Majestic Bald Eagles - A Joy of CT Winters

Majestic Bald Eagles Winter in Southern CT

Really? Yes, really.

Four Eagles Atop Trees along the CT River

Every Winter, when their Northern feeding grounds freeze hard as iron, eagles from as far North as Canada come down to nest and feed along the Southern  CT river where they find open waters and plenty to eat.

From late in January to mid-March eagle watching opportunities abound, and eagle watchers wander along the lower CT river valley and the CT shoreline area where the CT River meets Long Island Sound for a chance to view these magnificent birds.

Three Ways to Eagle Watch

We have found three different approaches to fulfilled eagle watching: the river cruise, the guided land tour, and the self-directed driving tour. So, we've also created three different overnight Eagle Watch Escape packages - one for each way to eagle watch. There's something here for everyone.

The Eagle Watch Cruise

Eagle Watch and Wildlife Boat Tours depart from the dock at the CT River Museum in nearby Essex CT. Come aboard Project Oceanology’s Enviro-Lab III, a 65′ modern research vessel equipped with a heated cabin and lots of deck space. A naturalist is on board to be your host and provides guided narration, pointing out the eagles and describing their behaviors and more. Free coffee is on board and the use of binoculars is also included. Your cruise ticket also gives you same day free admission to all the CT River Museum galleries featuring the Eagles of Essex exhibit.

Boat departures are on Fridays at 1:00 PM; and Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM.
Advance reservations are the best way to assure you'll have a spot on your choice of date and time. To reserve call the CT River Museum at 860-767-8269. You may also reserve online from the CT River Museum's web site.

Enviro-Lab III - from CT River Museum Web Site

The Guided Land Tour

Jerry Connolly, owner of The Audubon Shop in Madison CT, will share his enthusiasm and passion for birding in general, and the majestic Bald Eagles, specifically, by taking you on a guided land tour to the area's prime eagle viewing spots. The tours are arranged in carpools departing from the shop bright and early on Saturday mornings in February and March and include a soup and sandwich lunch. With Jerry as your guide you'll both see the eagles and learn all about them. Somehow I think he's got some good eagle-watch stories to share too.

Advance reservations are a must and best done by telephone call to the shop at (203) 245-9056 during regular business hours, 10:00am - 5:00pm. Be sure to reserve binoculars, too, if you need to rent them for the tour.

The Self-Directed Driving Tour

If you prefer to go at your own pace, or if you've cruised and been guided in the past, you may feel more like taking yourself on a Self-Directed Driving Tour to the various nearby eagle viewing spots. Prepared for our overnight guests, you may ask the innkeeper for the printed Self-Guided Eagle Watch Tour, along with a map, when you are staying here at the inn. Follow the directions using the map or use your own GPS and you're on your way, on your day, your schedule, your pace.

No need to reserve your copy of the tour in advance, but do remember to bring binoculars or call The Audubon Shop in advance to reserve binoculars to rent for the day.

Photo by Jack Faller - from Audubon Shop Facebook
 

Three Wonderful Escape Packages for Eagle Watchers

Eagle Watch Cruise Escape Package -
Two Eagle Watch Cruise tickets, including admission to the CT River Museum; Gift Certificates for Lunch, The Audubon Shop, and afternoon coffee or tea; book about Eagles; printed Self-Directed Driving Tour for more eagle watching; map; snacks for the road. Add $180 to your reservation for a one, two, or more nights stay at our Tidewater Inn B&B.

Eagle Watch Guided Land Tour Escape Package -
Two Guided Land Tour tickets, including lunch; Gift Certificates for The Audubon Shop and afternoon coffee or tea; book about Eagles; printed Self-Directed Driving Tour for more eagle watching; map; snacks for the road. Add $105 to your reservation for a one, two, or more nights stay at our Tidewater Inn B&B.

Eagle Watch Self-Directed Driving Tour Escape Package -
Our printed Self-Directed Driving Tour; map; Gift Certificates for Lunch, The Audubon Shop, and afternoon coffee or tea; book about Eagles; snacks for the road. Add $95 to your reservation for a one, two or more nights stay at our Tidewater Inn B&B.

Choose your Escape Package, Choose your Room, Choose your Dates and Come! The Eagles are here for your to see.

Book by email to escape@thetidewater.com, by phone 203-245-8457 or through our web site, TheTidewater.com.

I look forward to welcoming you.

                                                                            Victoria

By the way ... Nature lovers ... Seal Watch Cruises around the Thimble Islands are what to sse and do around here in March!

Keeping Cool on the CT Shoreline

Top Ten Ways to Beat the Heat in Heart of the CT Shoreline

It’s Summer! And heat waves happen, yes, even here in “Camelot,” the heart of the CT shoreline. I heard one of our guests say, just this morning, “I think today’s even too hot to go to the beach!” Once in awhile it just might feel a bit too hot and sticky to enjoy the great beaches and parks and trails of the great outdoors. Here are ten ideas for how to beat the heat while visiting the CT shoreline between the Quinnipiac River and the Connecticut River. So much to do and see and explore in air conditioned comfort – way better than hunkering down in front of the air conditioner (or the open doors of your refrigerator) and way beyond escaping to a shopping mall or the local 12-screen megaplex movie theater. Pick an idea, get up and get out there and enjoy this beautiful part of the Connecticut Shoreline. For details, locations and web sites of what you'll see here go to VisitCTShoreline.com .

