Friday, April 17, 2015

Connecticut River Osprey/Eagle Cruise

River Quest in Haddam gives one sweet ride!


Last year, we hooked up with the Menunkatuck Audubon Society ( a member of the National Audubon Society), to go on a swallow cruise on the Connecticut river. Cheryl and I fell in love with the River Quest boat and its team, Captain Mark and Mindy. 

We had such a nice and amazing time, we booked a jaw dropping fall foliage tour and we recently went on their Spring Osprey Eagle 2.5 hour tour.  

Take a look at what we saw!

Ring Billed Gull from the dock

 First spotted Osprey

An eagles nest, you could just
see the adult white head

Juvenile Bald Eagle

Osprey on our tail

Magistic Flyers

See you later!

Turkey Vulture

Then these Common Mergansers (first for us)
put on a wonderful show.

Common Mergansers rarely seen on logs
Mindy pointed out. Riverquest has bird spotters
and free binoculars so you are 
sure not to miss a thing.

Mindy

Common Mergansers
(2 female)

Mr and Mrs Common Mergansers

And they are off! Lets follow!





Now check out the gifs in 
google autoawesome!






Beautiful Birds!

Another first, a black backed gull.

Then came along Mr and Mrs Common Loon!

Seen these wonderful creatures!




Fast Fella

We saw lots of Double Crested Cormorants
Running take off







We also saw Black Cormorants too.

Another first, a Bonapart's Gull,
not normally up this far in the river.
They even stopped the boat to marvel.

Osprey Landing

Makin Bacon...er eggs!

Show off! Osprey in Sunset

Osprey soars

And those little tree swallows are back,
not in the numbers when they swarm
in late July and early August.






Mosquiter eaters

Fast and Furious

Mr and Mrs Bufflehead Ducks showed up to show off!









Interesting Formations and some caves

"Shad Shack"

The workers along the river ate a local fish
called Shad that starts running late spring.
Shad Roe is supposed to be good.

If you get a chance, take the River Quest Cruise!



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Birds Rule!
Tree Swallow Cruise





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