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.
We’ve seen great blue herons on North Hartland Lake, Mink Brook, the Pompy and the Connecticut,
Mink Brook, Hanover, NH 7/28/18
a green heron in Wilder,
and eagles in North Hartland and Squam Lake.
North Hartland Lake, VT 7/29/18
A gaggle of geese followed us down the Pompy and then crossed the road.
This week we paddled our usual spots: the Connecticut from Wilder and North Hartland Lake.
Connecticut River, Lebanon, NH 7/21/18
We spent some time watching a great blue heron fishing,
a cormorant,
Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 7/21/18
a couple of muskrats,
Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 7/21/18
a swallowtail butterfly.
Wilder, VT 7/19/18
and some flowers.
Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 7/21/18
On Saturday, Jane and I headed to the Connecticut River in Wilder. We started in a light rain, which stopped by the time we got to Mink Brook and cleared by the time we returned to Wilder.
The ducklings are growing. One family is nearly adult sized.
Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 7/14/18
We watched a couple of muskrats snacking, sitting on a log, then leaving to get some more goodies.
Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 7/14/18
We returned to the Wilder boat launch to find a family of young ducklings settling in for a nap.
Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 7/14/18
Sunday, we went to North Hartland Lake.
Jane and I went to Grafton Pond on Tuesday. The loon chicks have hatched and are being tended by their parents. We saw two families of loons, one with a very young chick,
Grafton Pond, NH 7/10/18
and another with a larger and older chick.
Grafton Pond, NH 7/10/18
We also found a great blue heron hiding in the bushes.
Grafton Pond, NH 7/10/18
The past few weeks we have continued to paddle the Connecticut River between Wilder and Hanover including Mink Brook, and North Hartland Lake. We have seen beaver and muskrat on both lakes,
as well as great blue herons,
eagles,
dragon flies,
North Hartland Lake, VT 7/5/18
damsel flies,
Mink Brook, Hanover, NH 7/3/18
and plenty of ducklings.
Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 7/3/18
Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 6/30/18