Author: Nancy

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Grafton Pond 7/10/18

Jane and I went to Grafton Pond on Tuesday. The loon chicks have hatched and are being tended by their parents. We saw two families of loons, one with a very young chick,

Loon parent feeding chick.
Grafton Pond, NH 7/10/18

A young chick riding on the parent’s back. Grafton Pond, NH 7/10/18
A parent loon stretching after preening while the baby looks on.
Grafton Pond, NH 7/10/18

and another with a larger and older chick.

Loon showing its leg bands, older chick nearby.
Grafton Pond, NH 7/10/18

We also found a great blue heron hiding in the bushes.

Great blue heron hiding.
Grafton Pond, NH 7/10/18

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View from a kayak 6/23-7/8

The past few weeks we have continued to paddle the Connecticut River between Wilder and Hanover including Mink Brook, and North Hartland Lake. We have seen beaver and muskrat on both lakes,

Beaver raising its tail to splash.
North Hartland Lake, VT 6/23/18
beaver splash.
North Hartland Lake, VT 6/23/18

as well as great blue herons,

Great blue heron.
Mink Brook, Hanover, NH 7/7/18

eagles,

Immature bald eagle being chased by a kingbird.
North Hartland Lake, VT 7/8/18

dragon flies,

Dragon fly.
North Hartland Lake, VT 7/5/18

damsel flies,

Water lily with a damsel fly.
Mink Brook, Hanover, NH 7/3/18

and plenty of ducklings.

Ducklings swimming.
Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 7/3/18

Ducklings following mama.
Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 6/30/18

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Eshqua bog 2018

Jane and I visited Eshqua Bog, a local fen with rare wild flowers, twice this year, at the beginning and towards the end of the showy lady’s slipper season.

Showy lady’s slipper. Eshqua Bog, Hartland, VT 6/14/18

Showy lady’s slippers. Eshqua Bog, Hartland, VT 7/3/18
Pitcher plant. Eshqua Bog, Hartland, VT 7/3/18
Jack in the pulpit. Eshqua Bog, Hartland, VT 7/3/18
Water avens. Eshqua Bog, Hartland, VT 6/14/18
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Views from a kayak 6/16-19

The ducklings have arrived this week,

Ducklings by the benches.
Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 6/16/18

Ducklings.
Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 6/19/18
Mama with ducklings in the rough water.
Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 6/19/18

along with other birds,

Kildeer.
North Hartland Lake. 6/17/18

Northern waterthrush.
Ompompanousuc River, Norwich, VT 6/18/18
Female hooded merganser.
Ompompanousuc River, Norwich, VT 6/18/18

a variety of turtles,

Snapping turtle.
North Hartland Lake. 6/17/18
Painted turtle.
North Hartland Lake, VT 6/17/18

swimming mammals,

Swimming red squirrel.
North Hartland Lake. 6/17/18

Beaver.
Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 6/16/18

and flowers.

Blue flag.
Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 6/16/18

Yellow flag.
North Hartland Lake. 6/17, 2018

The first water lily.
North Hartland Lake, VT 6/17/18
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North Hartland Lake 6/12

We went back to North Hartland Lake on Tuesday and saw a turtle on a post,

Painted turtle on a stump. North Hartland Lake 6/12/18

a cormorant,

Double crested cormorant. North Hartland Lake 6/12/18

a bald eagle,

Bald eagle. North Hartland Lake 6/12/18

a brown swimming mammal (beaver? muskrat?)

beaver? muskrat? with lunch.
North Hartland Lake 6/12/18

and a bug on a yellow flag.
Bug on a yellow flag. North Hartland Lake 6/12/18