Fall Walks
Fall Bird Walk in Dunback Meadow
Sunday September 19: 8 - 10 am
We will be looking for returning fall migrants such as warblers, vireos, and fly catchers on their trip south. And, of course, we’ll search for our resident birds, such as woodpeckers, titmice, and hawks. Meet at the Allen St trail entrance opposite 23 Allen Street. Heavy rain cancels.
Leader: Bobbie Hodson ([email protected]) 781-861-9421
Apple Picking at Cotton Farm
Sunday September 19, 1-4 pm
Join the Lexington Conservation Stewards for an afternoon of apple picking and outdoor fun at Lexington’s Cotton Farm Orchard. Apple picking, cider pressing, Lexington Junior Ranger Activities and more at this family friendly event. Park along Marrett Road or Bacon Street.
For More Information: [email protected], or 781-698-4532
Leisurely Friday Walk Series
Explore three of Lexington’s favorite Conservation areas in a more leisurely fashion this fall. The pace will be measured, the grades gentle and the distances moderate. All walks will begin at 10 am and finish in an hour and a half or less. Walking surfaces will be off-pavement walking trails. Wear sturdy footgear and bring water. Walking sticks recommended if balance is an issue. Steady rain cancels, no rain dates. Group limit – 20. Pre-registration required at: https://lexrecma.myrec.com, or call the Recreation line at 781-862-0500 if you experience difficulties registering on line.
Friday October 1: 10 – 11:30 am – Lower Vine Brook Conservation Area
Meet at the signed entrance to Lower Vine Brook. Park on Vine Street opposite 121 Vine Street
Friday October 8: 10-11:30 am – Meagherville Conservation Area
Meet at the Garfield Street playground entrance. Park on Garfield Street.
Friday October 15: 10-11:30 am – Hayden Woods Conservation Area
Meet at the signed entrance to Hayden Woods behind 45/65 Hayden Avenue. Park in signed Trail User spots behind 45/65 Hayden Avenue office building or signed Visitor spots.
Leaders: Keith Ohmart ([email protected]) 781-862-6216)
Eileen Entin ([email protected]) 781-862-6418
Goat Walk at Chiesa Farm
Saturday October 2: 12-2pm; Rain date Sunday October 3: 12-2pm
Come join the local Lexington goats for their daily pasture walk through the fields and woodlands at Chiesa Farm. Each season the land provides them with diverse plant life. The goats are very specific to what they need to eat depending on many factors. We will have two Lexington herds, totaling twelve female dairy goats. Learn how the goats in our town are working to keep the invasive plants from taking over. All adults and children are welcome. No dogs please. Parking is at the Diamond Middle School parking lot at the end of Sedge Road off of Hathaway Road. Follow the signed trail entrance and meet us in the pasture.
Leader: Laurene Beaudette ([email protected])
iNaturalist Walk in Dunback Meadow
Sunday October 17: 1:30 – 3:30 pm
This exploratory walk of Dunback Meadow will provide an opportunity to use iNaturalist to see what can be learned using this handy smart phone resource. Plants will be the focus (since they are easiest to photograph) but we’ll look at other organisms as available. Prerequisite: Bring your phone with iNaturalist installed and ready to use. Please try it out: take a few sample photos and have your phone enabled for cellular data. The usefulness of iNaturalist depends on taking good photos. The app may be found at: https://www.inaturalist.org/. It’s free, but may require registration on the iNaturalist web site. Meet at the blue pavilion behind the Bowman School. Heavy rain cancels.
Leader: Barbara Katzenberg
Nature Photography in Whipple Hill
Saturday October 23: 9-11 am
Late fall is one of the best times to visit the Whipple Hill Conservation property. With the leaves off of the trees the property’s magnificent stone walls and rocky features of the landscape really stand out. Sunder Neelakantan will be your guide in how to best capture these and other features of the property in memorable photographs. Steady rain cancels. Meet at the signed entrance to the property at the top of Winchester Drive opposite Berkshire Drive. Heavy rain cancels.
