Author: Nancy

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A few birds

The past few months (is it really that long since I’ve posted here?) I photographed a few birds.

A warbler- Kilowatt Park, 11/19/16

Mallards in the rain. Dothan Brook, 12/1/16
Blue jay — Kilowatt Park, 12/23/16
Turkeys in the snow– Hartford, VT 12/13/16
Tom turkey on the wood pile. Hartford, VT 1/9/17
Ruffed grouse. Hartford, VT 1/9/17

North of the Wilder Dam, the ice on the Connecticut River has been coming and going since mid December as the temperatures go above and below freezing, but below the dam, it has been ice free. This week I noticed about 100 mallards near the West Lebanon-White River Junction bridge. We’ve also seen them flying in smaller groups above Kilowatt Park.

Mallards –Connecticut River, 1/8/17

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Last of the this year’s kayaking

The last couple weeks the foliage has been beautiful. We have made trips to Grafton Pond,

Fog lifting. Grafton Pond 10/6/16
Fog lifting. Grafton Pond 10/6/16
Young loon. Grafton Pond, NH 10/6.
Young loon. Grafton Pond, NH 10/6.
Red leaf in fog. Grafton Pond, NH 10/6.
Red leaf in fog. Grafton Pond, NH 10/6.
Mt. Cardigan from Grafton Pond, NH 10/6.
Mt. Cardigan from Grafton Pond, NH 10/6.
Mirrored island Grafton Pond, NH 10/6.
Mirrored island Grafton Pond, NH 10/6.

Squam Lake,

Loon. Squam Lake, NH 10/11
Loon. Squam Lake, NH 10/11
Sunset. Squam Lake, NH, 10/10
Sunset. Squam Lake, NH, 10/10

Connecticut River,

Foliage, Connecticut River 10/11
Foliage, Connecticut River 10/11
Fluffy seeds. Connecticut River, 10/15
Fluffy seeds. Connecticut River, 10/15
Jane on the Connecticut. 10/18/
Jane on the Connecticut. 10/18
Connecticut River 10/18
Connecticut River 10/18

the Pompy,

Tranquil Pompy. Ompompanoosuc River 10/16
Tranquil Pompy. Ompompanoosuc River 10/16

and Mink Brook.

Mink Brook, NH 10/19
Mink Brook, NH 10/19

We haven’t seen many birds, and most were very skittish with the exception being the loons on Grafton Pond.

We did come across a horned grebe, a lifer.

Horned grebe. Connecticut River, 10/11
Horned grebe. Connecticut River, 10/11

Mallards. Ompompanoosuc River, 10/16
Mallards. Ompompanoosuc River, 10/16

The water and air temperatures are getting colder, and for safety’s sake, the kayaks have been put away for the winter.

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Sept. 26 – Oct.4

Fall has come.

Red trees --Ompompanoosuc River 10/4/16
Red trees –Ompompanoosuc River 10/4/16

Duck hunting season has started and the ducks seem to know it. For the most part, they are more skittish and more adept at hiding, but there were a few exceptions. A female merganser let us get quite close and even followed us when we paddled downriver.

Merganser -- Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 9/26/16
Merganser — Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 9/26/16

Merganser -- Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 9/26/16
Merganser — Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 9/26/16
Merganser -- Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 9/26/16
Merganser — Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 9/26/16
Merganser -- Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 9/26/16
Merganser — Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 9/26/16
Wood ducks --Connecticut River , NH 10/3/16
Wood ducks –Connecticut River , NH 10/3/16
Mallards taking flight. Connecticut River, NH, 10/3/16
Mallards taking flight. Connecticut River, NH, 10/3/16
Mallard splashing --Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 10/3/16
Mallard splashing –Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 10/3/16

We also saw a great blue heron,

Great blue heron --Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 10/4/16
Great blue heron –Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 10/4/16

a cormorant,

Cormorant -- Connecticut River, NH 10/3/16
Cormorant — Connecticut River, NH 10/3/16

and some song birds.

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Sept. 20-25

We made at trip to Grafton Pond to see the loons and take in the beauty of the lake.

"See my pretty bracelets?" --Common loon, Grafton Pond, NH 9/20/16
“See my pretty bracelets?” –Common loon, Grafton Pond, NH 9/20/16

Loon family -- Grafton Pond, NH 9/20/16
Loon family — Grafton Pond, NH 9/20/16
Fall reflections --Grafton Pond, NH 9/20/16
Fall reflections –Grafton Pond, NH 9/20/16
More fall reflections --Grafton Pond, NH 9/20/16
More fall reflections –Grafton Pond, NH 9/20/16

We didn’t see as many ducks as usual on the Connecticut and what we did see were more skittish. I wonder if the local ones have headed south and we have transients now.

Mallard, Connecticut River, 9/21/16
Mallard, Connecticut River, 9/21/16
Bundle of feathers with a foot hanging out -- Mallard, Mink Brook, NH 9/24/16
Bundle of feathers with a foot hanging out — Mallard, Mink Brook, NH 9/24/16
Wood duck, Mink Brook, NH 9/21/16
Wood duck, Mink Brook, NH 9/21/16

But a green heron posed for us.

Green heron, Connecticut River, 9/21/16
Green heron, Connecticut River, 9/21/16

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September 10-17

Fall is approaching, the mornings are chilly and foggy.

Fog --Connecticut River, NH 9/17/16
Fog –Connecticut River, NH 9/17/16

The mallards and wood ducks are getting their breeding colors after a summer in drab.

Mallards --Ompompanoosuc River, VT 9/14/16
Mallards –Ompompanoosuc River, VT 9/14/16

Mallard and wood duck --Ompompanoosuc River, VT 9/14/16
Mallard and wood duck –Ompompanoosuc River, VT 9/14/16
Wood duck --Ompompanoosuc River, VT 9/14/16
Wood duck –Ompompanoosuc River, VT 9/14/16

We’ve seen herons,

Green heron --Connecticut River, NH 9/15
Green heron –Connecticut River, NH 9/15
Green heron --Connecticut River, NH 9/15
Green heron –Connecticut River, NH 9/15
Great blue heron --Mink Brook, NH 9/10/16
Great blue heron –Mink Brook, NH 9/10/16
Great blue heron --Mink Brook, NH 9/10/16
Great blue heron –Mink Brook, NH 9/10/16

eagles,

Bald eagle --Connecticut River, NH 9/12/16
Bald eagle –Connecticut River, NH 9/12/16

cormorants,

Cormorant stretching wings --Connecticut River, NH 9/10/16
Cormorant stretching wings –Connecticut River, NH 9/10/16

a mink,

Mink --Connecticut River 9/10/16
Mink –Connecticut River 9/10/16

and spiders.
Spider --Ompompanoosuc River, VT 9/14/16
Spider –Ompompanoosuc River, VT 9/14/16

Brown Duck is still hanging around.

Brown Duck in fog --Connecticut River 9/12/16
Brown Duck in fog –Connecticut River 9/12/16

Brown Duck --Connecticut River, NH 9/17/16
Brown Duck –Connecticut River, NH 9/17/16