My Rye

Marshlands Art Exhibit Photos

If you missed the art exhibit in February and March at Rye Marshlands Conservancy, we have created a photo album of some of the works that were on display. The exhibit, titled “A Different Point of View, experiences at Marshlands" contained works highlighting the 150 acre Marshlands natural area accessible just off the Boston Post Road between the Rye Golf Club and the John Jay House.

Works from thirty artists were featured including Rye artists Allan Anderson, Lee Choron, Andrea Ditcheff, Diane Elliott, Silvia Gesing, Alexander Girshin and Lorraine Mignone.

It's My Way or the Flyway at Edith Read Sanctuary

Tucked away behind the Playland amusement park is Rye's Edith Read Sanctuary. The 179 acre park, administered by the Westchester County Parks conservation division, is on the shore of the Long Island Sound and along a migratory flyway. The property includes half a mile of shore line and an 85 acre lake and is noted as an "Important Bird Area" by the Audubon Society of New York.

Many say this is one of the best birding spots in Westchester County and The Hudson River Audubon Society of Westchester reports one can see loons, grebes, Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Scoters and Northern Gannet and if you are lucky rare birds such as Snow Bunting, Snowy Owl, Barrows Goldeneye, Red-necked Grebe and Eared Grebe.

The park is named after Rye's own Edith Read, who died in April 2006 at the age of 102. Read was a force in environmental conservation across Westchester and New York State. In addition to working on the preservation of her eponymous park, she worked on the protection of the 47 acre Rye Nature Center and a wetland area on Beaver Swamp Brook called Parcels A and B. She also served on the Rye Landmark Committee, where she helped to preserve the John Jay property.

To reach the property, enter the Playland parking lot and drive all the way down. At the very end of the lot on the right, you will see signs for Edith Read and you may see a sign that says do not enter. Enter. Drive all the way down, past a pedestrian entrance to Playland and you will see parking on the right and further down on the left there is another parking area in front of the interpretive center and closer to the woodland trails. The shoreline is quickly and easily accessible if you have younger children that may not want more than a short hike.

(ABOVE) Video shows part of the half mile of publicly accessible Long Island Sound shoreline at Edith Read Sanctuary and park in Rye, NY.

Free Mulch for Rye Gardeners

For all Rye gardeners, don't forget the city of Rye offers free mulch at Disbrow Park. This beats buying the "it will take me 10 minutes to find someone to help me" and the "it is out of stock" mulch from our not so helpful Portchester Home Depot.

Alas, there is always a hitch: Disbrow is open limited hours for mulch lovers. Call ahead to make sure they have some fresh ground organic goodness before you prep the minivan for the trip...

Rye Golf Club Pool

Rye Golf Club is a 126 acre member club owned by the City of Rye, New York. Located on the Post Road, it has an Olympic swimming pool, a children's pool and an 18-hole golf course that overlooks the Long Island Sound. It is adjacent to the Rye Marshlands Conservancy.

Rye Town Park/Oakland Beach

Rye Town Park on June 11, 2006

 

(Update) Baby Birds vs. SUVs at the Pool

We received a nice note from the Rye Nature Center about the recent post Baby Birds vs. SUVs at the Pool.

We asked about the bird and received:

The bird is a killdeer.  This is the normal behavior for nest making and egg laying.  The mother will fake a broken wing to draw intruders away from the nest.  It should be OK.

Thanks to the RNC!

Baby Birds vs. SUVs at the Pool

Rye residents may have noticed a roped off area when they visited the pool at Rye Golf Club over the Memorial Day holiday for opening weekend.

That's not just any old VIP area, but a mother bird that decided to nest smack in the middle of the pool parking lot.

Look closely and you can see three eggs under the mother bird. When you are rolling into the lot, watch for the roped off area on the left side as you drive in:

Rye Marshlands Conservancy is for the Birds

The Marshlands Conservancy is a hidden gem in clear sight. At 150+ acres running from the Post Road in Rye (adjacent to the Rye Golf Club) down to the Long Island Sound, you can find forest, fields, shoreline and salt water marsh. This is a mecca for birders, but is also terrific for hikes or walks. The John Jay House is located on the same property (all owned by Westchester County Parks) and if you know where to look, you can find the Jay family graveyard.

You will see birds of all sizes including plenty of wild turkeys and if you are lucky a massive great white owl (last year I was lucky enough to see the owl and its fluffy white baby owlet). Deer are also common.

Look the these photos. And these from winter 2004 (scroll down).

See you on the trail...