About This Blog

An Introduction

Welcome to Sherwood Island 365, a blog of photos taken at Sherwood Island State Park. Situated in Westport, Connecticut, on the Long Island Sound, the 234 acres of grassy fields, marsh, beach, and sea make for a beautiful place. Think picnic tables in the shade, bird-watching, barbecuing, swimming, fishing, walking—and steering clear of the resident Canada geese. I love state parks and hope to learn this one better as I learn to use a digital camera.

I’m not employed by the state of Connecticut, and this blog has no affiliation with Connecticut’s Department of Environmental Protection, which manages the state parks.

Susan Thomsen, amateur photographer, July 28, 2008

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Update, September 3

I started out with the idea that I would go every day (as in the 365 in the blog’s name, ahem). That was way too ambitious, but I try to go as often as possible. What a lovely place—an instant mood uplifter, too!

Update, January 15

We are having a cold, snowy winter here in southwest Connecticut. Sherwood Island continues to be beautiful, but, for me, not as much fun as when more people are around. The best times I’ve had there over the late fall and early winter are birding walks I’ve taken with Sunrise Birding and the New Haven Bird Club.

Only one parking lot is open right now–the one closest to the Pavilion. On any given day, half of the dozen cars or so are occupied by single drivers just sitting there. I guess they’re avoiding work or waiting for Godot or expecting the weather to change and be the first one at the beach.

A few hearty exercisers are still around, as well as occasional pet owners who bring their dogs over for a walk. (But there are many more dogs and dog-owners at Westport’s Compo Beach.) I haven’t seen any fishermen or the model-plane fliers for a while. Too cold right now.  The birding has been good, with many ocean ducks and such around. There are even some white-winged crossbills in the spruce trees toward the north end; the experienced birders tell me that these birds don’t appear in Connecticut every winter. So I am glad to have made their acquaintance.