Bird Cruises to Sheffield Island Experience a Safari through your Binoculars

Although Connecticut is a small state, it is rich in birdlife with more than 430 different bird species to spot. If you are a bird lover with a checklist of bird species that you have seen in Connecticut, and want to add seabirds to your list, hop on board the CJ Toth Quest, a 49 passenger ferryboat with the Seaport Association on Sunday, June 9, June 16 or June 23 for the annual Bird Watching Cruise that runs from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. only in June. 

Each cruise is exciting and different because you can never anticipate what will fly your way.  The final destination of this three-hour cruise is Sheffield Island, a noted birding hotspot.  The Stewart B. McKinney Wildlife Refuge that is part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is on part of Sheffield Island and offers a crucial waterbird and nesting ground.  It is an excellent place to spot birds because it offers many different habitats in a relatively small area from woods and grasslands to the beach.  The trees on Sheffield Island attract herons and egrets, making the island an invaluable place to view and learn about wildlife and birds. There is also a small population of herring and great black-backed gulls that nest along Sheffield’s rocky shoreline.

This cruise is ideal for novice and experienced birders so whether you are looking through your binoculars for the first time or for the hundred thousandth time this excursion never disappoints. Best of all, these three birding cruises are guided by an experienced and avid birder, Preston Lust who will help participants spot and identify seabirds. Preston is an officer in the Connecticut Young Birders Club who has a special interest in nocturnal migration and has conducted research on nocturnal flight calls for the last three years.  He has also participated in bird-watching competitions such as the World Series of Birding and the Megabowl of Birding (the latter of which placed first place for three years straight!).  

Among the types of birds, you may see on these National Geographic styled cruises are nest sites and nesting colonies of ospreys and long-legged egrets with their graceful S-curved necks and long dagger-like bills.  On this three-hour cruise, passengers may also spot American oystercatchers, herons, terns, gulls, cormorants, and many others.

The importance of Sheffield Island to wildlife, especially migratory birds is enormous, and these special bird cruises give passengers the chance to spot these magnificent creatures on and off the water at an awe-inspiring and safe distance with a knowledgeable guide.

The bird watching cruise will depart at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 9, 16 and 23. Passengers are asked to arrive 30 minutes prior to departure. The boat leaves from the Seaport Dock at 4 North Water Street adjacent to the Stroffolino Bridge at the corner of Washington and Water Streets in South Norwalk.  Parking is available at the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium Parking Lot. Tickets are Adult: $28, Members and seniors: $23, Children 4-12 years old: $16 and Children 3 and under are $7.  For Reservations contact 203-838-9444.  On the day of the cruise contact the dock phone at 203-838-2898.  For Tickets click here.

Cruise to Sheffield Island for Yoga On the Beach

Yoga can be translated to mean union and what better place to practice it than on an island where the sky, the sand, and the sea meet.  We all know how good yoga is for you, but what about yoga after a sunrise cruise to a private island on the beach?  At the Seaport Association, we know that yoga experienced this way is even better!  On Saturday, June 29, from 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. the Seaport Association is offering a special morning cruise and yoga session with instructor Amanda Boe on beautiful Sheffield Island in the shadow of the historic Sheffield Island Lighthouse.

This relaxing excursion begins with an early morning ferry ride to Sheffield Island.  Early morning is one of the most beautiful and calming times of day to be on the water.   Once on the island, there will be a one-hour session with Yoga Instructor, Amanda Boe who has received her YTT certification from the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health.  Boe has also been a student of many yoga teachers from around the globe. "I believe that yoga is a great equalizer, and teaching yoga offers balance in a hectic world."  After the yoga session, participants will enjoy fresh whole fruit and water with the sun on their face soaking up vitamin D and breathing in the healthy salt air.

Research shows that being by the sea has many benefits: our stress levels drop, we get more creative and, in general, our health improves just by being close to salt water. Now add yoga to the mix: practicing on a beach means yoga’s effects on your body and soul are amplified. The sheer beauty that surrounds you from the historic Sheffield Lighthouse to the song of seabirds and the lapping of waves against the sand make this a very special yoga experience that only happens only once a year for 49 lucky passengers.

