CT River Swallow Cruise Sep 16, 2019

Every September, the swallows nest on Goose Island in the CT River and put on an amazing show of murmuration flock behavior. We took a BYOB cruise from Eagle Landing State Park by the Haddam Bridge on Riverquest's Adventure. It was a warm calm evening and we were not disappointed.
CT River Swallow Cruise-003 September cruise on Riverquest's Adventure to see the swallows swarming over Goose Island in Old Lyme. The cruise left from Eagle Landing State Park, just under...
1 September cruise on Riverquest's Adventure to see the swallows swarming over Goose Island in Old Lyme. The cruise left from Eagle Landing State Park, just under…
CT River Swallow Cruise-004
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CT River Swallow Cruise-006
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CT River Swallow Cruise-008 Gillette Castle and the Hadlyme Ferry
4 Gillette Castle and the Hadlyme Ferry
CT River Swallow Cruise-012 Bald Eagle perched on a dead tree on Nott Island
5 Bald Eagle perched on a dead tree on Nott Island
CT River Swallow Cruise-016 Bald Eagle perched on a dead tree on Nott Island
6 Bald Eagle perched on a dead tree on Nott Island
CT River Swallow Cruise-018 Cormorants perched on a channel marker
7 Cormorants perched on a channel marker
CT River Swallow Cruise-023 We arrive at the wild grass beds of Goose Island to find a mother and her gosling
8 We arrive at the wild grass beds of Goose Island to find a mother and her gosling
CT River Swallow Cruise-030 As the sun lowers in the sky, other boaters start to gather to watch the swallow show
9 As the sun lowers in the sky, other boaters start to gather to watch the swallow show
CT River Swallow Cruise-033 Boaters gathered at the bank of Goose Island
10 Boaters gathered at the bank of Goose Island
CT River Swallow Cruise-036 The swallows start to gather over Goose Island
11 The swallows start to gather over Goose Island
CT River Swallow Cruise-040 Most of the swallows are gathering over the small fresh water inlet on the other side of the island
12 Most of the swallows are gathering over the small fresh water inlet on the other side of the island
CT River Swallow Cruise-047 You can see the swallows on the ship's radar now. The vertical stripe to the right of the red diamond (where we are) is Goose Island. The fuzzy blob to the...
13 You can see the swallows on the ship's radar now. The vertical stripe to the right of the red diamond (where we are) is Goose Island. The fuzzy blob to the…
CT River Swallow Cruise-050 We are starting to see the murmurations of the swallows as they increase in number and start looking for their resting spots in the grass beds for the night
14 We are starting to see the murmurations of the swallows as they increase in number and start looking for their resting spots in the grass beds for the night
CT River Swallow Cruise-053 Swallow murmurations
15 Swallow murmurations
CT River Swallow Cruise-055 With one final murmuration, the swallows descend en masse to rest for the night in the grass beds of Goose Island
16 With one final murmuration, the swallows descend en masse to rest for the night in the grass beds of Goose Island
CT River Swallow Cruise-060 Beautiful sunset colors as we head back north on the Connecticut River
17 Beautiful sunset colors as we head back north on the Connecticut River
CT River Swallow Cruise-065 We pass the lights of Essex Harbor as we head home
18 We pass the lights of Essex Harbor as we head home