Photography

Photographers can capture a variety of wildlife and scenic landscapes at Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge. While we welcome photography, we ask that all photographers respect the same rules that we ask of all visiting members of the public. Please remain on marked trails and do not harass wildlife. All visitors should remain 200 feet from wildlife when possible-- if the animal is reacting to your presence, you are too close!

Among the species you will almost certainly see most of the year are the black-capped chickadee, tufted titmouse, downy woodpecker, bluejay, white-breasted nuthatch, gray catbird, northern mockingbird, yellow-rumped warbler, northern cardinal, brown-headed cowbird and American goldfinch. Coastal area regulars include herring, great back-backed and ring-billed gulls, sanderlings, mallards and American black ducks, pie-billed grebes, belted kingfishers and great blue herons.

Winter brings the wide-spread appearance of golden-crowned and ruby-crowned kinglets, white-throated sparrows, dark-eyed juncos, and along the coast, common loons, horned grebes, red-breasted mergansers, common golden-eyes, ruddy ducks and all three scoters. In spring and summer common terns, great and snowy egrets, green herons, ospreys, greater yellowlegs, dowitchers, least and semipalmated sandpipers and semipalmated plovers are easy to find near the water, while in the woods and fields eastern phoebes, eastern kingbirds, tree and barn swallows, blue-gray gnatcatchers, yellow warblers, common yellowthroats, American redstarts, chipping and song sparrows, common grackles and red-winged blackbirds are abundant.

The URI Master Gardener Native Plant Garden also offers great wildlife photography opportunities, such as colorful native plants, numerous pollinators, hummingbirds, and other frequent wildlife visitors. 

Did you take any great photos at Trustom Pond that you want to share with staff for use on social media? Reach out to rhodeislandcomplex@fws.gov!