Audubon Center – Bristol, RI & Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge - Middletown, RI - August 31

Audubon Center – Bristol, RI & Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge  - Middletown, RI - August 31


We started our day at the Audubon Society Environmental Education Center in Bristol, RI which is in the 28-acre Claire D. McIntosh Wildlife Refuge. 

In the parking lot we saw a few male Wild Turkeys. One kept following me around. 

that IS my good side....

We checked in at the Education Center and they gave us a trail map. We saw a lot of birds before even getting to the trail. We saw a couple of Northern Flickers on the ground, Song Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Grackles and Goldfinches. 

 Crow

 Northern Flicker

  Northern Flicker

 Song Sparrows

The trail leads to the Narragansett Bay via a walking path through meadows and then a boardwalk that ends at the Bay. There are also bike paths that pass through there. 

 path through the meadow

 Song Sparrow

 Greg on the path

 Catbird

Song Sparrow

 Greg on the boardwalk

 Martin House

 Osprey

there were lots of worms on the path

They have a pollinator garden which attracted a lot of birds and butterflies. Very nice habitat. 

 female Goldfinch

 female Goldfinch

After the mile walk, we checked out the Education Center that had habitat displays and interactive exhibits. 


It was almost lunch time, so we looked for places to eat and decided on Anna D's Café. It was rated #1 for sandwiches & desserts. 


I had a roast Beef Panini with grilled onions & red peppers and Greg got a Greek Wrap. Both were tasty. We also split a chocolate tart that despite the crust being too hard and the custard too soft, it was really flavorful. In order to cut the crust, you had to force the fork straight down through it and force it with your other hand on top of it. The server came by as we were trying our best to get through it and asked how it was. She said she would pass the feedback to the chef. We assured her that despite the consistency, it was quite good. 

 Anna D's Cafe

 Greek Wrap

 Beef Panini

chocolate tart

After lunch we drove to Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge and walked 3 miles on the Flint Point Loop Trail & the Ocean View Loop Trail. 


The national wildlife refuge covers 242 acres of a peninsula on the coast just east of Newport. Trails lead around the rocky shoreline, offering viewpoints of the sea.  We saw Common Eider Ducks, Cormorants, Spotted Sandpipers, Black Backed Gulls and other Gulls as well.


It was a beautiful sunny day and a very nice walk along the Ocean past brilliant wildflowers. The beach area was packed. (not a surprise on a beautiful sunny holiday weekend) The trails weren’t all that busy and it was peaceful for the most part. Lots of people fishing. We did walk down the rocks to get a closer look at the Eider Ducks. They were still far away, but we got good enough photos to ID them. They were new for us as was the Black-backed Gull. 

 the beach was packed

 Mockingbird

 Black-backed Gull

 Spotted Sandpiper

 Double-crested Cormorants

 Double-crested Cormorants

 Common Eider 

 American Goldfinch

 LOTS of Tree Swallows

We had a 3^rd place picked out to hike as well, but we ended up spending more time here. So, if we have time later in the week, we will check out the other place. We are here 7 days.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/jdbXytRsgdo5dg947


Tomorrow, we are driving to Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts.