First paddle of the season

turtles on log

Yesterday Jane, her son Jaimie, and I went to North Hartland Lake for my first paddle of the season. Turtles, turtles everywhere! On the boom near the dam. On logs up and down the river. On twigs floating in the river. On the mud flats. On rocks… The water was cold (in the 50’s) and the sun was warm.

We also saw eagles, young and old, in the trees and in the air. A hawk in the air. Not many water fowl and only in the distance. A few warblers and sandpipers.

North Hartland Lake 9/12

We spent quite a while watching an immature bald eagle yesterday on North Hartland Lake.

Immature bald eagle
Immature bald eagle

Watching me
Watching me

Eagle taking off
Eagle taking off

We also saw the usual variety of herons, ducks, and osprey.

Osprey with fish
Osprey with fish

Great blue heron with lunch
Great blue heron with lunch

Mergansers and an egret
Mergansers and an egret