Our GrowWNY team loves finding an oasis of natural beauty where you would least expect it. Today we take you to Times Beach Nature Preserve in the City of Buffalo. Located on Fuhrmann Boulevard, right down the street from Tifft Nature Preserve, Times Beach Nature Preserve is a refuge from the hustle and bustle of downtown Buffalo even though it is just steps away. When entering Times Beach Nature Preserve, feel free to hook up a bike to the bike rack or relax on one of the many benches this Nature Preserve has to offer. Stepping onto the trails, you are instantly greeted by beautiful butterflies and wildlife of all sorts like yellow finches, geese, grasshoppers and deer. Deer tracks can be seen on the trails, as well as bird feeders and bird nests. Today, I was told by a friendly park visitor that a doe was seen walking across the trails.
The trails are well looked after and provide an abundance of shade from the hot summer sun. Times Beach is home to a multitude of bird species including the Great Egret; which I had the fortune to see from across the water while taking in the view from an observation platform. This nature preserve is a significant location for bird watching and the observation platforms clearly reflect that. The platforms accommodate a variety of all different heights. From the very tall to the young and small, everyone can enjoy a beautiful view.
The Times Beach Nature Preserve is made up of four different zones: silt flat; marsh; woodlands; and uplands. In each zone there is an adventure waiting, whether it’s spotting a gorgeous butterfly, observing the wide variety of plant life or trying to catch a glimpse of a shy doe. Information boards are posted throughout the trails, which help visitors identify the amazing wildlife that call Times Beach Nature Preserve home.
When walking on the trails, it is easy to see how one might spend many hours traveling along the paths and sitting in the shade with a pair of binoculars just relaxing and watching the birds fly overhead. In taking advantage of the summer weather this majestic, natural world exists close to home and offers a quiet and slower change of pace. Times Beach Nature Preserve is certainly a great place to escape to.
Have you ever been to Times Beach Nature Preserve? If not, click here to get a glimpse of what we saw on our hike there. Then, plan a visit yourself and share your pictures with us.