About the Morning Yoga Cruise

The Morning Cruise and Yoga Session is for adults only. It is open to all skill levels and to anyone looking to enjoy a serene ferry ride to Sheffield Island followed by an hour of yoga.  Fresh fruit, water and natural beauty will be provided.

The boat leaves from the Sheffield Island Lighthouse Dock located at the corner of North Water Street and Washington Street in historic South Norwalk. Parking is available adjacent to the dock and the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium Garage. 

Tickets are $40 ($42.39 with service fee) and may be purchased online by clicking here. 

Start a Family Tradition this Memorial Day Weekend - Take a Cruise to the Lighthouse

The Sheffield Island Lighthouse is an iconic symbol of Connecticut’s maritime history.  This historic lighthouse and light keeper’s cottage is located at the southern end of Norwalk’s necklace of islands on the west entrance of the Norwalk River in Long Island Sound. One of the best ways to kick of the season is to take a cruise on the C.J. Toth on Saturday, May 25, Sunday, May 26 and Monday, May 27. at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. on all three days.  Tickets for this exciting excursion can be purchased in advance by clicking here or at the dock, space permitting.

Activated in 1868, Sheffield Island Lighthouse, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places was in service for thirty- four years before it was retired in 1902.  Today a visit to this historic Connecticut landmark gives visitors a first-hand experience on how important this lighthouse was to coastal and oceangoing shipping as these vessels plied their way on Long Island Sound, a major artery of communication and transportation.  A bonus is that once on the island visitors get to explore the historic 151-year-old lighthouse.

A highlight of this journey is the cruise itself.   The cruise allows passengers to experience the beauty of Norwalk from the water with wonderful views of the shoreline, islands and the harbor. The fresh sea breeze and birdlife are enjoyed in the comfort of the Seaport’s modern vessel on the way to and from the island.

Reaching the Island, passengers take a tour of the ten-room light keeper’s cottage and the lighthouse that is furnished in period furniture giving visitors a glimpse of what life was like as a lighthouse keeper.  If the day is clear, the New York City Skyline can be seen.  Make sure to save time to look for shells, play on the lawns, and unwind with a picnic lunch on your own private island before heading back. A new telescope on the Island is free to use and affords spectacular views all the way to New York!  This spring, visitors are also treated to a sneak peek of a brand new pavilion that is being built on the islands that will be available for parties and special events.  The Pavilion is expected to be completed by July 2019.

If you love nature and birdlife, don’t miss the chance to explore the Nature Trail that is part of the Steward B. McKinney Wildlife Refuge that is also located on Sheffield Island. There is a wide array of bird and wildlife to be seen here including nesting herons, wading birds, shorebirds, terns and many others.  A special viewing platform enhances the viewing experience. Don’t forget to charge your cell phone up and to bring your camera and binoculars.

Round trip ferry tickets are $28 for adults, $16 for children 4-12,  and, children 3 and under are $7. The boat leaves from the Sheffield Island Dock located at the corner of North Water Street and Washington Street in historic South Norwalk. Parking is available in the adjacent Norwalk Maritime Center Garage.  Be sure to wear comfortable, closed toe shoes.  For safety reasons, flip-flops are not allowed.  The capacity of the boat is limited to 49 passengers, so purchasing tickets in advance is recommended by visiting the website or visit ticketing.

About the Seaport Association

The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 by a group of local citizens who had the vision to revitalize South Norwalk and preserve Norwalk’s maritime heritage. 

The Norwalk Seaport Association offers a cultural, environmental, and historical journey to the Norwalk Islands.  The Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the Light Keeper’s Cottage provide a unique historical and educational venue which strives to increase awareness, appreciation and consideration for our environment and how the preservation of historic buildings and nature contribute to our quality of life.

It is our belief that preservation strengthens the perpetual partnership between the past, the present and the future. The combination of the Lighthouse and the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge offers an unparalleled opportunity to educate children of all ages and adults about the importance of preserving Long Island Sound, our environment and maritime heritage.