mallard – Page 2 – Nancy's Corner

August 29, 2020

From my kayak 8/13-8/24

We saw some unusual wildlife (for us) recently. At North Hartland Lake we came upon a bear swimming across the lake.

Black bear crossing the river. North Hartland Lake, 8/15/2020

The next time we were there, we saw a couple of coyotes.

Coyote digging. North Hartland Lake. 8/22/2020

They looked and acted so much like my dog Freya, it was uncanny.

We have been watching green herons, both on the Connecticut and the Pompy.

Green heron. Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 8/24

Green heron yawning. Connecticut River 8/17/2020

We also saw some of the more usual wildlife: cormorants, ducks, geese, a merlin and of course, painted turtles.

Cormorants. North Hartland Lake, 9/15/2020

Wood duck. Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 8/17/2020

Mallard beginning to get breeding colors. Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 8/13/2020

Mallards preening. Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 8/23/2020

“Sentry” Canada goose. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 8/20/2020

Painted turtles on a log. North Hartland Lake, 8/15/2020

May 24, 2020

We have had some warmer weather and the water temperatures are now above 50, so we’ve taken to the water. The quarantine rules have relaxed some, so I am traveling a bit farther afield. I drove to Squam Lake, spent the day with my niece and her husband, washed a few windows and took a short paddle.

The next day, Jane and I met her brother, sister, and brother-in-law for a delightful kayak on Upper Baker Pond in Orford. We saw a pair of loons, some white flowering bushes,

Shad bush (Service Berry?) Upper Baker Pond, NH 5/21/20

and one mallard drake. Is the hen sitting on a nest?

Mallard drake. Upper Baker Pond, NH 5/21/20

We kayaked on the Connecticut River out of Wilder on Saturday. We came across a family of geese.

Canada goose family. Connecticut River, NH 5/22/20

It was finally warm enough that we heard the frogs singing.

Spotted sandpiper. Connecticut River, VT. 5/23/20

October 28, 2019

From my kayak 9/17-10/14

It has been a beautiful fall: some rain, some sun and dropping temperatures.

Storm’s a-coming. Connecticut River, Orford, NH 9/24/19

We continued to paddle a few times a week.

Reflections. Connecticut River, Fairlee, VT 9/24/19

Rick. Lake Katherine, Piermont, NH 9/21/19

Barb with yellow tree. Squam Lake, Holderness, NH 10/13/19

Colorful trees across the cove. Squam Lake, Holderness, NH 10/12/19

We haven’t seen a lot of wildlife: a few ducks, geese, a green heron…

Mallard flying. Connecticut River, Fairlee, VT 9/24/19

Green heron. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 9/18/19

Bald eagle. Squam Lake, Holderness, NH 10/13/19

Loon in winter garb. Goose Pond, Canaan, NH 10/14/19

Hornet’s nest. Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 10/5/19

Chipmunk. Connecticut River, Norwich, VT 9/28/19

Geese flying. Goose Pond, Canaan, NH 10/14/19

Moose Mountain. Goose Pond, Canaan, NH 10/14/19

Unfortunately, all good things come to an end. The water is now below 50 and because we don’t have wet/dry suits, we have put the kayaks away for the season.

June 11, 2019June 11, 2019

From my kayak 6/7-10

We had 4 days of beautiful weather– bluebird skies, air temperatures around 80º, water temps in the mid to upper 50’s, so we headed for some of our favorite rivers.

We didn’t find any herons and only a few ducks and geese, but there was still a lot to see and hear. The frog sounds were so loud that it drowned out the traffic noise on the Pompy.

Grackle. Mink Brook, NH 6/7/19
Loon stretching – Connecticut River, Lebanon, NH 6/7/19
Luna moth — Connecticut River, Lebanon, NH 6/8/19
Large rodent (woodchuck? muskrat? beaver?) grooming. Mink Brook, Hanover, NH 6/8/19
Frog Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 6/9/19
Frog singing. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 6/9/19
Red-winged blackbird. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 6/9/19
Deer –North Hartland Lake, VT 6/10/19
Frog –North Hartland Lake, VT 6/10/19
Mallard with ducklings –North Hartland Lake, VT 6/10/19