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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

Grackle –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
Turtle –Grafton Pond, NH 6/25/17
Butterfly on mountain laurel –Grafton Pond, NH 6/25/17
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Groton State Forest

It was a weekend for loons and lady slippers in Groton State Forest.

Loon on a nest –Groton State Forest 6/18/17
Loon hiding behind rocks –Groton State Forest 6/18/17
lady slipper –Groton State Forest 6/18/17
Butterfly –Groton State Forest 6/18/17
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Kayaking 6/12-15

On Tuesday, we put in at Wilder. We saw a loon near the boat launch.

Loon by the Wilder Dam. 6/13/17

We were planning on going up Mink Brook, but a mama merganser with her tiny ducklings swam up the brook, so we continued back down the Connecticut.

Merganser family. –Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 6/13/17

We did find another family of ducklings, this one mallard.

The next day found us on North Hartland Lake. It was a day of turtles,

Painted turtles. –North Hartland Lake, VT 6/14/17

Turtle –North Hartland Lake, VT 6/14/17

a merganser family.
Merganser family –North Hartland Lake, VT 6/14/17

a yellowthroat
Yellowthroat –North Hartland Lake, VT 6/14/17

and deer.

“Are you looking at me?” Deer, –North Hartland Lake, 6/14/1

Yesterday we drove to Squam Lake for a paddle around Great Island.

Mallard. –Squam Lake, NH 6/15/17

Kingbird –Squam Lake, NH 6/15/17

We heard loons in the distance, but didn’t see them.

The lady slippers were blooming.

Lady slipper –Squam Lake, NH 6/15/17

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Maine Canoe Symposium

This weekend I attended the Maine Canoe Symposium at Camp Winona in Bridgeton, ME. Maine Canoe Symposium is a volunteer-run, non-profit weekend event held annually in June under the pines and along the shore of Moose Pond. Participants gain an appreciation of canoe heritage and develop canoeing and related skills. Saturday morning started with a “Parade of Canoes” where instructors (and others) showed a variety of paddling styles and canoes.

Parade of canoes

“Give me a P! Give me an O! Give me an L! Give me a ING! what does it spell? POLING!
Junior program war canoe.
Parade silliness

We then attended classes, some on water: eg. various types of poling, freestyle (almost dancing in a canoe), English gates (an obstacle course), to high kneel on SUP (like the stance they use in canoe racing) and some on land: photo walk, building a fire, setting up a camp kitchen, dehydrating and hydrating food for extended trips…

Rebecca in freestyle class

High knee on SUP
Sailing a canoe
Building a reflector oven.

The instructors were excellent, many of them professional guides,and all experienced canoeists.

Rory Matchett, instructor.

Kevin Silliker, instructor

John Meader, photographer.

Dave Butler

They keep you busy most of the day and evening, but there are a few minutes when you can get away and enjoy the setting.

Chickadee

Children are welcome.

Early morning coffee

Mt Washington from Camp Winona

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Kayaking June 1-6

This week we have paddled on the Pompy, Mink Brook and the Connecticut River(twice).The highlight was seeing the mink again this year.

Mink — Connecticut River, 6/6/17

but we also saw some other old friends: mallards,

Family of mallards. –Mink Brook, NH, 6/3/17

green heron,
Green heron. — Ompompanousuc River, VT 6/1/17

red-winged blackbird
Red-winged blackbird. –Ompompanousuc River, VT 6/1/17

and barn swallows.
Barn swallows on the I-91 bridge. — Ompompanousuc River, VT 6/1/17