Nurtured by Nature

The road less traveled

Loudoun County, Virginia is home to a 300-mile network of gravel roads dating back to Colonial times. We are lucky to have one such road running along the edge of Willow Greens Farm, which quickly became one of our favorite dog-walking spots. The road is a bit hilly, flanked by farmland and open space, with very little traffic. 

Early this summer as the days turned warmer, we decided to move Alys’ longest walk from the afternoon to first thing in the morning. She was full of energy and could hardly contain her excitement, so we increased our distance. It’s about 1.5 miles from our house to the point where gravel turns into paved road, and then we turn around and retrace our steps. To our delight we discovered this route is a haven for wildlife. Come along, I’ll show you.

A handy walking tour map

The first quarter mile is dominated by rabbits, groundhogs, crows, black vultures, and red-shouldered hawks. Bluebirds perch on the power lines; woodpeckers can be heard having a go at the trees. Recently a pair of red-tailed hawks have made their presence known. Then we crest a hill with a stream at the base, and make our way uphill again. There, at about the 1-mile mark, is the beginning of an amazing wildlife corridor. 

1️⃣ Equine Avenue

Kate makes some new friends

This farm is home to three mules (pictured), two horses, and lots of geese and ducks. Not the wildest of wildlife, but a very social welcoming committee. One day we were alarmed to find a horse standing outside the paddock, until the owner appeared and explained the need to separate the horses during feeding to avoid any trouble. 

Report card says, “Blaze needs to learn to play well with others”

 2️⃣ The Woodlands

A handsome young buck shows off his new antlers

The next stretch is surrounded by dense tree cover; there are no houses or other structures. Goose Creek¹ is off to the right but barely visible at this time of year. This is the most likely place to spot wildlife, although taking a photo is another matter². Deer are everywhere, solo or in groups, and sometimes with a tiny fawn. Back in May we saw a fox a few days in a row, possibly venturing out to find food for its kits. More recently a flock of adult and juvenile turkeys crossed the road (why did the … oh, never mind). We’ve honed our bird identification skills, learning the calls of red-tailed hawks and kingfishers. 

3️⃣ Heron Haven

A green heron surveys its territory

Beyond the Woodlands the landscape opens up to reveal a winery, a wedding venue, and a couple of farms. The property at the end of the gravel includes a sizable pond frequented by both green and great blue herons. 

At this point Alys knows it’s time to turn around, and gets a little spring in her step because she also knows what lies ahead.

4️⃣ Swimming Hole

Alys getting her toes wet in Goose Creek

It’s time to cool off with a drink and a short swim. For Alys, that is. We use a long lead so we can walk on the road while Alys wades in up to her belly. She’s no Labrador, but the creek is usually pretty shallow and gentle and we think she’s very brave. 😀

5️⃣ The Grand Finale

A Barred owl sizing us up

Once in a great while, we are rewarded with something truly amazing. This barred owl swooped across the road in front of us, landed in one tree, and then crossed the road to another tree. It was calling to another owl, which we also spotted briefly. From the sound of the call we believe it was a juvenile, calling to an adult or sibling. It was really exciting to be close enough to see the young owl in detail. 

While seeing all of this wildlife is exciting, our new regimen also works wonders for our health and well-being. A brisk 3-mile walk is good exercise, even more so when you do it every. single. day. The time we spend walking is time spent in conversation, sometimes about our plans for the day, sometimes solving the world’s problems. I’m learning to slow down and pay more attention to the sounds and small movements, and am eager to see how the landscape and wildlife change with the seasons.

1. This is the same Goose Creek that runs near our property, and once powered a mill established by Timothy Taylor, who founded Willow Greens Farm in 1791.

2. I’m an amateur at best. Plus, I’m using an iPhone 12.