Ompompanoosuc River – Page 2

October 6, 2022October 12, 2022

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

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

Wood duck in breeding colors. Connecticut River 10/5/22

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

Immature bald eagle. Ompompanoosuc River 9/25/22

Broad winged hawk. Ompompanoosuc River 9/15/22

As well as a variety of turtles.

Wood turtle. Ompompanoosuc River 9/16/22

And flowers.

Closed gentian. Connecticut River 9/7/22

Jerusalem artichoke. Ompompanoosuc River 9/16/22

August 22, 2022August 22, 2022

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

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

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

Belted kingfisher. Ompompanoosuc River 7/30/22

Eagles

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

Some turtles.

Some mammals

Muskrat with leaves. North Hartland Lake 7/31/22

Doe behind the pickerel weeds. North Hartland Lake 7/29/22

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

May 22, 2022

Back in the kayaks!

After a long winter, we are back on the water! Our first paddle was on the McDaniels Marsh. The water temperature was warm: the frogs and turtles were abundant, the geese were paired with at least one with goslings, and the red-winged blackbirds were staking out their territories.

McDaniels Marsh, Springfield, NH 5/14/22

Painted turtles on a log. McDaniels Marsh, Springfield, NH 5/14/22

Canada geese with goslings. McDaniels Marsh, Springfield, NH 5/14/22

Red-winged blackbird. McDaniels Marsh, Springfield, NH 5/14/22

Our next trip was to Upper Baker Pond near Orford, NH. When we arrived, Mt Cube had it’s top in the clouds. It was nice to paddle without the usual docks out. We didn’t see much wildlife: one pair of geese flying, a great blue heron in a tree, a red-winged blackbird. Was it too early in the year? has the avian flu decimated the bird population? were we too late in the day?…

New leaves with a freshet. Upper Baker Pond, 5/20/22

Red-winged blackbird. Upper Baker Pond, 5/20/22

Blueberry blossoms. Upper Baker Pond, 5/20/22

The next day, Jane and I went to the Pompy. The water temperature was marginally warm, I wouldn’t want to swim in it, probably in the mid 50’s. The bushes on both sides of the river were filled with birdsong, with just enough leaves so it was hard to see the birds.

Bobolink. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 5/21/22

Catbird. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 5/21/22

Canada goose with goslings. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 5/21/22

Goslings. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 5/21/22

Female red-winged blackbird. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 5/21/22

Tree swallows. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 5/21/22

October 26, 2021

From my kayak Fall 2021

This fall we have spent as much time as we could in our kayaks, weather permitting. We’ve seen a few ducks of various type. It seems like there are far fewer ducks and geese than in past years.

Common merganser. Ompompanoosuc River 9/27/21

Common merganser lift off. Ompompanoosuc River 9/27/21

Some other birds,

Great blue heron flying. Mink Brook 10/7/21

Spotted sandpiper, winter plumage. Indian Pond 10/13/21

and a turtle or two.

Painted turtle. Connecticut River 10/6/21

The foliage has been spotty, a few brilliant trees, but in the Upper Valley, mostly dull.

Colors on Great Island. Squam Lake 10/9/21

The birds are flying south, and our kayaks have been put away for the winter.

September 23, 2021

From my kayak 8/24-9/19

It has been a while since I posted; we had internet problems. We have continued to go kayaking 3-4 times a week mostly at our usual haunts: the Connecticut River north of Wilder, the Ompompanoosuc River, North Hartland Lake before it closed for the season, as well as Grafton Pond and Reservoir Pond in New Hampshire. We have seen eagles,

Eagle with fish. North Hartland Lake 8/25/21

Immature eagle. North Hartland Lake. 8/25/21

herons, both great blue and green,

Great blue heron. North Hartland Lake 8/25/21

Great blue heron. Connecticut River 8/24/21

Great blue heron. North Hartland Lake 9/4/21

Great blue heron. Connecticut River 9/5/21

Green heron eating a fish. Mink Brook 8/24/21

loons,

other birds,

Turkey vultures. Ompompanoosuc River 9/19/21

Spotted sandpiper. Connecticut River 9/5/21

Waterthrush. Reservoir Pond,Lyme, NH, 9/14/21

some turtles,

Wood turtle. Ompompanoosuc River. 9/19/21

Painted turtles. North Hartland Lake 9/4/21

and some other interesting things.