First Snowfall

I took the opportunity Sunday of the first snowfall to go visit the new Mooney Carrese Forest, which can be accessed from the Veterans Memorial Park. Although snow usually means cold weather, which was true today, I love it. The snow allows for me to see animal tracks and get to know what is around. The snow also allows me to see animals in the woods that are usually very well camouflaged. Although I didn't see any notable animals today, I saw many tracks.

 

 

The entrance to the Veterans Memorial Park Trails

This trail marker will lead you to the new Mooney Careese Forest

Deer track

 Turkey tracks

Back Roads

It always pays to take the back roads home.  When we did yesterday, we were rewarded with this view of what I think is an immature Bald Eagle.

It caught my eye while driving on Towpath Road (near the Klamsteam Tavern) because it was so much bigger than most of the raptors that we commonly see.  I couldn't get great pictures of it because I only had my phone to use as a camera, but after researching online I am pretty sure it is a young Bald Eagle.  

Even though this bird wasn't technically in one of the Town's designated open spaces, I though it was worth posting to see if anyone had any feedback to help definitively identify it.

With the leaves almost gone, now is the prime time to spot more big birds like this one perching in trees.  Red Tail Hawks seem to be the most common, but occasionally you will spot something more unusual.  Whether you are out on the back roads of Clifton Park or on the North Way, you are bound to see them if you keep your eyes sharp.  Good luck!

Hayes Nature Park, November 1, 2013

Sixty-eight degrees on November 1?  We took that as our cue to get out for a hike at one of our favorite Clifton Park opens spaces—Hayes Nature Park on Moe Road.  

What a gorgeous day to be out there!  If you haven’t been there before, the trail makes a loop with several spokes leading off to the surrounding neighborhoods.  The junctions are very well marked, making it easy to stay on the main trail.

The surface is hard-packed and pleasant under foot and includes several well-constructed bridges that are fun to cross, especially if you're 2 or 3!  As we found out last year when the kids were too little to do this trail under their own power, strollers push quite well on this trail. 

As we hiked along we had contests to find the smallest and largest acorn cap we could find, the biggest oak leaf in the forest, and to pet as many puppies as we could (5!)

We were even treated to the few last glorious gold leaves of the season.

We discovered a well-placed bench, perfect for a snack break and the chance to just be still and quiet for a few moments to listen to the birds above.

At our 2- and 3-year old acorn-hunting, leaf-searching, puppy-petting, snack-breaking speed, the loop took us about 40 minutes.  It could definitely be done faster, but I highly recommend this speed from time to time.

The parking lot for this park is located on the east side of Moe Road, on the southern section of Moe near Thoroughbred Way.