South County Rhode Island is home to some of the most gorgeous nature preserves in New England. Cuttyhunk Brook Preserve is no exception. Located in Exeter, Rhode Island and managed by The Nature Conservancy of Rhode Island this 800 acre oak-pine forest will captivate you for hours. The yellow trail hike is just under 3 miles and passes through a boulder field and lots of impressive rock walls that make ponder the history of the preserve.
And just when you think it couldn’t get any better, you are greeted by the relaxing sounds of the Cuttyhunk Brook itself. It was by the brook I made friends with an adorable green frog. Green frogs look really similar to American bullfrogs, but can be differentiated by spotting raised ridges on their backs and their snout is a bit pointier. The stream also supports other frogs, salamanders, dragonflies and damselflies.
Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans)
While I was excited to check observing a green frog off my wildlife list, I was even more thrilled to see a red squirrel. I learned that red squirrels are not afraid to let you know you are not welcome by “yelling” at you from afar. They are also a little crazy, bouncing around from tree to tree at super fast speeds. It was how I envisioned myself to look after a caffeine overload. Red squirrels are more commonly found in rural areas and less likely to be sighted in suburban areas. I’d consider them to be private creatures, unlike the gray squirrel who would live in your home if invited.
Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
I also encountered an Eastern Phoebe, one of the short migrants which has returned to the New England region to breed. While researching the Eastern Phoebe I learned that they are considered to be loners and don’t spend much time coming in contact with one another. Even after mating and egg laying, the female will often chase the male away.
Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
Another bird observation at Cuttyhunk Brook Preserve was the Brown-headed Cowbird. They are not my favorite. Brown-headed Cowbirds are brood parasites. Instead of raising their own chicks, they leave their eggs in another birds’ nest and let the other bird raise their chicks. Put it this way, they don’t even bother building their own nest. This behavior has lead to a decline in other bird populations.
Brown-Headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
There were so many interesting observations and sights to take in at Cuttyhunk Brook Preserve, but among the most interesting was seeing two Song Sparrows perform some sort of ritual mid-air. I want to say it was a mating dance, but in the captured photo it almost appears they are feeding one another. Shortly after this photo was taken, they barrel rolled into a shrub and stayed on the ground for a few minutes. It was quite the scene.
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
Long story short, you’ve got to get over to Cuttyhunk Brook Preserve as soon as possible. For more information, please click here. Happy hiking!
Sources:
The Nature Conservancy
Rhode Island DEM
The Cornell Lab
