Nancy's Corner

June 24, 2022

Mostly from my kayak from late May to late June.

We have paddled at least a couple of times a week this month and have seen many of the usual suspects.

Ducks

Mallard with ducklings on a log. Connecticut River 6/6/22

Mallard family. Connecticut River 6/2/22

Wood duck and ducklings. Connecticut River 6/8/22

Female wood duck. Connecticut River 6/20/22

We saw loons on many of the lakes and rivers we were on.

A loon nesting platform. Squam Lake, NH 5/29/22

Loon on a nesting platform. Kettle Pond, VT 6/22/22

Cormorants and great blue herons were also around as well as some song birds.

Great blue heron. North Hartland Lake 6/21/22

Great blue heron. North Hartland Lake, 5/30/22

Yellowthroat North Hartland Lake 6/21/22

We have also seen many flowers.

Showy lady slipper bud. Eshqua Bog 6/17/22

I went to Maine for my 50th college reunion and went to the Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area. This area has several ecosystems: spruce forest, salt marsh and beach, among others.

View from Morse Mountain. Phippsburg, ME 6/10/2022

Snowy egret in the salt marshes. Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area, Phippsburg, ME 6/10/22

Gull walking on the beach. Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area, Phippsburg, ME 6/10/22

Watching the waves. Bates-Morse Mountain Conservation Area, Phippsburg, ME 6/10/22

May 22, 2022

Back in the kayaks!

After a long winter, we are back on the water! Our first paddle was on the McDaniels Marsh. The water temperature was warm: the frogs and turtles were abundant, the geese were paired with at least one with goslings, and the red-winged blackbirds were staking out their territories.

McDaniels Marsh, Springfield, NH 5/14/22

Painted turtles on a log. McDaniels Marsh, Springfield, NH 5/14/22

Canada geese with goslings. McDaniels Marsh, Springfield, NH 5/14/22

Red-winged blackbird. McDaniels Marsh, Springfield, NH 5/14/22

Our next trip was to Upper Baker Pond near Orford, NH. When we arrived, Mt Cube had it’s top in the clouds. It was nice to paddle without the usual docks out. We didn’t see much wildlife: one pair of geese flying, a great blue heron in a tree, a red-winged blackbird. Was it too early in the year? has the avian flu decimated the bird population? were we too late in the day?…

New leaves with a freshet. Upper Baker Pond, 5/20/22

Red-winged blackbird. Upper Baker Pond, 5/20/22

Blueberry blossoms. Upper Baker Pond, 5/20/22

The next day, Jane and I went to the Pompy. The water temperature was marginally warm, I wouldn’t want to swim in it, probably in the mid 50’s. The bushes on both sides of the river were filled with birdsong, with just enough leaves so it was hard to see the birds.

Bobolink. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 5/21/22

Catbird. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 5/21/22

Canada goose with goslings. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 5/21/22

Goslings. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 5/21/22

Female red-winged blackbird. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 5/21/22

Tree swallows. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 5/21/22

May 22, 2022

Winter / Spring 2022

I’ve had a good winter (too long!) and spring, taking daily walks, photographing dogs and other things at Kilowatt Park and around home.

October 26, 2021

From my kayak Fall 2021

This fall we have spent as much time as we could in our kayaks, weather permitting. We’ve seen a few ducks of various type. It seems like there are far fewer ducks and geese than in past years.

Common merganser. Ompompanoosuc River 9/27/21

Common merganser lift off. Ompompanoosuc River 9/27/21

Some other birds,

Great blue heron flying. Mink Brook 10/7/21

Spotted sandpiper, winter plumage. Indian Pond 10/13/21

and a turtle or two.

Painted turtle. Connecticut River 10/6/21

The foliage has been spotty, a few brilliant trees, but in the Upper Valley, mostly dull.

Colors on Great Island. Squam Lake 10/9/21

The birds are flying south, and our kayaks have been put away for the winter.

September 23, 2021

From my kayak 8/24-9/19

It has been a while since I posted; we had internet problems. We have continued to go kayaking 3-4 times a week mostly at our usual haunts: the Connecticut River north of Wilder, the Ompompanoosuc River, North Hartland Lake before it closed for the season, as well as Grafton Pond and Reservoir Pond in New Hampshire. We have seen eagles,

Eagle with fish. North Hartland Lake 8/25/21

Immature eagle. North Hartland Lake. 8/25/21

herons, both great blue and green,

Great blue heron. North Hartland Lake 8/25/21

Great blue heron. Connecticut River 8/24/21

Great blue heron. North Hartland Lake 9/4/21

Great blue heron. Connecticut River 9/5/21

Green heron eating a fish. Mink Brook 8/24/21

loons,

other birds,

Turkey vultures. Ompompanoosuc River 9/19/21

Spotted sandpiper. Connecticut River 9/5/21

Waterthrush. Reservoir Pond,Lyme, NH, 9/14/21

some turtles,

Wood turtle. Ompompanoosuc River. 9/19/21

Painted turtles. North Hartland Lake 9/4/21

and some other interesting things.