A boardwalk allows hikers to cross an environmentally sensitive section of trail. (Betsy Graham)
The Eightmile River flows along sections of the Richard H. Goodwin Trail, which passes through East Lyme, Lyme, Salem and East Haddam. (Betsy Graham)
An ancient oak spreads out along a side trail. (Betsy Graham)
Pileated woodpeckers can penetrate bark and wood in their hunt for insects. (Betsy Graham)
Published April 29. 2021 2:09PM By
Steve Fagin
The forest in spring, with all that screeching, squawking, cawing, chattering, howling and rat-tat-tatting, can be about as serene as a construction zone but in a good way.
Mating season barely had begun when our hiking group rambled along the Richard H. Goodwin Trail in early March, so the cacophony was slightly subdued a chorus of spring peeper frogs chirped desultorily and a red-bellied woodpecker drummed in the distance.