Seasons Sights Delight,
Fall Blossoms bidding goodbye.
We were enjoying quite an Indian summer here in Historic, World Famous, Wooster Square. Albeit, we have had our share of some windy and rainy weather. But compared to last year's horrible winter, every day we hit the 50's and sunny it is just like icing on our cakes here.
We got the cold weather on November 18. The rest of
the Country is either frozen or feels that way.
It won't be long until all the leaves are down,
some are all down and we still have lots on others.
Saturday, the 8th of November
If you are looking for some fall fun, all you have to do is head 4 miles up State Street to the
Quinnipiac River Marsh Wildlife Area.
Quinnipiac River Marsh Wildlife Area.
The marsh itself is named after the river, which is located only within Connecticut. The river starts up in the middle of the state west of New Britain. It's name, marsh and mouth come from the Algonquian Indian name for "long water land". The river and marsh were once abundant with wildlife, until pollution from Connecticut's Brass, Silver, Hardware and other industries polluted the river. Old dams impede any boat traffic. And even in 1981, when I came to New Haven, the Quinnipiac River Marsh was surrounded by five, count em, five active landfills.*
It's not like they didn't try, in 1886 the River was protected from the City of Meriden dumping raw sewage and resulted in the building Connecticut's first sewage treatment plant.*
*(Source: Wikipedia, WSBB)
That's the bad news. Since then, all the landfills have been capped.
Industrial waste to the North has been drastically eliminated. And the cleaner water is met with the clean(er) Tides from Long Island Sound, providing a habitat for the new residents.
Oyster boats head out of the Quinnipiac daily and harvest oysters right out of New Haven Harbor. The water has become so clean co-hog clams have been moving up the river. Abundant Alewife, eels, bunker, bass, bluefish,turtles and you name it now, flourish in this new, vibrant marsh.
There is an Island in the middle of the marsh, Grannis Island that is taken care of by the New Haven Land Trust.
And with all that luscious fresh seafood came the birds! Not like Alfred Hitchcock, but predatory birds: Hawks, falcons, eagles and osprey by the gazillions.
And I am not kidding, we went from having almost none of these birds, (mostly due to the chemical DDT), to the State not knowing how many Osprey platforms there are in Connecticut.
April 22 through April 26!!
Incoming!
An Osprey nest in the Marsh we found last year.
If you are lucky enough to have a canoe or kayak, I am told it's like you are in the middle of nowhere, teeming with wildlife.
(and not like you are surrounded by I-91 and by five landfills,
they are all capped)
Image courtesy of wiki
(I hope)
The marsh is an Oasis right near East Rock, where the Turkey
Vultures and Falcons rule the high cliffs.
At this time of the year, birds are migrating through. Our Osprey travel as far as 2,600 miles to South America for the winter. In fact, one such banded big bad bird, Arthur the Osprey, flew from
New Hampshire to a small lake in Costa Rica teeming
with wildlife and not too many humans.
So while you are driving by, you may catch a an eagle or two,
or like last Sunday, Cheryl and I saw 5 Bald Eagles in one tree,
2 Mature and 3 immature! They could have been the whole of this years two eaglets and last years lone survivor. I believe there were two initially last year but one tragically fell out of the nest.
The Quinnipiac marsh is a must see if you are looking for these
majestic, beautiful birds. And while you are at it,
take a drive or a hike to the top of East Rock.
You are sure to see some peregrine falcons and turkey vultures.
You may even see some bald eagles cruising the cliff.
Of course I took some photos, so before we head back to the
Wonderful World of Historic Wooster Square,
let's check out these eagles, steps from Wooster Square
(four big one mile steps each)
Bring some binoculars! Or a scope!
And sometimes they are very close.
In this photo, Mom is telling baby that its
"your turn to get the fish"
I think this baby can handle it.
Beak Lickin Good!
They don't share nicely so the other eaglet had to go
find his own meal for the evening.
The Eagle has taken off!
The hunt is on!
While Cheryl and I were ooing and aahhing over
these Five eagles she spotted a smaller predator.
A peregrine falcon was hanging out nearby. Just as Cheryl
pointed out where it was it took off. But I did get one
shot in not so great light.... but you get the idea.
Fun Fast Falcon Feathered Friend
but I did get him flying back to East Rock.
Good Eye Cheryl!
Behind #1 Fish on State Street in Hamden, just over the New Haven Line (next door is a deli with picnic benches behind it) you can see the eagles flying majestically, magically, mystifying... making major meaningful memories man!
