July 29-Aug 4

We paddled a few times this week, mostly on the Connecticut River between Wilder and Hanover, but also the North Hartland Lake. We saw beaver,

Beaver -- Connecticut River
Beaver — Connecticut River

Getting ready for a warning splash
Getting ready for a warning splash
Splash
Splash

cormorants,

Cormorant --Connecticut River
Cormorant –Connecticut River

mergansers,

Mergansers --North Hartland Lake
Mergansers –North Hartland Lake

great blue herons,

Great blue heron fishing --North Hartland Lake
Great blue heron fishing –North Hartland Lake
Great blue heron caught something
Great blue heron caught something

an indigo bunting,

Indigo bunting -- North Hartland Lake
Indigo bunting — North Hartland Lake

kingfishers,

Kingfisher --North Hartland Lake
Kingfisher –North Hartland Lake

a yellowthroat,

Yellowthroat --North Hartland Lake
Yellowthroat –North Hartland Lake

damsel flies,

Damsel flies --Connecticut River
Damsel flies –Connecticut River

merlins,

Merlins --Connecticut River
Merlins –Connecticut River

and lots of mallards and wood ducks.

Duck stretch  --Connecticut River
Duck stretch –Connecticut River

Ducklings had a successful snail hunt --Connecticut River
Ducklings had a successful snail hunt –Connecticut River
Mallard reflection --Connecticut River
Mallard reflection –Connecticut River
Mallard preening --Connecticut River
Mallard preening –Connecticut River
Wood duck --Connecticut River
Wood duck –Connecticut River

On Tuesday, our friends Diane Langley and Mardrey Swenson (and Gemma) came with us.

Gemma isn't sure she wants to be in the kayak with Mardrey Swenson --Connecticut River.
Gemma isn’t sure she wants to be in the kayak with Mardrey Swenson –Connecticut River.
Diane Langley -- Connecticut River
Diane Langley — Connecticut River

Deer in the backyard

We had a couple of visitors to the backyard on Saturday. They were only about 15 feet from the house, and just sat and watched as I opened the door to photograph them.

deer-8248

deer-8271

deer-8261

deer-8258

Paddling 7/27-28

We paddled several times this week. An evening paddle on the Connecticut on Sunday didn’t yield a lot but this eagle may have been a reason.

Eagle -- Connecticut River
Eagle — Connecticut River

We found a family of green herons on the Pompy on Monday (we saw 3 at the same time).

Green heron -- Ompompanoosuc River
Green heron — Ompompanoosuc River

They were very good at hiding.

Green heron hiding
Green heron hiding

The swallows had fledged from their nest under the bridge.

Immature barn swallows under bridge -- Ompompanoosuc
Immature barn swallows under bridge — Ompompanoosuc

The Joe-Pye weed was in full bloom.
Joe Pye weed --Ompomanoosuc
Joe Pye weed –Ompomanoosuc

Tuesday found us on North Hartland Lake. We found the heron that likes to stick out his tongue on the beach,

Young great blue heron. We've seen this heron a few times, usually with his tongue hanging out. --North Hartland Lake
Young great blue heron. We’ve seen this heron a few times, usually with his tongue hanging out. –North Hartland Lake

a kildeer,
Kildeer -- North Hartland Lake
Kildeer — North Hartland Lake

and watched a duck trying to swallow a snail.

Mallard eating a snail -- North Hartland Lake
Mallard eating a snail — North Hartland Lake
Mallard swallowing snail -- North Hartland Lake
Mallard swallowing snail — North Hartland Lake
Mallard swallowing snail, final stretch --North Hartland Lake
Mallard swallowing snail, final stretch –North Hartland Lake

We watched a broad-winged hawk in a tree and overhead.

Immature broad winged hawk -- North Hartland Lake
Immature broad winged hawk — North Hartland Lake

Thursday was wood duck day. We saw more wood ducks than the usual mallards

Wood duck -- Mink Brook, Hanover, NH
Wood duck — Mink Brook, Hanover, NH

The merlins were in a tree across from Kilowatt Park.

Merlins in a tree -- Connecticut River
Merlins in a tree — Connecticut River

McDaniels Marsh

On Saturday we went to McDaniels Marsh. We saw several great blue herons,

Great blue heron with fish
Great blue heron with fish

Great blue heron taking off
Great blue heron taking off
Great blue heron in tree
Great blue heron in tree

geese,

Goose near the pickerel weeds
Goose near the pickerel weeds
Geese
Geese

a few song birds,

phoebe
phoebe

several beaver houses (we heard the beaver splashes, but didn’t see him),

Tall beaver house
Tall beaver house

damselflies and dragonflies,

Damselfly
Damselfly

turtles,

Painted turtle
Painted turtle

and lots of flowers.

Water lily
Water lily
A small pink flower
A small pink flower
Pickerel weed
Pickerel weed
Horned bladderwort
Horned bladderwort

July 17-22

This week we have paddled a variety of places. On Sunday, we spent the evening on the Connecticut.

Wood ducks on a log
Wood ducks on a log

Mallards
Mallards
Mallard preening
Mallard preening
Balloon touching down on the Connecticut.
Balloon touching down on the Connecticut.

Monday found us on the Pompy.

Green heron
Green heron

Joe Pye weed
Joe Pye weed
Kingfisher
Kingfisher
Mergansers running on water
Mergansers running on water

On Tuesday, we went to North Hartland Lake.

Great blue heron sticking out his tongue at me.
Great blue heron sticking out his tongue at me.

Jane found Elmo along the river.
Jane found Elmo along the river.
Meadow lilies
Meadow lilies
A young spotted sandpiper.
A young spotted sandpiper.
Rough Winged Swallow
Rough Winged Swallow

Wednesday, we took a break from paddling and walked in Kilowatt park.

Cormorant and ducks on a log
Cormorant and ducks on a log

Merlin
Merlin

Thursday evening we tried the Connecticut again.

Deer
Deer

Beaver
Beaver

Mallard
Mallard

Bottoms up
Bottoms up
Ducklings on a log.
Ducklings on a log.
One merlin giving the other a cold shoulder.
One merlin giving the other a cold shoulder.