Leader: Sunder Neelakantan 781-424-7558 ([email protected])
Turkey Trot Walk at Whipple Hill
Saturday November 27: 1-3 pm
Walk Cancelled Due to Overnight Icy Conditions
Leader: Keith Ohmart 781-862-6216 ([email protected])
Winter Birding at Dunback Meadow
Saturday January 22, 2022: 8:00-10 am
Dunback Meadow offers some of Lexington’s best winter birding opportunities. We will be looking for our usual winter wood pecker species, chickadees, titmice, etc., plus the possibilities of overwintering species not usually resident at this time of the year including any irruptive winter finch species. Cosponsored with the Brookline Bird Club. Meet at the Allen Street trail entrance opposite 23 Allen Street. Heavy rain or snow cancels.
Leader: Bobbie Hodson 781-861-9421 ([email protected])
Spring Walks
Garlic Mustard Pull at Lincoln Park
Saturday May 8: 10 am – 12 noon
Garlic mustard seeds can take up to 7 years to sprout, which requires repeated efforts to control and eradicate this aggressive invasive species. Come join CLC’s multi-year effort to pull this year’s progeny from along the pathways in Lincoln Park. Bring gardening gloves. Steady rain cancels. Meet at the Fitness Path Trail entrance on Middleby Road across from the entrance to the Bridge School where you may park. Masks required. Social distancing will be maintained due to the nature of the activity. All welcome, no pre-registration required.
Leader: Keith Ohmart ([email protected])
Birding Willards Woods
Saturday May 8: 8-10 am
Willards Woods mix of open fields and wood lots annually attracts a wide variety of resident and migratory bird species. Catch the peak of spring migration for an opportunity to see which species are passing through on their way to their summer breeding grounds further north. More than light rain will cancel the event. No dogs please. Group limit – 10. Masks and pre-registration required. Send an e-mail to walk leader John Andrews to register and receive confirmation of the meeting point location. Title your message: Registration – Willards Woods Walk.
Leader: John Andrews ([email protected])
Birding Lower Vine Brook
Saturday May 15: 8-10 am
Warblers are small, beautiful tropical birds that fly north to breed every year. Over 15 different species stop off in this sheltered area during their spring migration to their nesting grounds in northern New England and Canada. Depending on the weather and the foliage, you may see a dozen species in a morning. No dogs please. More than light rain will cancel the event. Group limit – 10. Masks and pre-registration required. Send an e-mail to walk leader Harry West to register and receive confirmation of the meeting point location. Title your message: Registration – LVB Walk.
Leader: Harry West ([email protected])
Using iNaturalist: A Walk at Whipple Hill
Saturday May 22: 8-10 am
Do you have an interest in using online apps to identify plants, animals and wildlife in general? This exploratory walk of Whipple Hill will use iNaturalist to see what can be learned using this handy smart phone resource. Plants will be the focus (since they are easiest to photograph) but we’ll look at other organisms as available.
Prerequisite: Bring your phone with iNaturalist installed and ready to use. Please try it out: take a few sample photos and have your phone enabled for cellular data. The usefulness of iNaturalist depends on taking good photos. The app may be found at: https://www.inaturalist.org/. It’s free, but may require registration on the iNaturalist web site. Group limit – 10. Masks and pre-registration required. Send an e-mail to walk leader Andrea Golden to register and receive confirmation of the meeting point location. Title your message: Registration – Whipple Hill Walk. Heavy rain cancels.
Leader: Andrea Golden ([email protected])
Using iNaturalist: iNaturalist Walk in Dunback Meadow
Saturday Sunday June 22: 10am - NOON
This exploratory walk of Dunback Meadow will provide a second opportunity to use iNaturalist to see what can be learned using this handy smart phone resource. Plants will be the focus (since they are easiest to photograph) but we’ll look at other organisms as available. Prerequisite: Bring your phone with iNaturalist installed and ready to use. Please try it out: take a few sample photos and have your phone enabled for cellular data. The usefulness of iNaturalist depends on taking good photos. The app may be found at: https://www.inaturalist.org/ . It’s free, but may require registration on the iNaturalist web site. Group limit – 10. Masks and pre-registration required. Send an e-mail to walk leader Barbara Katzenberg to register and receive confirmation of the meeting point location. Title your message: Registration – Dunback Walk. Heavy rain cancels.