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The Pompy and Grafton Pond

It was a day for green herons on the Pompy on Tuesday: we saw several and they posed nicely.

Green heron –Ompompanoosuc River, VT 7/31/17

Irritated young green heron — –Ompompanoosuc River, VT 7/31/17
Green heron reflected –Ompompanoosuc River, VT 7/31/17

We also saw great blue herons on the Pompy as well as at Grafton Pond on Wednesday.

Great blue heron –Ompompanoosuc River, VT 7/31/17

Great blue heron –Grafton Pond, NH 8/1/17

The views of Mt Cardigan is always nice.

Jane and Mt Cardigan –Grafton Pond, NH 8/1/17

Of course we saw loons at the pond: a couple that surfaced close to the kayaks and a parent with 2 chicks,
Loon –Grafton Pond, NH 8/1/17

Loon –Grafton Pond, NH 8/1/17

Loon with chicks –Grafton Pond, NH 8/1/17

and saw geese and a dog on a SUP.

Canada goose –Grafton Pond, NH 8/1/17

A dog who was not sure he wanted to be on a SUP–Grafton Pond, NH 8/1/17
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7/19-30

We have been out paddling several times recently and have seen some unusual birds and animals,

Mink –Connecticut River, Norwich, VT 7/29/17
Semipalmated(?) sandpiper –North Hartland Lake, VT 7/22/17
Immature bald eagle — Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 7/23/17
Kingbird nestling –Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 7/29/17

as well as some of the more common.

Great blue heron — Connecticut River 7/19/17
Ducks –Connecticut River 7/25/17
Duckling –Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 7/29/17
Mergansers –North Hartland Lake, VT 7/30/17
Gold finch — Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 7/23/17
Osprey. North Hartland Lake
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Kayaking 7/12-18

This week found us on several of our favorite waters. Of course we saw ducks,

Duck on a log –Mink Brook, Hanover, NH 7/14/17

Mallard flotilla — Connecticut River, 7/14/17

“Quack” Mallard ducks — Connecticut River, 7/17/17

great blue herons,

Great blue heron — –North Hartland Lake 7/16/17

Great blue heron with a big fish (catfish?)
–North Hartland Lake 7/16/17

Great blue heron –McDaniel’s marsh 7/18/17

phoebes,
Fledgling Eastern Phoebe and adult — Connecticut River, 7/14/17

kingfishers,
Kingfisher — McDaniel’s Marsh, Enfield, NH 7/18/17

and kingbirds.
Nestling kingbird –North Hartland Lake 7/16/17

Kingbird on the honeysuckle bush — Connecticut River, 7/17/17

We also saw turtles,

Painted turtle — McDaniel’s Marsh, Enfield, NH 7/18/17
Painted turtle, –Mink Brook, Hanover, NH 7/14/17

muskrats,

Muskrat — Connecticut River, 7/17/17

and flowers.
Pond lily — McDaniel’s Marsh, Enfield, NH 7/18/17

I still don’t know what this is. — McDaniel’s Marsh, Enfield, NH 7/18/17

Pickerel weed — McDaniel’s Marsh, Enfield, NH 7/18/17
Wild rose — McDaniel’s Marsh, Enfield, NH 7/18/17

Water lily — McDaniel’s Marsh, Enfield, NH 7/18/17

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Kayaking 7/5 – 10

On July 1, we had a flooding event. The Wilder dam opened its floodgates,making for unsafe paddling conditions. Above the dam it was either mudflat or strong current filled with floating debris. Finally on Wednesday, the river was back to normal levels so we went out.

A family of ducks. –Connecticut River, Wilder 7/5/17
Wood duck —
Connecticut River, Wilder 7/5/17

The next day, we headed to North Hartland Dam. Here, the water levels had risen about 4 feet, leaving a bath tub ring of mud on the plants around the lake. They were busy dredging the outlet of the dam, trying to get rid of accumulated silt and debris.

Dredging the outlet at the North Hartland Dam –North Hartland Lake, 7/6/17


We saw a number of birds of prey: eagles,

Bald eagle, probably 4 years old. –North Hartland Lake, 7/6/17


a couple of osprey,

Osprey –North Hartland Lake, 7/6/17


a great blue heron

Great blue heron –North Hartland Lake, 7/6/17


as well as a red-winged blackbird.

Red-winged blackbird –North Hartland Lake, 7/6/17

After a ducky day on the Connecticut,

Duck family –Connecticut River 7/8/17


we returned to North Hartland.

Duck family –North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
Kingfisher –North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
Kingbird feeding babies—North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
Great blue heron –North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
Water lily –North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
Fishing at the North Hartland Dam –North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
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Eshqua Bog

On June 29, Jane and I took our annual pilgrimage to Eshqua Bog in Hartland. The showy lady slippers were plentiful.

Showy ladyslippers –Eshqua Bog, Hartland,VT 6/29/17

Showy ladyslippers –Eshqua Bog, Hartland,VT 6/29/17

We also found other bog flowers.

White bog orchid –Eshqua Bog, Hartland,VT 6/29/17

Water avens –Eshqua Bog, Hartland,VT 6/29/17