Backyard Birds, A Revitalized Waterfront and the Rose Garden at Elizabeth Park: Two Days in Connecticut

The Connecticut River in Hartford on a sunny June afternoon. The non-profit organization Riverfront Recapture has been instrumental in helping to restore the health of the river and improving accessibility for residents and visitors. Image copyright Daniel E. Levenson 2012.

This weekend I was in West Hartford and Hartford, Connecticut, where I had the opportunity to visit some beautiful places where human habitation and the natural world intersect. Over the course of Saturday and Sunday I saw a number of different species of birds, including a Great Blue Heron flying over the the trees along the Connecticut River, a Northern Flicker perched at the top of a tall tree by the riverbank, American Robbins and Common Grackles hunting for food on suburban lawns and a Blue Jay vising a backyard bird feeder.

On Sunday I spent the afternoon at the Riverfront Boathouse, a location which has benefited from the work of the organization Riverfront Recapture, which has played a significant role in revitalizing the Connecticut River and parks along its banks in the Hartford area. Looking out at the landscape the river itself was silvery-gray ribbon of water in the bright summer sun, as it wove its way past the docks and boat ramps. Seeing this river brought back memories of shad fishing on the Connecticut as a teenager and made me want to get out on the water.

Docks along the river bank offer boaters and recreational fisherman access to the waters of the Connecticut River.

Our visit happened to coincide with Rose Weekend, a celebration of an elaborate rose garden which is one of the coolest features of Elizabeth Park. This park also seems like a potentially promising birding spot, since it offers a mix of open fields, cultivated flower gardens and a small pond.We managed to get to the park late in the day on Saturday as the sun was setting - fortunately there was still enough light to wander around among the rose bushes and take a few photos.

Just a few of the hundreds of varieties of roses visitors can see at the Rose Garden in Elizabeth Park in Hartford, Connecticut.

The sun sets and the moon rises over Elizabeth Park and the Rose Garden in Hartford, Connecticut.

Thanks for reading.

Copyright Daniel E. Levenson 2012.