Nancy

July 6, 2021

From my kayak 6/23-7/6

We have had a fair amount of rain and hot weather, but we did make it to the Connecticut River/Mink Brook, Ompompanoosuc River, North Hartland Lake, and Post Pond. We joined Jane’s family on Goose Pond.

Emily all bundled up in her Uncle Judson’s kayak. Goose Pond 7/5/21

The loons are around, some sitting on nests.

Loon on the nesting platform. Post Pond 6/29/21

Family watching a loon. Goose Pond 7/5/21

The eagles have fledged at North Hartland Lake, but the parents still hang around near the nest.

We also saw one on Goose Pond.

Bald eagle taking off. Goose Pond 7/5/21

At Goose Pond we found a couple of great blue herons.

Great blue heron in a tree. Goose Pond 7/5/21

The mallard drakes are hanging together while the hens are taking care of the ducklings.

Mallard and duckling. Mink Brook 6/25/21

At Post Pond we only saw one adult goose with one nearly grown gosling. Usually there are two adults with several goslings. We were wondering what happened to the others. Did a predator get them? if so which one?

Goose and gosling on the town beach. Post Pond, 6/29/21

We found at least 3 families of geese on Goose Pond with varying aged goslings.

Adult geese guard the goslings. Goose Pond 7/5/21

Kingfisher. North Hartland Lake, 6/26/21

And of course we found flowers.

June 23, 2021

From my kayak 6/13-20

We have been out a few times in the past several days. We had a beautiful day for a trip to Kettle Pond in Groton, VT with Jane’s family.

The pond has some some huge rocks (erratics) scattered around, one looking like an elephant lying down.

Susy in front of an elephant. Kettle Pond 6/13/21

There is a family of loons nesting on a platform, a very different design than the ones on Squam, much more natural looking.

Loon on nesting platform. Kettle Pond 6/13/21

The laurel was just beginning to bloom,

and the pitcher plants were in full bloom.

We even found a luna moth.

We also went to our usual places: North Harland Lake, the Connecticut River and the Ompompanoosuc River where we saw some of the usual wildlife.

Female red-winged blackbird. Ompompanoosuc River 6/16/21

Male red-winged blackbird. Ompompanoosuc River 6/16/21

Kingbird on nest. Ompompanoosuc River 6/16/21

Canada goose family. Ompompanoosuc River 6/16/21

Older mallard duckling reflected. Connecticut River 6/20/21

Common merganser and mallard share a rock. Connecticut River 6/20/21

Beaver with a turtle on a log next to it. North Hartland Lake 6/19/20

Painted turtle. North Hartland Lake 6/20/21

June 15, 2021June 15, 2021

Eshqua Bog 6/14/21

This morning Jane and I took our annual trip to Eshqua Bog in Hartland, VT to see the showy lady slippers. They didn’t disappoint.

There were other bog flowers like water avens, Indian cucumber root, and false hellebore (not shown).

The birds were singing all around us.

June 3, 2021June 3, 2021

Late Spring Kayaking

Jane and I have been kayaking several times since mid-May.

The Pompy in the spring. Ompompanoosuc River 5/16/21

The Pompy had several families of Canada geese as well as some hooded mergansers.

Canada Goose and goslings. Ompompanoosuc River. 5/25/21

Hooded merganser family. Ompompanoosuc River. 5/25

They are both good parents but with differing parenting styles. The geese kept close watch over their goslings, keeping them in line with adults at both ends.