Birdlife and Habitats at Baxter Pond’s and Mill Pond

This tour will commence at 11:30 AM and will start at Baxter’s Pond, explore Mill Pond, the Manhasset Bay Walk, Manhasset Bay walk Park, and the Manhasset Bay Beach Habitat alongside Shore Road. The event will return back to the Baxter’s Pond entrance at 12:30 PM.

This guided nature walk will explore the beautiful and fascinating ponds and streams that flow into Manhasset Bay including Baxter Pond’s, Mill Pond, and the beach and salt marsh grasses alongside Manhasset Bay. At both ponds we will briefly dip-net to survey for the diverse insects, tadpoles, fish, and other wildlife found in the water.

Baxter’s Pond, one of the most stunning pond in Port Washington, trails with diverse wildflowers along its banks and this is maintained by the local Baxter’s Pond foundation. In addition, this water body provides a vital sanctuary for diverse waterfowl. The pond is fed by a brook with springs and streams feeding from MainStreet and Beacon Hill. Interestingly, this brook is the primary habitat for two lined salamanders in Port Washington. After exploring the pond, we will follow a nature trail alongside the brook through a rich woodland with diverse wildflowers and large mature streams.

Subsequently, we will walk to Mill Pond, a large shallow body of water that is 4 acres and Port Washington's second-largest pond. This pond abounds with waterfowl and we will most likely encounter diverse herons, egrets, Cormorant, and dabbling and diving ducks! The waters of this pond have never been surveyed and our findings will be of scientific interest.

After visiting Mill Pond, we will cross the street to walk follow the beach at Manhasset Bay back towards our entryway. There we will walk above and between the tides where we will encounter patches of salt marsh grass, mussels, and different species of crabs.

The birds, butterflies, and pond life that we observe will be contributed to ongoing studies and citizen science of the Port Washington Peninsula. The fauna found in the ponds will inform us about the water quality and ecological health of these ponds and indicate sources of pollution and potential actions that can be taken to improve water quality.

This Saturday includes three events spending from 10 AM to 12:30 PM: First, a cleanup of Baxter’s Pond from 10 AM to 11 AM, second, a Guided Nature Walk across Baxter Pond Preserve from 11 AM to 11:25 AM, and third, the Manhasset Bay guided nature tour from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM (this last walk requires registration and a fee).

Meeting and ending locations: All the events will start and end at the entrance to Baxter’s Pond. Parking is available across the street at Port Washington Parking District Lot 6. See map here for meeting location.

Manhasset Bay Walk Guided Nature Tour: 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Register Below.