Tag: Ompompanoosuc River

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From my kayak 7/25-8/1

We have not been out kayaking much this summer thanks to predicted thunder showers, flooding and various appointments. One of our favorite locations, North Hartland Lake, has been closed for the rest of the summer because of the floods in mid July. But we have managed a few outings.

Mt Cardigan. Grafton Pond 8/1/23
Loon. Grafton Pond 8/1/23
Great blue heron. Grafton Pond 8/1/23
Great blue heron. Grafton Pond 8/1/23
Great blue heron on top of a pine. Ompompanoosuc River 7/26/23
Turkey vulture. Ompompanoosuc River 7/26/23
The sentry. Ompompanoosuc River. 7/26/23
Hooded mergansers. Connecticut River 7/25/23
Cardinal. Mink Brook 7/25/2023
Wood ducks. Connecticut River 7/25/23
Painted turtle on a log. Grafton Pond 8/1/23
Dragonfly. Ompompanoosuc River 7/26/23
Pond lilies. Grafton Pond 8/1/23
Roots. Grafton Pond 8/1/23
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Kayaking 6/15-7/1

The weather has been iffy, with threats of thunderstorms almost daily, but we did get out in our kayaks a few times, mostly in our usual places but also in Molly’s Pond in Vermont.

Tim, Eric and Rick paddling in the smoke at Molly’s Pond 7/1/23

The birds have babies.

Canada geese with goslings. Ompompanoosuc River, 6/22/23
Wood ducks. Connecticut River 6/29/23
Mama merganser splashing to draw our attention away from her chicks. Connecticut River 6/29/23
Merganser family. Connecticut River 6/29/23
Loon with baby chick. Molly’s Pond 7/1/23
Loon chicks swimming towards us. Molly’s Pond 7/1/23
Eagle eyeing the loon’s nest. Molly’s Pond 7/1/23
Immature eagle taking off. North Hartland Lake 6/20/23

We also saw some other birds and animals.

Great blue heron. Mink Brook 6/15/23
Yellow throat. North Hartland Lake 6/20/23
Yellowthroat. North Hartland Lake 6/20/23
Painted turtle. North Hartland Lake 6/20/23
Mink. Connecticut River 6/15/2023
Mink. Connecticut River 6/15/2023
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From my kayak 6/1 -6/12

We had a few trips in our kayaks, though the weather didn’t always cooperate.

Jane in the rain. North Hartland Lake. 6/3/23
Taking refuge under the highway bridge. Ompompanoosuc river 6/10/23

We did get a chance to see some birds: some unusual ones, and more of the standbys.

Black legged kittiwake Lake Fairlee 6/12/23
Black legged kittiwake Lake Fairlee 6/12/23
Immature cormorant high in a pine tree, panting. Connecticut River 6/1/23
Merganser. Ompompanoosuc River 6/10/23
Bald eagle. Lake Fairlee 6/12/23

The mallard drakes have gathered together and are molting. The baby mallards are hatching, and have to beware of hungry loons and osprey.

Mallard drake preening. Connecticut River 6/1/23
Young mallard ducklings. Connecticut River 6/6/23
Loon chasing ducklings. Connecticut River 6/6/23
Barn. Ompompanoosuc River 6/10/23
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From my kayak — Fall 2022

We’ve been out several time a week this fall, mostly on the Connecticut and the Pompy (we miss North Hartland Lake which is closed to repair the culvert under the parking lot), but we also have been to Lake Armington, Upper Baker Pond, Grafton Pond, Long Pond and Indian Pond.

Mt Cube from Indian Pond, Orford, NH. 10/6/22
Jane’s family paddling on Upper Baker Pond, 8/28/33
Susy on Long Pond. 10/3/22

We have seen our usual ducks and have enjoyed seeing them changing into breeding colors.

Wood duck. Connecticut River 9/7/22
Wood duck in breeding colors. Connecticut River 10/5/22
Mallards. Connecticut River 9/21/22
Mallards. Connecticut River 10/4/22

Common mergansers. Ompompanoosuc River 9/16/22
Merganser taking a bath. Ompompanoosuc River 10/4/22

We have also seen a number of other birds.

Green heron in the fog. Connecticut River 9/17/22
Loon family. Grafton Pond 9/10/22
Loon with foliage. Indian Pond, 10/6/22
Eagle. Connecticut River 9/20/22
Immature bald eagle. Ompompanoosuc River 9/25/22
Broad winged hawk. Ompompanoosuc River 9/15/22
Sparrow bathing. Connecticut River
Cardinal. Connecticut River 9/7/22

As well as a variety of turtles.

Wood turtle. Ompompanoosuc River 9/16/22
Painted turtle. Grafton Pond 9/10/22
Painted turtle. Lake Armington 9/2/22

And flowers.

Closed gentian. Connecticut River 9/7/22
Jewel weed. Ompompanoosuc River 9/4/22
Jerusalem artichoke. Ompompanoosuc River 9/16/22
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From my kayak, summer 2022

Jane and I have been out in our kayaks a 3-4 times a week all summer, mostly on the Connecticut River out of Wilder, VT; the Ompompanoosuc River in Norwich, VT; or North Hartland Lake in Hartland, VT. We also made trips to Goose Pond, Grafton Pond, Squam Lake, and Lake Tarleton.

We’ve seen the usual wildlife.

Ducks

Wood ducks. Ompompanoosuc River 8/13/22
Wood ducks hiding near the shore. Connecticut River 7/27/22
A pile of common mergansers sleeping on a rock. Ompompanoosuc River 8/13/22
Momma mallard with young duckling. Connecticut River 7/8/22

Some herons

Green heron. Connecticut River 8/21/22
Great blue heron. North Hartland Lake 7/31/22
Great blue heron in a pine tree. North Hartland Lake 7/29/22

Some loons and cormorants.

Fish for breakfast. Adult loon feeding its chick. Grafton Pond. 8/5/22
Cormorant drying its wings. Connecticut River. 8/16/22

Some shore birds

Sandpiper. Connecticut River 8/20/22
Ring-billed gull. Goose Pond 8/3/22
Belted kingfisher. Ompompanoosuc River 7/30/22

Eagles

Bald eagle diving. North Hartland Lake 8/7/22

Some turtles.

Painted turtle. Grafton Pond 8/5/22

Some mammals

Muskrat with leaves. North Hartland Lake 7/31/22
Doe behind the pickerel weeds. North Hartland Lake 7/29/22
Paraglider. Connecticut River 8/20/22

We also saw some insects.

Hornet on a lily pad. Connecticut River 8/21/22
Hornets’ nest. Connecticut River 8/10/22.
Monarch butterfly on Joe Pye weed. North Hartland Lake 7/31/22