10. Treasure Hunting – Seek and find the rare, the unusual, or just that special something that you just can’t live without.
 Go Antiquing in multi-dealer treasure troves where you’ll find a cornucopia of beloved items waiting for you to take them home.
 Poke around the many charity thrift shops. There’s at least one in every shoreline town, and donations pour in daily. You never know … this is beyond dumpster diving to clever treasure hunting, and you can feel good about supporting local charities too.
 Don’t forget the shoreline’s unique boutiques and mom-and-pop-owned shops. Hand made one-of-a-kind items and carefully selected merchandise that’s not to be found at the malls is their hallmark, and you get to chat with friendly locals and soak up some local culture too.

9. Matinee Performances – Take in a matinee daily at Madison Art Cinemas and on Wednesdays or Sundays at Ivoryton Playhouse, Goodspeed Opera House (musicals), or the Norma Terris Theater. Feel with the characters or laugh yourself silly. With so many to choose from there’s bound to be something you’ll want to see. You might even be able to catch an afternoon event at the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center.

8. Take a class – Learn something new. Expand your horizons. Make a memento to take home.
 Art classes are available in nearly every shoreline community. The Art Center at Killingworth, Guilford Arts Center, Artisans Harbor in Old Saybrook, Branford Artists Cooperative and Tracy Art Center in Old Saybrook are good places to start.
 Capture your Creativity in pottery at the Clayhouse in Old Saybrook
 Make one-of-a-kind jewelry at the Bead Hive in Guilford.
 Learn a new technique at Madison Wool.
 Cooking classes are a treat for your taste buds at Homeworks in Old Saybrook
 Find a Yoga class at a fitness center - Bend, stretch and reach for the sky in cool comfort

7. Go Exploring in Local History Museums – Both small and large, these are precious gems of preserved history ready for you to learn and explore. Mostly in the care of local historical societies, you’ll meet curators and docents who will share their passion for their special topic, interest and site. Here are just a few suggestions to get you started:
 Museum of Early Engineering Technology, Westbrook
 Military Historian’s Museum, Westbrook
 Lee Academy – Currently featuring Madison CT’s history during the Civil War years
 Henry Whitfield State Museum, Guilford – CT’s oldest stone house
 Deacon John Grave House, Madison
 Hyland House, Guilford
 John Stanton House, Clinton
 Eli Whitney Museum, New Haven
 Yale’s Peabody Museum of Natural History, New Haven

6. Browse in Local Art Galleries and Art Museums – There’s some amazing talent out there, both old and new and so much of it is showcased in small galleries and in art museums in the area and a bit beyond. Gaze in awe and admiration, or possibly in shock. You might even meet an artist! Here are a few to get you started:
 M. Sarba Fine Art Gallery & Café, Clinton
 Branford Artists Cooperative
 Guilford Art Center
 Artisans Harbor, Old Saybrook
 Susan Powell Fine Art Gallery, Madison
 Sylvan Gallery, Clinton
 Stuart Alan Lerner Gallery, Madison
 Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme
 Yale Museum of American Art, New Haven
 Yale Museum of British Art, New Haven

5. Tour and Taste at a local vineyard and winery – love the coolness in the cellars where the barrels live and the wines build their character. Many that are listed on the Connecticut Wine Trail are within easy reach:
 Chamard Vineyards, Clinton – is right nearby
Several others are just a short drive away:
 Johnathan Edwards Winery, North Stonington
 Stonington Vineyards, Stonington
 Saltwater Farm Vineyard, Stonington
 Paradise Hill, Wallingford
 Gouveia Vineyards, Wallingford
 Priam Vineyards, Colchester

4. Meet an author – Get the “skinny” on their latest book. Hear about their inspiration. Ask about their motivation. Pick their brain about what fascinates them and what fuels their drive to write. Buy a new book to read for when you go back out to the beach.
 R J Julia Booksellers in Madison hosts 2 and 3 authors each week. Different dates and times, so it’s best to check the details on their web site.
 Breakwater Books in Guilford also invites authors for and book signings on some Saturday afternoons.

3. Waterside Dining Creatively – From the inside out! Lunch, afternoon snack or dinner – head straight to a waterside restaurant with wide and tall windows to enjoy dining with water views in cool indoor comfort. Here’s a short list of some of our favorites:
 Sandpiper, East Haven
 Stonehouse Restaurant, Guilford
 The Wharf, Madison (soon to be open again!)
 Rocky’s Aqua Restaurant, Clinton
 Boom, Westbrook
 Water’s Edge Resort – Dining Room, Westbrook
 Terra Mar, Old Saybrook
 Dock and Dine, Old Saybrook

2. Take a boat ride – Let the breezes blow. It’s always cooler on the water!
 Cruise the Thimble Islands at Stony Creek for a 45 minute tour that will delight you as much as it will cool you off.
 Enjoy nearby lighthouses from up close by boat.
 Sunset sails are so relaxing and so romantic. Bring a simple picnic to enjoy.

1. Escape to a Day Spa and have yourself a “Spa” day – Aaahhhhh …. What a wonderful thought. Treat yourself to a massage, facial, manicure, pedicure, whatever services appeal to you. It’s your time to pamper yourself any way you please. Might we suggest a couples massage?
Here are a few to book yourself in to:
 Rituals, Guilford
 Essence Center for Beauty & Wellness, Old Saybrook
 Christopher’s Salon & Day Spa, Guilford
 By the Sea Inn and Spa, Branford
 Yolo Aesthetic Boutique, Guilford
 Sonas Day Spa, Madison

Come to think of it, nearly all of these ideas are great for that occasional rainy day too!


Enjoy your visit to the CT Shoreline.