A very happy New Year to all.

I started my year reviving a tradition I forgot to do last year. I don’t remember why, I think it’s because the weather was crappy or something. Anyhow, the tradition is to go for a New Year’s Day hike. Normally I would select some place lofty, most likely in the Hudson highlands. This year was a little different.

First, it snowed New Year’s Eve. I was pretty certain there would be no good parking spots near any of the usual trail heads. At least, not spots I could get out of once I got in them.

Second, I’m lazy. To be clear, I am not lazy when it comes to the hiking itself. That would just be silly. I am however lazy when it comes to driving an hour to go hiking.

The fact is, staying local for a hike (or several small hikes to me more accurate) paid off. I saw more wild life in a suburban area, in one day, than I have seen one all my other day hikes combined. I hiked in a couple nature preserves and an amusement park located in the midst of residential neighborhoods. No, not where houses are packed together, but still.

The first hike was in the Marshland Conservancy in Rye, about six miles from where I live. Here I started my hike by seeing a large woodpecker banging his head on what sounded like a very hard tree. I then passed through a heard of about 10 deer. While I say I passed through the heard, it was spread out and many were trying to hide behind the trees. As I continued my hike I saw a large assortment of small seed eating birds and large water foul. The only birds I didn’t see where the turkeys I know live in the park. I did however see their tracks in the snow.

The next place I went was the boardwalk at Playland amusement park, also in Rye. There were many people out enjoying the day and strolling on the boardwalk. There was also a young child who I didn’t see, but who kept shouting, “Happy New Year,” at the top of his lungs. Well, he did far a little while and then I think his parents regained control. Other than dogs, there wasn’t much wild life to be seen by the beach. However, out at the end of the pier (1. a structure leading out from the shore into a body of water), overlooking the beach, there sat a lone seagull on a wooden pier (2. a solid support designed to sustain vertical pressure) cleaning itself and attempting to keep its beak warm. I assume that’s what it was doing since it kept tucking it under it’s winds.

Finally, I finished my day at the Read Sanctuary. This is a bird sanctuary located at the end of the parking lot for Playland. During the summer, you need a special parking permit to get to the sanctuary. But, when the Playland is closed for the season, you can just drive through it’s massive lot unimpeded. While the sanctuary is home to many birds of all sorts as well as a magnificent stand of bamboo, today’s main attraction had to be the hawk sitting atop a low tree eating a squirrel. It is rare to see such a bird up close, especially when it is dining. I was told by some other people that they saw a bald eagle there. I didn’t know whether they meant that day or once. Either way, I think they were just bragging.

You can see photos of my adventures on my website, in the photo section.

Enjoy, and have a happy and prosperous New Year!