This is the site at the Old Beach. This area used to slope gradually down to the water, but because of erosion and heavy use got the new gravel coating and treated lumber "breakwater." It is the site of where many get their first view of the Pond. It is here that the Colbert EEE Guide, located elsewhere on this web site, speaks of the "toad bugs." They are not noticeable now that the gravel has been put down.
What is clearly visible throughout much of the warmer season is the presence of geese, which congregate here and thus this area becomes a goose latrine. As unpleasant as that may be, it is part of the big picture at the Pond. Feeding the geese, which is discouraged, only acts to exacerbate the problem, as it does elsewhere wherever they are present. In the winter, when the geese are gone from the Pond, ducks often congregate here too.
As can be seen in the photo, the cattails here may be an early indicator, as the submerged pondweeds are elsewhere, of succession taking place in the Ponds. The hawthorn thicket behind the marker is thick with the sounds of birds of various types throughout most of the year. The small stream/wet land which runs down hill just to the left of this marker is a good place to see various types of sedges and occasional animal tracks along the sandy stream banks
