their long journey. I plan to carefully observe any that stop by from here on. I’ve seen late-season migrant hummingbirds through mid-October, mistaking them for the summer residents,
– Chris Kostek
9/19 – Bedford, HRM 35: It was a slow day at the Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch: 52 raptors, 27 of them sharp-shinned hawks. A group of five low flying black vultures provided viewing pleasure in the last hour. Non-raptor observations included monarchs (6) and cedar waxwings (50). A group of five ravens made an appearance late in the day.
– Silvan Laan
9/19 – Yonkers, HRM 18: This was our first class – third-grade students – from the Ethical Culture School in Manhattan. The eight-year-olds helped us seine the river, an effort that featured blue crabs (22) and moon jellyfish (17). Among the fish were mummichogs (9), naked gobies (7), Atlantic silverside (3), YOY striped bass (5), and a winter flounder. Extras included shrimp and comb jellies.
– Elisa Caref
9/20 – Fort Edward, HRM 202: I counted 24 bird species in late afternoon at the Fort Edward grasslands. Among them were eleven American kestrels, one of which was on a pole eating a small, writhing snake.
– Nancy Kern
9/20 – Green Island, HRM 153: The sun had not yet peeked over the city of Troy but clouds on the horizon were already backlit in shades of pink and blue. The tide was all the way up limiting the amount of beach I had to work with. I was here to collect “totems” – small beach stones whose shape suggests an animal – for a middle-school program. In just an hour (from a lot of experience) I found “two bears, two eagles, three mountain lions”, and “seven turtles.”
– Tom Lake
[To help establish a relationship and foster a commitment to nature in their children, some Native Americans encourage their children at a young age to look for small, often water-worn, stones that are shaped like, or suggest, an animal as they walk through fields, along beaches, and through stream beds. It may take only a day or as long as a lifetime. This is much like seeing images in the clouds – one person’s eagle is another’s mountain lion. Once found, the children save that small stone and the symbolic animal becomes their life-long guardian spirit, a totem, a tangible connection to nature. There is a theory on human behavior that you will not destroy that which you love. – Tom Lake]
 9/20 – Albany, HRM 145: The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today that the agency is adopting regulations to eliminate commercial harvest of diamondback terrapins and add the species to the list of native turtles with no open season. The closure on harvest will go into effect beginning May 1, 2018. “Diamondback terrapins depend upon a steady diet of mollusks and crustaceans, making them an excellent indicator for the health of New York’s estuarine habitats,” Commissioner Seggos said. “If diamondback terrapins are doing well in a bay, you know you have a healthy population of blue mussels, clams, and blue crabs, too. Closing the hunting season is an important step in the conservation of diamondback terrapin populations in New York.”
Information on the life history of the diamondback terrapin may be found by visiting DEC’s website. [Photo of diamondback terrapin courtesy of NYSDEC.]
9/20 – Bedford, HRM 35: Sharp-shinned hawks (27) led the charge today at the Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch. Osprey (8) continued strong as well. Non-raptor observations included monarchs (7), cedar waxwings (21), and a ruby-throated hummingbird.
– Silvan Laan, Charlotte Catalano, Jack Kozuchowski, Kathy Hranowsky
 9/20 – Rensselaer County, HRM 142: As a result of the recent wet weather, we discovered two giant puffballs at the far end of the lawn at the 1793 historic John Evert Van Alen House in Defreestville. Our Archaeological Lab Technician measured the largest one at 1.86 pounds and 8.0 x 7.5 inches. [Photo of giant puffball courtesy of Roberta Jeracka.]
