Wintertime on the Lower Connecticut River

The wintertime can be a beautiful time on the lower Connecticut River. In this 2003 photograph a solitary boathouse sits underneath December clouds off the shores of Gateway member town Lyme. On any given day at this time of year, one might see several American Bald Eagles perching in the trees above the river or standing on a piece of river ice (photo below). The eagles, which are increasing in numbers every year, are forced to migrate south for the winter as their warmer weather waterways freeze. During Febuary, the Gateway town of Essex holds numerous events devoted to Eagle watching.