Author: Nancy

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Kayaking 7/5 – 10

On July 1, we had a flooding event. The Wilder dam opened its floodgates,making for unsafe paddling conditions. Above the dam it was either mudflat or strong current filled with floating debris. Finally on Wednesday, the river was back to normal levels so we went out.

A family of ducks. –Connecticut River, Wilder 7/5/17
Wood duck —
Connecticut River, Wilder 7/5/17

The next day, we headed to North Hartland Dam. Here, the water levels had risen about 4 feet, leaving a bath tub ring of mud on the plants around the lake. They were busy dredging the outlet of the dam, trying to get rid of accumulated silt and debris.

Dredging the outlet at the North Hartland Dam –North Hartland Lake, 7/6/17


We saw a number of birds of prey: eagles,

Bald eagle, probably 4 years old. –North Hartland Lake, 7/6/17


a couple of osprey,

Osprey –North Hartland Lake, 7/6/17


a great blue heron

Great blue heron –North Hartland Lake, 7/6/17


as well as a red-winged blackbird.

Red-winged blackbird –North Hartland Lake, 7/6/17

After a ducky day on the Connecticut,

Duck family –Connecticut River 7/8/17


we returned to North Hartland.

Duck family –North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
Kingfisher –North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
Kingbird feeding babies—North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
Great blue heron –North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
Water lily –North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
Fishing at the North Hartland Dam –North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
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Eshqua Bog

On June 29, Jane and I took our annual pilgrimage to Eshqua Bog in Hartland. The showy lady slippers were plentiful.

Showy ladyslippers –Eshqua Bog, Hartland,VT 6/29/17

Showy ladyslippers –Eshqua Bog, Hartland,VT 6/29/17

We also found other bog flowers.

White bog orchid –Eshqua Bog, Hartland,VT 6/29/17

Water avens –Eshqua Bog, Hartland,VT 6/29/17

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The Pompy,North Hartland Lake, Grafton Pond 6/21-25

We’ve had a busy week paddling. Wednesday found us on the Pompy. We didn’t see a lot of wildlife, but it is always a pleasant paddle.

Yellow shafted flicker –Ompompanoosuc River 6/21/17

North Hartland Lake was our next outing. We saw our first great blue heron of the year as well as the usual sandpipers, a cormorant, turtles and a grackle. We were serenaded by songs birds, but didn’t see many. The yellow and blue flags were in full bloom.

Great blue heron –North Hartland Lake 6/22/17

Grackle –North Hartland Lake 6/22/17

Yellow flag –North Hartland Lake 6/22/17

Today we went to Grafton Pond. We found loons, including a young chick.

Loon parent and baby –Grafton Pond, NH 6/25/17

One of the loons tried to fly right at us, but decided the runway was too short, so stopped and dove.

Loon trying take off –Grafton Pond, NH 6/25/17

Canada goose and blue flag –Grafton Pond, NH 6/25/17

Turtle –Grafton Pond, NH 6/25/17

Butterfly on mountain laurel –Grafton Pond, NH 6/25/17

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Groton State Forest

It was a weekend for loons and lady slippers in Groton State Forest.

Loon on a nest –Groton State Forest 6/18/17

Loon hiding behind rocks –Groton State Forest 6/18/17

lady slipper –Groton State Forest 6/18/17

Butterfly –Groton State Forest 6/18/17

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Kayaking 6/12-15

On Tuesday, we put in at Wilder. We saw a loon near the boat launch.

Loon by the Wilder Dam. 6/13/17

We were planning on going up Mink Brook, but a mama merganser with her tiny ducklings swam up the brook, so we continued back down the Connecticut.

Merganser family. –Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 6/13/17

We did find another family of ducklings, this one mallard.

The next day found us on North Hartland Lake. It was a day of turtles,

Painted turtles. –North Hartland Lake, VT 6/14/17

Turtle –North Hartland Lake, VT 6/14/17

a merganser family.
Merganser family –North Hartland Lake, VT 6/14/17

a yellowthroat
Yellowthroat –North Hartland Lake, VT 6/14/17

and deer.

“Are you looking at me?” Deer, –North Hartland Lake, 6/14/1

Yesterday we drove to Squam Lake for a paddle around Great Island.

Mallard. –Squam Lake, NH 6/15/17

Kingbird –Squam Lake, NH 6/15/17

We heard loons in the distance, but didn’t see them.

The lady slippers were blooming.

Lady slipper –Squam Lake, NH 6/15/17