Nancy's Corner

July 29, 2016July 29, 2016

Paddling 7/27-28

We paddled several times this week. An evening paddle on the Connecticut on Sunday didn’t yield a lot but this eagle may have been a reason.

Eagle -- Connecticut River — Eagle — Connecticut River

We found a family of green herons on the Pompy on Monday (we saw 3 at the same time).

Green heron -- Ompompanoosuc River — Green heron — Ompompanoosuc River

They were very good at hiding.

The swallows had fledged from their nest under the bridge.

Immature barn swallows under bridge -- Ompompanoosuc — Immature barn swallows under bridge — Ompompanoosuc

The Joe-Pye weed was in full bloom.

Joe Pye weed --Ompomanoosuc — Joe Pye weed –Ompomanoosuc

Tuesday found us on North Hartland Lake. We found the heron that likes to stick out his tongue on the beach,

Young great blue heron. We've seen this heron a few times, usually with his tongue hanging out. --North Hartland Lake — Young great blue heron. We’ve seen this heron a few times, usually with his tongue hanging out. –North Hartland Lake

a kildeer,

Kildeer -- North Hartland Lake — Kildeer — North Hartland Lake

and watched a duck trying to swallow a snail.

Mallard eating a snail -- North Hartland Lake — Mallard eating a snail — North Hartland Lake

Mallard swallowing snail -- North Hartland Lake — Mallard swallowing snail — North Hartland Lake

Mallard swallowing snail, final stretch --North Hartland Lake — Mallard swallowing snail, final stretch –North Hartland Lake

We watched a broad-winged hawk in a tree and overhead.

Immature broad winged hawk -- North Hartland Lake — Immature broad winged hawk — North Hartland Lake

Thursday was wood duck day. We saw more wood ducks than the usual mallards

Wood duck -- Mink Brook, Hanover, NH — Wood duck — Mink Brook, Hanover, NH

The merlins were in a tree across from Kilowatt Park.

Merlins in a tree -- Connecticut River — Merlins in a tree — Connecticut River

July 24, 2016

McDaniels Marsh

On Saturday we went to McDaniels Marsh. We saw several great blue herons,

geese,

a few song birds,

several beaver houses (we heard the beaver splashes, but didn’t see him),

damselflies and dragonflies,

turtles,

and lots of flowers.

July 23, 2016

July 17-22

This week we have paddled a variety of places. On Sunday, we spent the evening on the Connecticut.

Balloon touching down on the Connecticut.

Monday found us on the Pompy.

On Tuesday, we went to North Hartland Lake.

Great blue heron sticking out his tongue at me.

Wednesday, we took a break from paddling and walked in Kilowatt park.

Thursday evening we tried the Connecticut again.

One merlin giving the other a cold shoulder.

July 16, 2016

A few of my favorites from the past week.

We paddled the Connecticut on a morning and an evening, seeing ducks and beaver.

Beaver -- Connecticut River — Beaver — Connecticut River

On the North Hartland Lake this morning, we saw our first great blue heron of the season, a juvenile,

Great blue heron -- North Hartland Lake — Great blue heron — North Hartland Lake

as well as some song birds.

Song sparrow -- North Hartland Lake. — Song sparrow — North Hartland Lake.

July 12, 2016

Grafton Pond

We went to Grafton Pond this morning to watch the loons. They are quite accustomed to people and if you don’t crowd them, they will sometimes emerge from a dive only a few feet from the kayaks.

We saw two families. One set of parents fed their chicks then stood guard while they tried foraging on their own. They often will stretch after diving.

Loon with chick checking out what is below.

On the other side of the lake we came across a parent with one chick. It seemed like the chick was sleepy. It would tuck its head down, the wind would carry away for a couple of minutes, it would wake up and swim back to the adult.

Grafton Pond is a beautiful place that does not allow motors.

We didn’t see any geese. The yard that used to have a flock, now has geese deterrents near the waterfront.