Biome 1: The Meadow
Quietly dormant in the winter, the meadow comes alive with
wildflowers, grasses, birds, insects and other wildlife in the
warmer months.
Biome 2: The Pond
This man-made brackish pond is home to many aquatic plants and
animals. Notice the variety of plant life around the edge of the
pond that isn't found elsewhere in the preserve.
Biome 3: The Salt Marsh
Spencer Creek winds through the tidal marsh and feeds into West
River and Long Island Sound. Here you may spot herons, and other
waders, and the creek itself is home to crabs, minnows, eels, and
other tidal species. There are some exposed rocks named the castle
rocks, and three cedar soldiers stand guard.
Biome 4: The Deciduous Forest
The deciduous forest has reclaimed much of the Spencer Creek
preserve. This is a familiar landscape in Connecticut -- where
field meets forest and stone walls run into the ground. Try to find
the distinctive Wolf Tree, whose size and shape reminds us that
this was once all open field land. The slight rise in elevation and
exposed erratics tell even older geologic stories of the area.
The final cache container is a medium lock n' lock filled to the
brim with coins,TBs, and toys.
From Biome 4, you can continue up over the rise and connect to
the final part of the red trail, which loops back through the woods
to the road.
Enjoy your visit to Spencer Creek Preserve, and please feel free
to share photos and nature observations in your logs!
Plus, a big thanks to our muggle friends Gymrat, KT, and Skippy
Voldemort for helping put this together!