birding

Not Walking…

by taohobo

Right now we’re not walking as a group. As you can see in the side bar where I list future walks we’ll be waiting for all Covid-19 precautionary measures are lifted before rescheduling Breakfast Walks.

Meanwhile, none of that should stop you from getting out, AND SAFELY, enjoying an outdoors walk.

We’ve done one walk together in the past week and I’ve been out on a short hike recently.

Niantic Boardwalk is a great place to walk. The day we were there we had no problem keeping a very safe distance from other walkers. One, because the boardwalk is now one-way – FROM THE HOLE IN THE WALL TO THE NIANTIC DRAWBRIDGE (that’s opposite to the initial announcement in The Day); and everyone was obeying the one-way requirement (i’m not finding that when grocery shopping). The sun, views, and fresh air lifted our spirits and put smiles on our faces. We had face coverings ready in case we needed them but the safe distancing and one-way traffic didn’t require their use.

Garlic mustard, an invasive, introduced bi-annual from Europe, North-western Africa, Western and central Asia. It is an herb that has been in use dating back to 4,000 BCE.

Yesterday, I took a day to explore some of my favorite trails in Pachaug State Forest. I got there early, walked one loop without seeing anyone. On the next loop there were other hikers behind me for part of the trail but they’d soon branched off. I finished that trail without encountering anyone else. Lots of birds busy in the forest, calling, and flitting around, trout rising and taking flys off the surface, enjoying old favorites and new plants blooming,…

So if you can get out there are things to enjoy and lift your spirits. Please do it safely and respect the safety of others. Distance yourselves from others, have face coverings to wear when passing within a close distance from others.

Be safe, be well!

Saturday’s a go…

by taohobo

I walked the Hoffman Evergreen Preserve today in preparation for this month’s Pancake Breakfast Walk. The weather report is changing its mind about a storm, maybe some rain Friday night, but walkable on Saturday. Check the sidebar if you’re interested in hitting the Pancake Breakfast for details.

There’s plenty of parking at the Hoffman Evergreen Preserve so if you want to just meet there, here are the directions. Take the Gold Star Highway, Route 184 to route 201, turn North. If coming from Groton, that’s a left, from the 184 rotary it’s a right. The preserve is 1.4 miles from route 184.

If you haven’t hiked with me before please read the side bars and the About page for safety information and the hike guidelines. You also should read the Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability requirement.

Whether weather…

by taohobo

…will impact our Evergreen Preserve walk on March 7th. Here we are a week away from another Pancake Breakfast Walk and wondering, what the weather will mean for Saturday morning? Friday is forecast, right now, to be in the mid to upper 40ºs, dropping to freezing overnight and Saturday only rising to the upper 30ºs. There’s also the possibility of rain, turning into snow showers overnight and into Saturday morning.

Whose home?

In addition to weather considerations we also need to plan for a longer drive from breakfast to the Hoffman Evergreen Preserve on Route 201. In order to start the walk at 9:30 we’ll need to leave Ledyard Congregational Church at 9:00. There is ample roadside parking at the Preserve so car pooling is not necessary although I’ll be happy to provide a ride to and from.

For those of you who want to just meet at the Preserve for the walk, and for those who’d like to know a little bit about the trails, here’s a link to All Trails Hoffman Evergreen Preserve information. Or enter this: https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/connecticut/hoffman-evergreen-preserve into your browser.

I’ll be walking the trail earlier in the week, checking the weather as we get closer, and posting an update Thursday afternoon or evening.

Otherwise, I’m looking forward to seeing on the trail…

Walking the Pike Preserve Trails

by taohobo

A preview of the April Pancake Breakfast Walk.

Don’t let the moving time dismay you. When I’m on the Pike Preserve trails I constantly stop look, listen… It’s a nature walk and the nature, regardless of the season grabs me.

While there are few hikers or walkers on these trails there are several stables that take advantage of the contingent trails. It does help to keep the inner trails well trodden and identifiable year round. The entry and exit trails for walkers and hikers are well blazed but you need to keep a check on them since these trails meander frequently.

Two unique features that keep children of all ages interested are the ‘Castle Rocks’ at the Northwest turn around and the spring pool at the Northeast side trail.

Castle Rocks…

Walking in the Rain…

by taohobo

Walking the East side of Bluff Point on Saturday is looking like it’ll be dry walk according to one weather source and maybe some rain or light snow by the other one I use to plan what to wear, bring, etc.

Regardless of any precipitation we’re looking at temperatures creeping into the 40º zone by the end of our walk. So, I’m walking…

Since this will be a Pancake Breakfast (at Ledyard Congregational Church – free or goodwill donation that benefits a local non-profit group from 7:30-10:00) we’d normally car pool from the breakfast at 9:00. Since Bluff Point has plenty of parking you can just plan on meeting at Bluff Point State Park to begin the walk at 9:30. If you do want to car pool from church I’ll be leaving there at 8:45, it’s nice to be at the walk site before the early birds.

Be sure to check the sidebar for additional information about checking in, the release form, safety, etc.

If the weather takes a drastic down turn any cancellation notice will be here on the main page early Saturday morning. Not anticipated, but this is New England, and it is supposed to be winter.

If you’re a birder bring binoculars or a spotting scope since we’ll likely see loons on Mumford Cove.

Just Loony…

by taohobo

There’s a backside to every story. There’s a backside to walking at Bluff Point State Park that also has a contemplative side, a connection to Haley Farm State Park in Noank, and a loony side.

But, what always draws me to the backside of Bluff Point in the winter are the loons that winter over in the cove. It’s one place where I can almost always find a loon or two floating and working the cove. Occasionally I’ve caught one on the edge of beach and watched its awkward scramble back to the safety of the water.

It’s not a sunning beach, mostly shells and gravel. It can be a “treasure” beach, especially for the young and young at heart. Shells, interesting stones, horseshoe crab shells… The things that spark a world of imagination – and often fill a child’s pockets (or bucket).

If you’d like to explore the backside of Bluff Point you can join me on Saturday, February 1st. (See the side bar ”Upcoming Walks and Hikes”.) or you can also use this link to Bluff Point Eastern Trail in AllTrails.com and explore on your own.

Enjoy the hike..!

An Easy Farm Trail

by taohobo

The background is not the type of terrain you’ll be walking at Haley Farm State Park in Groton Connecticut. Although there are a variety of trails the main ones are wide and easy walking. There are some amazing stone walls and foundations from the old farm buildings.

AllTrails has over 200 photos, 50 comments, and 55 recorded walks of the trails to help you decide which of several options you have for walking here. These trails also link to trails in Bluff Point State Park.

Enjoy your walk, see you on the trail.

So easy…

by taohobo

To put off the things you enjoy doing for the things that appear urgent, not necessarily important, and to be detoured by little things like the weather. After all why couldn’t, wouldn’t you hike in the rain. Well maybe not in 50º temps and 20 knot winds. But, you must get my drift. Yes, I’m talking about this blog and walks and hikes in and about Ledyard, SE Connecticut, and further afield.

So there’s a walk scheduled for December 7th. I hope to see you there.

A Little Remiss…

by taohobo

Well, it has been quite a while since I’ve updated this blog. The fact that our last attempted hike was aborted because of a trail I’d planned on using needed maintenance isn’t a good excuse. Primarily because I did contact the organization about the trail and volunteered to do the clearing, which they accepted, and I did. It needs a touch up again, which I’ll be taking care of one day this coming week.

So, look forward, check back, be curious… This will be an active blog. I look forward to walking/hiking with you.