“Plant trees, adorn your grounds, and live for the benefit of those who shall come after you“
– Daniel Webster (referring to his farm in Marshfield)
Background
In the fall, when the weather starts to get a bit cooler, one of my favorite places to hike on the south shore is the Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary in Green Harbor (affectionately, the “Audubon”). When I was young, my father, always aware of, and familiar with nature and the outdoors, used to take my brother and me to scout wild turkeys, Canada geese, white-tailed deer, red-tailed hawks, red foxes, and occasionally, a few coyotes. He always made it fun as well as educational, which is why as soon as we would get there, he always explained to us the different types of birds and habitats, the history of the land, and the importance of its continued preservation. To this day he still stresses the importance of being extra quiet before entering the first observation blind, so we don’t scare away any rare birds. Ironically, I now stress that same rule to my son, James, and wife Elizabeth, whenever we hike together.
Not only is the Audubon a beautiful, mostly untouched landscape, it is also a trip through history. Daniel Webster owned the land and was a remarkable statesmen, and in his time was considered the “Great Orator,” because of his rhetorical skills and artful use of the English language. He bought the land from Captain John Thomas, a boat captain who lived in Sandwich, for $3,500 for 160 acres of land. He became so obsessed with the beauty of the land and its conservation, that by 1843 his estate had grown to 1,800 acres. When Webster wasn’t in Washington, D.C. fulfilling his civil obligations, it was here at the sanctuary where he found respite in gardening, planting trees, enlarging the clear, spring fed ponds, tending to his livestock, hunting and fishing, and riding his horse throughout the landscape.
Feeling inspired, as well as an oncoming restlessness because of the changing of the seasons, I decide to plan a quick trip to the Audubon with my wife, and young son James. In true New England fashion, I pour some hot coffee, Hornstra Farm cream, and Nova Bourbon Barrel aged maple syrup into my Yeti as I run out the door. It is a cool Saturday morning; we head on to Webster Street for a bit, and then take a left on to Winslow Cemetery Road. At the end, you will notice a cemetery on the left, in which Webster is buried.
We pull into the Audubon parking lot and immediately feel at ease. I grab James’ Dueter Comfort Kid Pro (highly recommend, by the way), my binoculars, my camera, and leave all other cellular communication devices in the car. It is a clear morning in late October, and the leaves have changed and are just beginning to fall.
Fox Hill Trail (Main Trail)
We walk through the entrance and out onto the Fox Hill Trail (to the left) and I notice there are beads of dew on a patch of grass that has been shielded from the sun. As we approach the observation blind, there is a dense fog slowly lifting over the landscape. In the distance, we spot several wild turkeys and Canada Geese, who seem to be co-existing for the moment. As we quietly move off of the grass and onto the path my boots make a crunching sound and we begin our journey. We stop at the first observation blind and tell everyone to be “as quiet as a church mouse,” As mentioned, if you are quiet enough on the way in to the blind you will reap the rewards. I walk in and slowly put on my binoculars and am graced by the presence of a large Great Blue Heron who is perched on a branch looking for bait fish in the water. As I move towards the bench, I startle the bird and it flies away. We observe the quiet solitude of the ponds and the calmness it brings over us for a minute, until James becomes restless, and we move on. As we leave the blind and continue on the path, the door closing or another hiker must have scared some geese, as they fly overhead and land in front of us.
Piggery Loop (Off of Fox Hill Trail)
We continue on our journey traversing the vast open space that seems never-ending, and take a quick left down a hidden path called the Piggery Loop, and take a five minute break on a wooden bench for James to have a snack. As we sit down, several field mice scurry from the grassy fields on each side, crossing the mowed path. As I watch the mice scurry, my wife points out a Red-Tailed Hawk who has followed us from the entrance. It circles overhead, and darts down, and then perches on a wooden post; it appears the one of the mice wasn’t quick enough, as the bird has it in its beak. While the bird is distracted eating its meal, using me as a safety barrier, several chipmunks scurry away from the base of a tree near the red-tailed hawk and into the cover of tall grass.
River Walk Trail
After a few minutes “taking it all in,” as well as some respite on the bench, we pack up and head back towards the main Fox Hill Trail; only on it for a mere few minutes, as the River Walk Trail boardwalk catches the corner of our eye. We head toward the cat tails swaying in the wind and onto the boardwalk over the Green Harbor River. The River Walk Trail cuts through two points in the Green Harbor River, and can be swampy with much vegetation and coverage, being the perfect spot to catch a Wood Duck or other waterfowl. If you get tired, there is also a bench on the boardwalk halfway through the trail. It is a quick loop that connects you back to the Fox Hill Trail, but changes the scenery and landscape so much that you’d think you were somewhere else. The landscape is eerie, but also beautiful and has been untouched. Make sure you wear rubber boots (we recommend XtraTufs), as it can be very wet this time of year. At the end of the boardwalk there is another bridge over the Green Harbor River, and the trail of the trail at the second bridge over the Green Harbor River will land you in large thickets, keep your eyes out for different types of sparrows.
Fox Hill Observatory
We continue on along the thicket, and James points to some sparrows flying lazily in the air, up and down presumably eating small insects. After a few minutes, we are joined back with the Main Trail, and head up the hill to the observatory deck at the top of the Fox Hill Trail. We sit and enjoy the stillness of the moment, a crisp breeze, and the wildlife and open space.
Secret Trail
We head back down Fox Hill and take a left to the Secret Trail that passes through heavy coverage in the Maple Swamp and eventually leads to a large clearing, and startle five wild turkeys grazing the open space.
Pond Trail
After the Secret Trail, we move on to the Pond Trail, and check out Webster Pond where James spots a swan and some Purple Martin’s. Interestingly, Webster actually enlarged the pond over the years and built a man-made island in the middle, so the geese could lay their eggs free from foxes. After a moment of watching the Purple Martins fly around, our journey has ended, as we see the kiosks at the entrance.
The Audubon trails are very easy, and a great place for families because of the vast open space, incredible wildlife, and untouched natural beauty. The trails are also great because they are a combination of grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands, so you have multiple habitats within one hike.
After the Nor’Easter, get out of the house and hike this weekend!
Please note this is a sanctuary for wildlife, so dogs are not allowed.
