Grafton Pond 6/18

Jane and I went to Grafton Pond last week to see the loons.

As we approached the pond, we found a family on Canadian geese on the dam.

Canadian geese on the dam. Grafton Pond, NH, 6/18/2020

We saw a few loons.

Loon. Grafton Pond, NH, 6/18/2020
Loon stretching. Grafton Pond, NH, 6/18/2020

While investigating some frog song, I came across a couple of large brown eggs in a mud nest.

Loon eggs. Grafton Pond, NH, 6/18/2020

Realizing what they were, I backed away and along came a loon who lumbered up onto the nest.

Loon climbing onto the nest. Grafton Pond, NH, 6/18/2020
Loon on nest. Grafton Pond, NH, 6/18/2020

From my kayak 5/28-6/15

We’ve kayaked a couple of times a week on the Connecticut River or on the Ompompanoosuc. The geese and ducks are out with their families.

Family of Canadian geese. Hanover, NH 5/28/2020
Canadian geese. Norwich,VT 6/13/2020
Mallard family. Wilder, VT 6/4/2020
Mallards 6/14
Mallard family eating snails. Lebanon, NH 6/14/2020
Merganser trying to lead us away from its nest. Norwich, VT 6/13/2020

Other birds are showing their colors.

Grackle. Wilder, VT 6/4/2020
Flicker. Norwich, VT 6/8/2020

The kingbirds have nested.

Kingbird in nest. Wilder, VT 6/4/2020

And the red-winged blackbirds are guarding their territory from predators.

Turkey vulture. Norwich, VT 6/8/2020
Mink. Wilder, VT 6/15/2020

McDaniels Marsh 5/25

We had a good day at McDaniels. A little chilly and windy, but the wildlife viewing was excellent. The highlight of the day was seeing an American bittern, a lifer for me.

American bittern McDaniels Marsh, NH. 5/25/20
American bittern. McDaniels Marsh, NH. 5/25/20

The blackbirds were plentiful,

Red-winged blackbird. McDaniels Marsh, NH. 5/25/20

as were the Canadian geese.

Canadian geese. McDaniels Marsh, NH. 5/25/20

We even saw a loon pair.

Loon. McDaniels Marsh, NH. 5/25/20

The frogs were singing mating calls,

Frogs McDaniels Marsh, NH. 5/25/20

and the osprey was watching it all.

Osprey. McDaniels Marsh, NH. 5/25/20

Paddles 5/20-23

We have had some warmer weather and the water temperatures are now above 50, so we’ve taken to the water. The quarantine rules have relaxed some, so I am traveling a bit farther afield. I drove to Squam Lake, spent the day with my niece and her husband, washed a few windows and took a short paddle.

Water’s edge. Squam Lake, NH 5/20/20

The next day, Jane and I met her brother, sister, and brother-in-law for a delightful kayak on Upper Baker Pond in Orford. We saw a pair of loons, some white flowering bushes,

Loon. Upper Baker Pond, NH. 5/21/20
Shad bush (Service Berry?) Upper Baker Pond, NH 5/21/20

and one mallard drake. Is the hen sitting on a nest?

Mallard drake. Upper Baker Pond, NH 5/21/20

We kayaked on the Connecticut River out of Wilder on Saturday. We came across a family of geese.

Canada goose family. Connecticut River, NH 5/22/20

It was finally warm enough that we heard the frogs singing.

Frog. Connecticut River, VT. 5/22/20
Spotted sandpiper. Connecticut River, VT. 5/23/20

Spring 2020

In this year of Covid19, it has been a long time in coming, but spring has arrived.

Wildlife Rd. in spring. Hartford, VT 5/18/20

The birds are doing spring things.

Sparrow. Hartford, VT 4/28/20.
Bluejay. Hartford, VT 5/13/20

The animals are out and about.

Fox kit. Hartford, VT 5/2/20
Chipmunk. Hartford, VT 5/8/20
Bear in our driveway. Hartford, VT 5/5/20

And the spring flowers are blooming.

Pussy willow with bee. Hartford, VT 4/28/20
Daffodils in snow. Hartford, VT 5/9/20
Bluets. Hartford, VT 5/17/20.
Jack in the pulpit. Hartford, VT 5/18/20
Garlic mustard. Hartford, VT 5/18/20
Colt’s foot seeds. Hartford, VT 5/18/20
Unusual trillium. Hartford, VT 5/18/20
Trillium. Hartford, VT 5/7/20