Connecticut River 7/22

It was beautiful on the river tonight with lots to see. They were working on the tracks for the first half hour of paddling, making a loud racket.

Equipment to repair tracks.
Equipment to repair tracks.

With all the noise, it was easier to approach some of the ducks.

Bottoms up -- ducks feeding
Bottoms up — ducks feeding

A flock of ducks hiding on shore
A flock of ducks hiding on shore
Wood ducks
Wood ducks
Jane with the ducks
Jane with the ducks

Although we saw many ducks, we also saw several spotted sandpipers, an eagle, a great blue heron and a beaver.

Spotted sandpiper
Spotted sandpiper

Great blue heron
Great blue heron

bald eagle
bald eagle

Beaver
Beaver

Kayaking 7/19-20

The past few days we paddled on the Connecticut River and North Hartland Lake, seeing ducks, gulls, great blue herons, turtles, kingbirds and kingfishers.

Fog lifting, North Hartland Lake.
Fog lifting, North Hartland Lake.
Kingfisher - Hartland
Kingfisher – Hartland
Eastern kingbird- Hartland
Eastern kingbird- Hartland
Mallard preening- Connecticut River, Lebanon, NH
Mallard preening- Connecticut River, Lebanon, NH
Herring gull - Connecticut River
Herring gull – Connecticut River
Ducklings - Connecticut River
Ducklings – Connecticut River
Purple flowers
Purple flowers
Great blue heron - Hartland
Great blue heron – Hartland

Connecticut River and Mink Brook 7/14-16

On our paddles to Mink Brook this week we have seen a variety of wildlife: mostly ducks, but also other birds, small animals and flowers.

Young duck (merganser?). He's a loner, neither sibs nor parent around. We have seen him 3 times now.
Young duck (merganser?). He’s a loner, neither sibs nor parent around. We have seen him 3 times now.
Black (?) ducks on Mink Brook
Black (?) ducks on Mink Brook
Black (?) ducks on Mink Brook
Black (?) ducks on Mink Brook
Mrs Wood Duck and duckling
Mrs Wood Duck and duckling
Duck
Duck
Red winged blackbird
Red winged blackbird
Goldfinch
Goldfinch
Chipmunk
Chipmunk
black eyed susans (and daisies)
black eyed susans (and daisies)
St. John's wort
St. John’s wort

Just ducky

Today’s paddle on the Connecticut and Mink Brook was just ducky.

Stretching his wings
Stretching his wings
Mrs Woody
Mrs Woody
Duck family
Duck family
Mallard family
Mallard family
Daisy
Daisy