– Roberta Jeracka
[Giant puffballs (Calvatia gigantea) are a somewhat oblong-to-round white mushrooms commonly found in meadows, fields, and deciduous forests usually in late summer and autumn. Before eating them, consider the substrata. Is the lawn (or nearby) treated with chemicals of any kind? Are they within close proximity to the road? If so then just leave them be so they can mature and distribute their spores naturally. Any sign of spore maturation (gray or greenish instead of solid white) should eliminate them from your menu. Slice them thinly like a loaf of bread. Lightly sauté the slices with melted butter, maybe a little olive or truffle oil. You can also substitute the slices for layers of pasta in lasagna or cube them up and substitute them for tofu in related recipes. You can also bread them like fish and fry them. Do not freeze them (or any fresh mushrooms) unless cooked first! – Steve Rock]
9/21 – Kingston, HRM 92: We hauled our 30-foot seine today on Kingston Point Beach looking for fish for our fourth-grade classroom. Young-of-the-year fishes dominated our catch including river herring (200) and striped bass (9). The striped bass went to my classroom to amaze my fourth graders and then to be released after school.
– Steve Hart, Tom Mulvahill
9/21 – Iona Island, HRM 45.5: Just before high tide this morning, the storm surge from Hurricane Jose covered the causeway on the road out to Iona Island.
– Jim Herrington
9/21 – Bedford, HRM 35: Broad-winged hawk numbers (226) rose again today at the Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch and sharp-shinned hawks (52) reached a season-high. Non-raptor observations included monarchs (27), ruby-throated hummingbirds (6), and a common loon.
– Silvan Laan, Fred Pollack, Gary Squires
 9/21 – Yonkers, HRM 18: I walked out to the edge of the river at the Center for the Urban River at Beczak this morning to check on the tide. Aided by the storm surge from Hurricane Jose, the rising tide covered the bridge out to our low-tide island. [Photo of water over the bridge and path courtesy of Elisa Caref.]
-Elisa Caref
9/22 – Newcomb, HRM 302: The dry spell and warm temperatures continued. While it did not appear to be good weather for colorful foliage, it was awesome weather for butterflies. There were more than 40 painted ladies (Vanessa cardui) in my lawn feeding on heal-all (Prunella vulgaris). I recorded the first Milbert’s tortoiseshell (Aglais milberti) I have ever seen and also a giant swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes). I have two monarch caterpillars and a chrysalis that I am rearing. I hope the weather holds so they can hatch and get some good tail winds for their migration south.
– Charlotte Demers
9/22 – Columbia County, HRM 108: We were driving to work this morning on the Autumnal Equinox, Ancram to Copake Falls, when we spotted an adult bull moose. I’ve seen moose before, but never one in Columbia County. Every day I drive by that marshy area and remark that it “looks like Canada.” And then I looked this morning and there was a moose! [Ten miles upriver in Columbia County today, Kevin Leak spotted a young moose ambling around in Claverack.]
– Bob Mathews, Melissa Dipper
[When the first Europeans arrived in the Hudson Valley 400 years ago, moose were common in New York State. Today, occasional moose sightings in the upper Hudson Valley and High Peaks area of Essex County have been noted for at least the last twenty years. Along the estuary, however, they are still very uncommon. Most of the moose in New York State were initially young animals seeking new territory from small populations in western New England, Vermont and northern Massachusetts. They are not normally aggressive, however, they can be very aggressive when hungry, tired or harassed by people, pets, and traffic. – Tom Lake]
9/22 – Westchester County: A day after learning that Grifola frondosa (hen-of-the-woods) was discovered locally, I hurried to my favorite Westchester County park where I’d had good success finding them in previous years. I was amply rewarded with four shopping bags full. My wonderful neighbors got half of them and others will benefit as well. Unfortunately I was already late because many specimens were well beyond their freshness expiry date. By the time you read this there may still be fresh ones under oaks in Warren County and points north, and I’ll keep looking for late bloomers here until November.
– Steve Rock
[Since mushrooms are not difficult to find once you learn where to look (in this instance, under oak trees), Steve’s exact location is left vague. It is not unlike disclosing your favorite fishing hole and finding that visitors have come and “caught all the big ones.” The satisfaction comes from finding your own “fishing hole.” – Tom Lake]
9/22 – Bedford, HRM 35: Broad-winged hawks (212) once again dominated the count (77%) at the Chestnut Ridge Hawkwatch. In midday and again in mid-afternoon, two bald eagles (one a 3rd year, the other a 4th year) were spotted soaring near each other off to the north. Non-raptor observations included monarchs (9), ruby-throated hummingbirds (2), and common loons (4).
