Sachuest National Wildlife Refuge

White tail deer in the meadow

Yesterday I discussed the snowy owl at Sachuest, but there is a lot more to see and photograph at this refuge. Whitetail deer are present and can be seen almost year round. In the fall the bucks have antlers and you could be lucky during rutting see a pair of bucks fighting.

Whitetail deer

In late fall to early spring the sea ducks are present including the harlequins. There are usually eiders, different varieties of scoters, buffleheads, golden eyes, etc.

American (black) scoters, including drakes, hens and a juvenile male along with a pair of bufflehead hens

Harlequin Ducks

Red Breasted Merganser Female

In the spring and in the late summer to early fall, the salt marsh is a great location to view migrating shorebirds.

Semipalmated Plover Preening

Semipalmated Sandpiper

Looking across the bay there is St. George's school and if there is a fog it makes for a great photograph.

Chapel at St. George's in the fog

All year round there is a variety of different passer rains and raptors that use the refuge as a home or a way stop on their migration

Northern Harrier searching for prey over the field

 Sachuest is located in Middletown Rhode Island at the intersection of Third Beach Road and Sachuest Point Road. The Salt Marsh is located on the right side of the parking lot at Third Beach. In the summer Third Beach there is a payment to park, however, if you tell the attendant that you are there to look for birds are to photograph the birds there normally should not be a charge. At Sachuest that you have added a new trail off of the ocean loop trail that takes you up to a high point on the refuge and gives you a good overlook over the entire refuge.

Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge

Sachuest Point Trail Map

So if you have never visited Sachuest, I recommend you give it a try. I believe you will enjoy it and get some nice photographs.