Woodcock Preserve(Clifton Park)

Visited 72 acre Woodcock Preserve, a Saratoga PLAN(Preserving Land and Nature) property, located in a quiet area of Clifton Park this afternoon.  The Preserve can be found a few miles south and west from exit 10 of the Northway on Tanner Road.  Bright, sunny skies and a stiff north wind greeted me upon my arrival at the small parking lot.

 The Preserve is a popular birding area and is an active Woodcock management area.  Several birdhouses can be found throughout the woods.

 A shrub wetland skirts along much of the blue and white marked trails.

 This magnificent old timer stands proudly in the winter woods.

 A small pond is turning a lukewarm brown as it slowly thaws.

 Met a very nice older man, who was glad to be out Cross Country skiing through the peaceful, quiet woods.

 Trails are well marked throughout the Preserve.

 Several wooden benches are found along the trails and make pleasant places to pause and enjoy the sounds of nature.

This birch tree has reached its breaking point.

 A bird box high up amongst the wetlands.

The melting snow was turning gloppy with each step and made the snowshoe hike more challenging than it would normally be.  Still walked about 3 level miles on a bright, cool March afternoon.