We are still kayaking, though more in the afternoons and are still seeing wildlife; some migrant and some resident.











We are still kayaking, though more in the afternoons and are still seeing wildlife; some migrant and some resident.
We have been out a few times this week, on the Connecticut River and the Pompy. (North Hartland Lake is closed for the season.)
We saw a few mammals, great blue herons, mallards, mergansers, some turtles, and a hornets’ nest.
On Saturday, Jane and I headed to the Connecticut River in Wilder. We started in a light rain, which stopped by the time we got to Mink Brook and cleared by the time we returned to Wilder.
The ducklings are growing. One family is nearly adult sized.
Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 7/14/18
We watched a couple of muskrats snacking, sitting on a log, then leaving to get some more goodies.
Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 7/14/18
Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 7/14/18
We returned to the Wilder boat launch to find a family of young ducklings settling in for a nap.
Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 7/14/18
Sunday, we went to North Hartland Lake.
North Hartland Lake, NH 7/15/18
North Hartland Lake, VT 7/15/18
North Hartland Lake, VT 7/15/18
North Hartland Lake, NH 7/15/18
North Hartland Lake, NH 7/15/18
Fall has come.
Duck hunting season has started and the ducks seem to know it. For the most part, they are more skittish and more adept at hiding, but there were a few exceptions. A female merganser let us get quite close and even followed us when we paddled downriver.
We also saw a great blue heron,
a cormorant,
and some song birds.
This week we have seen a variety of ducks,
gold finches,
green herons,
egrets,
kingfishers,
chicken of the wood,
and turtles.