Nancy's Corner

September 11, 2018September 11, 2018

Squirrels

There have been an overabundance of squirrels this year after last year’s bumper crop of pine cones and acorns. They have been migrating across roads and rivers, looking for greener pastures. This week we have seen them swimming the Connecticut almost every day we have been out.

This grey squirrel landed on the pile of logs in the middle of the river for a rest before continuing on to the Vermont side.

Squirrel still soggy after his swim. Connecticut River, 9/9/18

Even squirrels shake the water off. Connecticut River, 9/9/18

September 5, 2018September 5, 2018

From my kayak 8/31-9/4

This has been a week for fog, green herons, falcons, turtles, and a cormorant.

Goose and duck in the fog. Connecticut River 9/4/2018

Annoyed green heron. Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 8/31/2018

Green heron sticking out his tongue. Mink Brook, 9/4/2018

Peregrin with kingbird. Ompompanousuc, Norwich, VT 9/2/2018

American kestrel. North Hartland Lake 9/1/2018

Painted turtle North Hartland Lake 9/1/2018

Wood turtle. Ompompanousuc River 9/2/2018

August 28, 2018August 28, 2018

From my kayak 8/19-28

We’ve paddled the usual places the past 10 days. The mornings are getting colder and more foggy. We’ve seen great blue herons, green herons, cormorants, loons, ducks and other creatures. Loons do fly, they just take a long runway to take off.

*Jane paddles in the fog. North Hartland Lake, VT 8/25/18*

*Great blue heron Grafton Pond, NH 8/28/18*

*Great blue heron taking off. Connecticut River 8/24/18*

*Green heron. Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 8/27/18*

*Cormorant drying his wings. Connecticut River, Lebanon, NH 8/27/18*

*Loon launching. Grafton Pond, NH 8/28/18*

*Mallards on a log Connecticut River 8/20/18*

*Troll. North Hartland Lake, VT 8/25/18*

*Birch bark reflection. Connecticut River 8/20/18*

August 19, 2018

Wildlife at Squam Lake 8/9-17

I spent a week on Squam Lake in Holderness, NH, paddling almost every day. I found birds perching on man-made objects,

Ring-billed gull.
Squam Lake, NH
8/11/18

Common mergansers
Squam Lake, NH
8/10/18

on trees,

Nashville warbler
Squam Lake, NH
8/11/18

and rocks.

Spotted sandpiper.
Squam Lake, NH
8/17/18

I also saw squirrels, a turtle and a snake.

Red squirrel eating blueberries.
Squam Lake, NH
8/15/18

Northern water snake.
Squam Lake, NH
8/15/18

August 6, 2018

From my kayak 7/29-8/5

We have been out several times in the past couple of weeks.
We have been following a muskrat family near “duck island” on the Connecticut– at least 3 members.

Muskrat. Connecticut River, Hanover,NH 7/28/18

We’ve seen great blue herons on North Hartland Lake, Mink Brook, the Pompy and the Connecticut,

Great blue heron.
Mink Brook, Hanover, NH 7/28/18

a green heron in Wilder,

Green heron. Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 7/30

and eagles in North Hartland and Squam Lake.

Bald eagle.
North Hartland Lake, VT 7/29/18

Immature bald eagle. Squam Lake, NH 8/1/18

A gaggle of geese followed us down the Pompy and then crossed the road.