Herring Gull Takeoff

We went birding in the Lyme Connecticut area this morning with our friend Bob. After not finding much along the Long Island shore, we went to Rocky Neck State Park, and had good luck at an inland marsh--especially this nicely reflected Herring Gull. It was quietly on the pond as I moved closer, and then I was lucky to capture several shots as it took off. It recalls this much more dramatic shot of a loon launching itself.

In the afternoon we went to the Florence Griswold Museum, a key site for the origins of American impressionist painting. I had visited its original building (where the artists had spent their summers) more than once in the 1970s, and it was nostalgic to experience the institution's new incarnation, including an excellent new building.

And in the late afternoon we boarded the boat for our swallow cruise along the Connecticut river. The swallows performed much more dramatically than last evening, and it was altogether a wonderful experience. It's late now, however, and my images are still to be downloaded :(