Trustom Pond - South Kingstown, RI
Posted by: 
NorStar
N 41° 22.994 W 071° 35.114
19T E 283833 N 4584525
Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge is located along a brackish pond separated from the ocean by a sand bar, where many waterfowl and predatory birds can be seen.
Waymark Code: WMJAAA
Location: Rhode Island, United States
Date Posted: 10/18/2013
Views: 8
In South Kingstown, south of US Route 1, is the Turstom Pond National Wildlife Refuge.
The refuge is located along Matanuck School House Road, west of the intersection with Moonstone Road, which is off US Route 1. There are signs that will lead you there.
There is a relatively small parking lot and a small building that is the visitor center that also has a small collection of items from nature.
The NWR web site has the follow about the refuge:
"Spanning 800 acres on the Southern Coast of Rhode Island, the refuge protects the state's only undeveloped salt pond. From upland forests to a 1.5-mile barrier beach,the varied habitats in Trustom Pond support more than 300 bird, 40 mammal,and 20 reptile and amphibian species.
A stronghold for the threatened piping plover, the refuge is home to several other rare species including osprey, least terns, and the state's only population of Fowler's toad.
This refuge, along with the four other National Wildlife Refuges in the state, are administered by the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex, headquartered in Charlestown, R.I."
From the visitor center, walk the only path to the first intersection. The trail system is a large loop with spurs. There are two points to walk to: Otter Point and Osprey Point. Either is great and it is worth going to both. Osprey point is further out into the pond and closer to the barrier beach. Otter Point has views further back in the pond. There are spots where there are lookouts, with monocular installations (free to use). Many waterfowl were present at the time of visit (October 2013) that included mergansers, swans, Canada geese, gulls, and commorants. Predatory birds seen included turkey vultures and harriers/marsh hawks.
The refuge was established in 1987. It started with a donation of land, then several other donations - notably Audubon of Rhode Island - and purchases have increased the land to 800 acres. More land aquisitions is planned.
Source:
FWS - Trustom Pond NWR
(
visit link)