Watch out for deer!

It is the fall season and deer become much more active in the fall. This increase in action leads to more accidents where people hit the deer. Keep an eye out when you are driving, especially at night. Clifton Park has a pretty large deer population. They can be found all over town. Keep a look out when you are driving. The picture above is a beautiful doe that I snuck up on in the woods. I was glad she let me get such an awesome picture.

Rising mist reveals the Mohawk River

The wispy, white fog rising over the dark, calm Mohawk River shimmering against a brightening sky was a great sight this morning. Great views of the Mohawk River are available at numerous public places in Clifton Park: from various locations within the nearly 700-acre Vischer Ferry Nature & Historic Preserve (VFNHP); from the end of Ferry Drive; along the Towpath Trail atop an historic Erie Canal towpath route (from Ferry Drive heading west to the end of Sugar Hill Road, as well as from Ferry Drive heading east into the VFNHP); from the Town of Clifton Park's Mohawk Landing nature preserve which is next door to Riverview Orchards; and cycling and driving along Riverview Road from numerous vantages. You can also glimpse the Mohawk River valley atop Sugar Hill Road amidst the orchards and farms along Sugar Hill Road. Where is your favorite view of the Mohawk River?

Fall is here!!!

I can't believe the leaves are changing already. The weather is perfect for getting out and walking around to take in all the amazing sights of fall. I hope to go on an awesome walk this weekend and get some good pictures. I can't wait!

Golden meadows at Veterans Memorial Park

Veterans Memorial Park's meadows are aglow in fall colors in morning sun on Sept. 13, 2013.

Milkweed plants provide a feeding source for Monarch butterflies.

New trail markings (the solid red, green and blue arrows) were installed in Summer 2013 to help hikers find their way through the meadows of Veterans Memorial Park, thanks to an Eagle Scout and the volunteers he organized and their hard work.  Trail markings with green arrows on a yellow background lead southwesterly to the 78-acre addition to Veterans Memorial Park, known as the Mooney Carrese Forest.  

The Field Ecosystem

I personally love fields and all that they have to offer. Fields provide for shelter for insects, and those insects then attract birds. Quite often you will see deer playing and eating in fields as well. There is so much biodiversity in a field ecosystem. Below are pictures I took of a goldfinch, a praying mantis, and a field at Garnsey Park.

Bluebird house at Garnsey Park

Earlier this summer the town was given five bluebird houses from a local girl scout troop and one bird house from a town citizen. I was given the honors of picking where they would go and setting them up. Go check them out! The bird house given from the town local was put in the front field of the park, and is visible from the road (Route 146). Most of the bluebird houses are in fields that are easily found if you bear right after entering the park. Two more bluebird houses are located if you go straight (instead of right) where the path splits. Right next to the bluebird houses is a large blackberry field, where you can pick wild berries.

Veterans Memorial Park

Just yesterday morning, Jen and I went for a walk at Veterans Park to mark a trail to the newly obtained forest. I personally love all that the new forest has to offer its visitors. There is so much wildlife there. The first time I visited the forest with Jen we had a run in with a white tailed deer (who appear to be everywhere in the park), as well as many snakes, toads, salamanders, and frogs. Follow the yellow and green signs to the new forest.