loons – Page 2 – Nancy's Corner

May 29, 2018

Grafton Pond 5/29

We spent the morning on Grafton Pond. We saw our usual complement of loons and geese.

Both species are thinking about nesting, as well as a hairy woodpecker.

Female hairy woodpecker.
Grafton Pond, NH 5/29/18

We also saw some turtles.

Painted turtle. Grafton Pond, NH 5/29/18

October 24, 2017November 9, 2021

Some October pictures

We have kept paddling through most of October seeing:
loons,

a cormorant,

Double crested cormorant — Grafton Pond 10/3/17

a green heron,

a chipmunk,

a wood turtle,

a red-winged blackbird,

Red-winged black bird — Mink brook 10/22/17

a painted lady,

another loon,

Loon testing his wings — Grafton Pond 10/21/17

and reflected foliage.

Foliage reflected — Connecticut River 10/22/17

I also took part in a black & white challenge.

Mallard on Mink Brook — Mink Brook, 10/18/17

June 25, 2017

The Pompy,North Hartland Lake, Grafton Pond 6/21-25

We’ve had a busy week paddling. Wednesday found us on the Pompy. We didn’t see a lot of wildlife, but it is always a pleasant paddle.

Yellow shafted flicker –Ompompanoosuc River 6/21/17

North Hartland Lake was our next outing. We saw our first great blue heron of the year as well as the usual sandpipers, a cormorant, turtles and a grackle. We were serenaded by songs birds, but didn’t see many. The yellow and blue flags were in full bloom.

Great blue heron –North Hartland Lake 6/22/17

Yellow flag –North Hartland Lake 6/22/17

Today we went to Grafton Pond. We found loons, including a young chick.

Loon parent and baby –Grafton Pond, NH 6/25/17

One of the loons tried to fly right at us, but decided the runway was too short, so stopped and dove.

Loon trying take off –Grafton Pond, NH 6/25/17

Canada goose and blue flag –Grafton Pond, NH 6/25/17

Butterfly on mountain laurel –Grafton Pond, NH 6/25/17

August 28, 2016

A week on the water: August 22-28

What we saw this week: night hawks,

Nighthawks migrating --Connecticut River, Wilder,VT 8/24/16 — Nighthawks migrating –Connecticut River, Wilder,VT 8/24/16

great blue herons,

Great blue heron -- Ompomanoosuc River 8/27 — Great blue heron — Ompomanoosuc River 8/27

Great blue heron flying low -- North Hartland Lake, VT 8/28/16 — Great blue heron flying low — North Hartland Lake, VT 8/28/16

Great blue heron fishing -- North Hartland Lake, VT 8/28/16 — Great blue heron fishing — North Hartland Lake, VT 8/28/16

Great Blue Heron in tree --North Hartland Lake, VT 8/25/16 — Great Blue Heron in tree –North Hartland Lake, VT 8/25/16

green heron,

cormorants,

Double crested cormorant --North Hartland Lake, VT 8/28 /16 — Double crested cormorant –North Hartland Lake, VT 8/28
/16

Double crested cormorants --North Hartland Lake, VT 8/28/16 — Double crested cormorants –North Hartland Lake, VT 8/28/16

ducks,

Wood duck -- Connecticut River, Wilder,VT 8/24/16 — Wood duck — Connecticut River, Wilder,VT 8/24/16

Mallards flying --Ompompanoosuc River, 8/27 — Mallards flying –Ompompanoosuc River, 8/27/16

Mallard taking off --Ompompanoosus River, 8/27 — Mallard taking off –Ompompanoosuc River, 8/27/16

Mallards framed --Ompompanoosus River, 8/27 — Mallards framed –Ompompanoosuc River, 8/27/16

sandpipers,

Spotted Sandpiper -- North Hartland Lake, VT 8/25/16 — Spotted Sandpiper — North Hartland Lake, VT 8/25/16

Solitary sandpiper -- North Hartland Lake, VT 8/28/16 — Solitary sandpiper — North Hartland Lake, VT 8/28/16

loons,

Loon feeding baby --Grafton Pond, NH 8/23/16 — Loon feeding baby –Grafton Pond, NH 8/23/16

beaver,

chipmunks,

Chipmunk --Connecticut River, Wilder,VT 8/24/16 — Chipmunk –Connecticut River, Wilder,VT 8/24/16

and some songbirds.

Gold finch --North Hartland Lake, VT 8/25/16 — Gold finch –North Hartland Lake, VT 8/25/16

Kingbird in an alder --Ompompanoosus River, 8/27 — Kingbird in an alder –Ompompanoosus River, 8/27

July 12, 2016

Grafton Pond

We went to Grafton Pond this morning to watch the loons. They are quite accustomed to people and if you don’t crowd them, they will sometimes emerge from a dive only a few feet from the kayaks.

We saw two families. One set of parents fed their chicks then stood guard while they tried foraging on their own. They often will stretch after diving.

Loon with chick checking out what is below.

On the other side of the lake we came across a parent with one chick. It seemed like the chick was sleepy. It would tuck its head down, the wind would carry away for a couple of minutes, it would wake up and swim back to the adult.

Grafton Pond is a beautiful place that does not allow motors.

We didn’t see any geese. The yard that used to have a flock, now has geese deterrents near the waterfront.