Durfee Hill - Glocester
The Durfee Hill Management Area consists of over 1000 acres divided into four parcels of land. It was the first place where Common Raven was found to occur in Rhode Island with some regularity. The place has the feel of a northern forest.
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Location
Glocester, RI
Owner/manager
Department of Fish and WildlifeDirections
The check station parking lot is along Reynolds Road, 1.4 miles from its intersection with Route 44.
Habitat
Deciduous and evergreen forest land, wetlands and some agricultural land. Upland woods with mature White Pine and Hemlock along with deciduous trees, freshwater marsh and fields.
Description
Down the hill from the parking lot at the deer check station, is a pond with some Wood Duck boxes. Beavers try to plug up the drainage pipe under the earthen dam here, and forest personnel have to monitor it. The pond has Hooded Mergansers and Ring-necked Duck in migration, and the field below the parking lot will have many displaying American Woodcock in late March and April. There is an approximately one mile loop trail that meanders behind this pond. From the parking lot, go north, (opposite the check station) and follow the wide lane down the hill to the field. The pond will be on the right. The path can be tricky to find, follow the field along the stream until you see an opening in the brush. There is a wooden plank bridge over the stream that feeds the pond. Louisiana Waterthrush can be heard along here. Continue up the hill through the Hemlock and White Pine forest. You will eventually come out onto that earthen dam you can see from the parking lot. From here follow the wide lane back out to the paved Route 94. Near this section is a deer pit where Fish and Wildlife personnel place road killed deer. These potential sources of food attract Turkey Vulture and Common Raven.
The second loop trail is on the opposite side of Route 94 from the check station, about .3 mile south. There is an orange bar gate on the east side of the road, and a silver guard rail opposite. The start of this trail is behind the guard rail, and there is room for a car or two to pull over and park here. Following this trail you will shortly come to a T- intersection. Go right, you will return on the trail that comes in from the left. Take the first left and follow the trail out to large open wetland. Turning back, left here, the trail goes down a wide lane to a pond you can see on the right. Winter Wren has been heard singing in the tangles here. You will eventually walk parallel to Route 94, and return on the path you came in.
Best Seasons to Visit
Spring. Winter for only a few specialties. DO NOT visit in the fall as this is a very active hunting area, especially during deer hunting season.
Birds Most Likely to Be Seen
Breeding birds include: Barred Owl, Northern Goshawk, Blackburnian Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Pine Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Yellow-throated Vireo, Blue-headed Vireo, Pileated and Hairy Woodpecker, Least Flycatcher, Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush, Eastern Bluebird, Baltimore Oriole, Red-breasted Nuthatch. Other birds that might be encountered, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Common Raven, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Purple Finch, Eastern Meadowlark, Pine Siskin, and in winter there are records of Northern Shrike.
Potential obstacles
- Heavy use by hunters.
- The trails on the west side of the road are used by many ATV’s, and are very rutted and muddy in spots from this overuse.
- Tall grasses in the fields harbor many ticks.
- The trail behind the pond is hilly and steep in some areas.
External Links
- DEM Map
- This is a popular hunting area. Be aware of the DEM Regulations.
