Birding By Bike On Farmington Canal Trail

I took a ride up to Simsbury to check out the Farmington Canal Trail over the weekend. The original canal was constructed between 1825 and 1835 to help facilitate trade. In 1847 the canal was converted to a railroad line that was still active until the 1980's. These days, it is used as a trail for pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles. It covers a total distance of 88 miles from New Haven to Massachusetts. Over half of the trail is now paved.

This trail is also part of a larger project called the East Coast Greenway with plans of building a non-motorized trail from  Florida to Canada.

I parked my truck in a lot on route 10 in Simsbury where there was direct access to the trail. The trail started out behind restaurants and businesses but it wasn't long before I was treated to some natural scenery. This little pond is called Lake Basile.

I couldn't believe how nice and flat this paved trail was.  I wanted to stop to look for birds but my bike wouldn't let me. I was barely pedaling but the bike seemed to keep going and going!

I've noticed that there are more bicycles on the roads these days than ever before. The law states that bikes have the same right of way as motor vehicles on most of the roads in Connecticut. Many serious bicyclists are using these laws to their advantage by what they refer to as "taking back the roads". I'm wary of riding my bike on roads that are filled with drivers talking on their cell phones. A trail like the Farmington canal trail eliminates that danger. They even provide marked cross ways where the rail crosses busy roads.

I didn't have much success taking pictures of birds. Even the Mallards "ducked" away from the camera when I tried to take their photo.

There were American Robins by the dozen quietly chattering to each other as they ate berries and picked through the leaves on the ground.

I passed by some scenic fields on my way to Massachusetts. There were Red-tailed Hawks and plenty of bluebirds in the area.

For the most part I would say that I encountered bird species I would expect to find during the winter. I had a nice look at some Pileated Woodpeckers and saw a Raven preparing that appeared to be scoping out a nest sight up in some ledges. I'm looking forward to coming back here during Spring Migration.

I ended my ride in Southwick Massachusetts near Congamond Lakes.. It only felt like I rode my bike a few miles but according to mapquest my total round trip was about 30 miles. I think I'd better invest in a tire patch kit before going on this trail again. It wouldn't be much fun walking my bike 15 miles back to the truck with a flat tire!