Pine Island, Hardwick

	Pine Island, Hardwick: Pine Island is a complex of old pastures and marsh located behind the northeast side of Hardwick Common. Birding is interesting here year-round, but autumn seems typically to be the most active time. A long list of migrants have been recorded, including such unusual species as Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat and Vesper Sparrow. White-crowned and Lincoln Sparrow are annually regular. Summer breeders include American Kestrel, Virginia Rail, Willow Flycatcher, Blue-winged Warbler, Baltimore Oriole and Swamp Sparrow. Winter often offers Great Horned Owl, Carolina Wren, Cedar Waxwing and Swamp Sparrow. One concern at this site is the expanding invasion of Purple Loosestrife in the marshes. This exotic species has taken a strong foothold in recent years and is currently threatening to exclude much of the native vegetation in the marshes, including the beds of cattails that support Virginia Rail and potentially the state-endangered American Bittern (one was seen here throughout the 2000 breeding season). I would actually recommend NOT to enter the marshes autumn through early spring. Doing so would put you in contact with millions of Loosestrife seeds that you would inevitably disperse not only throughout this site, but potentially to other, yet unaffected sites as the tiny seeds travel unnoticed in your clothing. To reach Pine Island from Hardwick Common turn onto Ruggles Hill Road near the church on the hill. Continue on Ruggles Hill Road for about 0.3 miles (down the hill and up the next) until you see a basketball court on the right. You can park anywhere around this basketball court. Now on foot, continue on Ruggles Hill Road for another 0.2 miles, until you see a bar-way on the right, just past where the Red Pine forest ends. Through the bar-way is Pine Island. Like much of Hardwick, Pine Island is private land, but quiet, respectful birding is not a problem.