Eagle Landing in tree in Quinnipiac marsh.
The eagles will remain in the Marsh all winter so long
as it doesn't freeze. If it freezes, then these guys need to move.
Usually, the eagles head east to the mouth of the Connecticut River where it meets Long Island Sound.
For a close and personal look at the wintering Bald Eagles on the Connecticut River, then you must take the
Connecticut River Quest.
Last year was so cold they had to cancel the season
because the boat was frozen in at the dock!
The boat leaves from Haddam, CT and they know
where all the eagles are hanging out.
Go to their website for dates and times.
***** ***** *****
The cold weather that most of the country had last week,
arrived this weekend. With it came wind, rain
and the hint of winter in the air. Yikes!
While I program the Blossom Mainframe for local
tasty tidbits, feast on some local treats
here in the
Wonderful World of Wooster Square!
Hughes Place Hits Heavenly Heights!
(before the wind and rain!)
Caution! Falling orange and yellow foliage!
Japanese Maple Jamming
Pumpkin Pleasin Pal
Colors Galore and more...
Fall Blossoms Bidding Bye
Teensy Tiny Tufted Titmouse Totally Treats
A couple a hangers on.
Park Bench
Littered Literally with leaves
(cell phone
shot)
Court Street Colors
Downy Back Woodpeckers Love our Sakura Trees
Bountiful
Berries Bring Bright Beautiful Birds
Like this
Hermit Thrush who is migrating through
stopped by
Court Street for some shelter and food.
Dark Eyed Junco
is through migrating,
making him/her
a
welcome winter
Wooster Squarian
Northern Mocking
Bird Berry Happy to live in the
Wonderful World
of Wooster Square year round.
Fall Foliage
Fence Foto Fun!
(winds and rain
have made many of these leaves down!)
1000 words
Hughes Place Pink and white tunnel to Hanami Happiness
(we'll have to wait a few months...)
We rolled out the yellow carpet for you!
New Haven Promise?
If you live in New Haven, and your children go to
a Public New Haven High School, you get your college paid for!
They have to stay in State and go to a State School, but
hey, I went Michigan State and it wasn't free.
Not a bad deal.
And I promise to keep you up to date
about Historic, World Famous,
Wooster Square!
(your photoblogumentary!)
Come to the Land of Ahhhsss
Pretty Please? With a ...
Focus Fence Foliage Foto Fun
Bonsai Bust Baby!
Not like the 23rd of April last year
Bonsai Sakura Sings
Sweet Song Sparrow Singing sweet Sakura Songs
Your table is waiting
(for Millenials, that's w8ting)
Speaking of waiting. Why not work for one of the best places in New Haven Connecticut,
Yale University!
Go Yale Bulldogs!
(Cheryl Szczarba and the Yale Mascot)
Speaking of the National Cherry Blossom Challenge,
Washington DC, is peaking with their
Sweet Sakura Fall Blossoms!
So head to the Tidal Basin for some
Fall Foliage Foto Fun!
National Cherry Blossom Festival!
The festival will begin March 20 and
run through April 12.
Wooster Square's
Cherry Blossoms Bloom in
2015
April 22 through April 26!!
Peaking on the 26th,
the date of Wooster Square's
Annual Cherry Blossom Festival!*
*It's a fact proven by fellow Michigander, Detroit Tiger Fan and 538 Blogger,Nate Silver, that the Wooster Square Blossom Blog is
the second most accurate at
predicting something, like when
cherry blossoms will bloom.
(Nate is #1)
(just google Nate and his 538 blog,
and the WSBB, and you will find
a chart of predictiveness.)
Looking for something free to do this Weekend?
Well, for starters, all the Museums at Yale
are FREE, if you mention the
Wooster Square Blossom Blog**
**(I am told that they are always free)
Don't know where to start?
Well, you are at least reading this, so...
Need something else?
I have a new show, at Detail's Salon,
on Chapel Street. The artists reception
is Friday night, November 21st from 5-7!
The show runs through February 16, 2015
Details located at 1022 Chapel Street,
in the Sherman Alley.
The Wooster Square Farmer's Market is
open on Saturdays from 10-2.
If I don't see you in a museum,
or at the farmer's market, or
at the artist's reception, then...
See You Round the Square!
Make Tracks for Historic Wooster Square!
The Wooster Square Blossom Blog,
Your World,
Squared
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