I’m lucky to know Julie and Steve Noble, environmental educators at the Forsyth Nature Center as well as board members of the Kingston Land Trust. Yesterday, the three of us biked down to New Paltz from Kingston and along the way I was treated to their expert knowledge of all things about the environment.
Our journey began at the rail trail head near the Super 8 Motel here in Kingston. From there we headed south toward Marbletown, passing through several types of wildlife habitats. The trail ended in High Falls, where we headed East along Route 213, picking up another rail trail that took us to New Paltz — the bulk of which was an acquisition of the Wallkill Valley Land Trust many years ago. It was an amazing trip that I recommend to bikers of any skill level. And if you can’t bring along an environmental educator, take some field guide books with you. Here’s what we saw (and heard), from Julie’s notes:
Green Heron
B.H. Cowbird
Blue Jay
Mourning Doves
Great Blue Heron
Catbird
Cardinal
Yellow Warbler
Goldfinches
Tree Swallows
Crow
E. Starlings
Turkey Vulture
N. Oriole
Ovenbird
Red Bellied
Flicker
Black Rat Snake
Cottontail Rabbits
E. Chipmunks
E. Garter Snake
Painted Turtles
Squirrel
Red Tail Hawk
Rock Doves
Bald Eagle
Sounds like a great ride! Curious — where did you see the bald eagle? Also, soon the rail trail may become continuous through Rosendale, as the Open Space Institute has acquired land.
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090601/COMM/906010315/-1/NEWS
We the saw the bald legal while eating lunch at the Harvest Cafe! It was flying over the Wallkill.