Tag: Grafton Pond

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Some October pictures

We have kept paddling through most of October seeing:
loons,

Common loon –Grafton Pond, 10/3/17

a cormorant,

Double crested cormorant — Grafton Pond 10/3/17

a green heron,

Green heron –Connecticut River, 10/5/17

a chipmunk,

Chipmunk — Connecticut River 10/10/17

a wood turtle,

Wood turtle — 10/12/17

a red-winged blackbird,

Red-winged black bird — Mink brook 10/22/17

a painted lady,

Painted lady — Wilder, 10/19/17

another loon,

Loon testing his wings — Grafton Pond 10/21/17

and reflected foliage.

Foliage reflected — Connecticut River 10/22/17

I also took part in a black & white challenge.

Munchkin — Wilder, 10/15/17
Violets in October! — Wilder, 10/15/17
Mallard on Mink Brook — Mink Brook, 10/18/17
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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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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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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.

Adult loon
Adult loon

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.
Loon with chick checking out what is below.

Adult stretching after diving
Adult stretching after diving

Loon chicks stretching with parent
Loon chicks stretching with parent

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.

Sleepy baby with parent
Sleepy baby with parent

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

Mt Cardigan
Mt Cardigan

Jane with reflections
Jane with reflections

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

Goose deterrent
Goose deterrent

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Grafton Pond 8/13

A beautiful morning on Grafton Pond.Mt Cardigan-4925

The geese were at the boat landing, hoping for a handout.

Canada goose
Canada goose

We saw two families of loons, one at least a week younger than the other. The younger set of babies were swimming and fishing alone, without parents close by.

Young baby loon on it side.
Young baby loon on it side.

Twin baby loons
Twin baby loons

Young loon baby stretching his wings
Young loon baby stretching his wings

Older baby loon stretching his wings
Older baby loon stretching his wings

The older baby’s parents showed up as soon as he called. This is probably the same family we saw on 6/30.

Young loon with its parent.
Young loon with its parent.

Parent feeding young loon.
Parent feeding young loon.

Parent and young loon
Parent and young loon