On the Pompy

Today on the Ompompanoosuc River, we saw a variety of wildlife, not all of which we photographed.

Great blue heron
Great blue heron

The birds are banding together. We saw at least 10 turkey vultures circling in the air. Three flocks of geese flew by, two in a “v” formations, and one not quite.

Geese not in formation
Geese not in formation

There was a tree full of little brown birds.

Flock of little brown birds
Flock of little brown birds

and another with several robins.

Fledgling
Fledgling

The ducks were plentiful, in groups of mixed species.

2 mergansers and 3 other ducks
2 mergansers and 3 other ducks
Wood duck
Wood duck

We also saw a white tailed deer, disappearing into the woods. and a warbler so close that my lens couldn’t focus on it. A very nice paddle.

Another trip to North Hartland Lake

The herons cooperated today on our paddle on North Hartland Lake.

Great blue heron
Great blue heron

Great blue heron
Great blue heron
Young great blue heron
Young great blue heron
Spotted sandpiper
Spotted sandpiper

Unfortunately, the weather didn’t and produced some showers.

One way of dealing with a rain shower.
One way of dealing with a rain shower.

Connecticut River and Mink Brook

This morning we did our usual paddle up the Connecticut from Kilowatt Park to Mink Brook and back. It never fails in showing us some wildlife.

Great blue heron and duck on Mink Brook
Great blue heron and duck on Mink Brook

Kingfisher
Kingfisher
An immature heron on Mink Brook
An immature heron on Mink Brook
Immature heron taking off from tree.
Immature heron taking off from tree.
Immature heron flying
Immature heron flying
Wood duck
Wood duck
Water lilies
Water lilies

North Hartland Lake

We paddled on the North Hartland Lake this morning and saw a variety of wildlife.

Cormorants
Cormorants

Cormorant
Cormorant

This has been the weekend for great blue heron, seeing them both on the Connecticut yesterday and in North Hartland today.

Great blue heron standing under the Joe Pye weed.
Great blue heron standing under the Joe Pye weed.

Great blue heron taking off.
Great blue heron taking off.
Great blue heron flying
Great blue heron flying

We also saw some ducks that we couldn’t identify. Perhaps they are gadwalls.

Ducks of some sort
Ducks of some sort

Ducks flying
Ducks flying