– Tait Johansson, Charlotte Catalano
FALL 2017 NATURAL HISTORY PROGRAMS
Thursday, October 12
15th Annual Day in the Life of the Hudson & Harbor
For more information visit DEC’s A Day in the Life of the Hudson web page.
HUDSON RIVER MILES
The Hudson is measured north from Hudson River Mile 0 at the Battery at the southern tip of Manhattan. The George Washington Bridge is at HRM 12, the Tappan Zee 28, Bear Mountain 47, Beacon-Newburgh 62, Mid-Hudson 75, Kingston-Rhinecliff 95, Rip Van Winkle 114, and the Federal Dam at Troy, the head of tidewater, at 153. The tidal section of the Hudson constitutes a bit less than half the total distance – 315 miles – from Lake Tear of the Clouds to the Battery. Entries from points east and west in the watershed reference the corresponding river mile on the mainstem.
TO CONTRIBUTE YOUR OBSERVATIONS OR TO SUBSCRIBE
The Hudson River E-Almanac is compiled and edited by Tom Lake and emailed weekly by DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program. Share your observations by e-mailing them to trlake7@aol.com. To subscribe to the Almanac (or unsubscribe), use the links on DEC’s Hudson River Almanac or DEC Delivers web pages.
Discover New York State Conservationist – the award-winning, advertisement-free magazine focusing on New York State’s great outdoors and natural resources. Conservationist features stunning photography, informative articles and around-the-state coverage. For a free, no-obligation issue visit the Conservationist web page.
USEFUL LINKS
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tide predictions and tidal current predictions for the Hudson are available online.
For real-time information on the Hudson River tides, weather, and water conditions from 12 monitoring stations, visit the Hudson River Environmental Conditions Observing System website.
Information about the Hudson River Estuary Program is available on DEC’s website.
Smartphone app available for New York outdoor enthusiasts!
DEC, in partnership with ParksByNature Network®, is proud to announce the launch of the New York Fishing, Hunting & Wildlife App for iPhone and Android. This FREE, cutting-edge mobile app gives both novice and seasoned outdoorsmen and women essential information in the palm of their hands. Powered by Pocket Ranger® technology, this official app for DEC will provide up-to-date information on fishing, hunting and wildlife watching and serve as an interactive outdoor app using today’s leading mobile devices. Using the app’s advanced GPS features, users will be able identify and locate New York’s many hunting, fishing and wildlife watching sites. They will also gain immediate access to species profiles, rules and regulations, and important permits and licensing details.
NY Open for Hunting and Fishing Initiative
Governor Cuomo’s NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative is an effort to improve recreational opportunities for sportsmen and women and to boost tourism activities throughout the state. This initiative includes streamlining fishing and hunting licenses, reducing license fees, improving access for fishing and increasing hunting opportunities in New York State.
In support of this initiative, this year’s budget includes $6 million in NY Works funding to support creating 50 new land and water access projects to connect hunters, anglers, bird watchers and others who enjoy the outdoors to more than 380,000 acres of existing state and easement lands that have gone largely untapped until now. These 50 new access projects include building new boat launches, installing new hunting blinds and building new trails and parking areas. In addition, the 2014-15 budget includes $4 million to repair the state’s fish hatcheries; and renews and allows expanded use of crossbows for hunting in New York State.
This year’s budget also reduces short-term fishing licenses fees; increases the number of authorized statewide free fishing days to eight from two; authorizes DEC to offer 10 days of promotional prices for hunting, fishing and trapping licenses; and authorizes free Adventure Plates for new lifetime license holders, discounted Adventure Plates for existing lifetime license holders and regular fee Adventure Plates for annual license holders.
Copies of past issues of the Hudson River Almanac, Volumes II-VIII, are available for purchase from the publisher, Purple Mountain Press, (800) 325-2665, or email purple@catskill.net. |
Hudson River Almanac
