Connecticut River – Page 5

June 16, 2020

From my kayak 5/28-6/15

We’ve kayaked a couple of times a week on the Connecticut River or on the Ompompanoosuc. The geese and ducks are out with their families.

Family of Canadian geese. Hanover, NH 5/28/2020

Mallards 6/14 — Mallard family eating snails. Lebanon, NH 6/14/2020

Merganser trying to lead us away from its nest. Norwich, VT 6/13/2020

Other birds are showing their colors.

The kingbirds have nested.

And the red-winged blackbirds are guarding their territory from predators.

May 24, 2020

We have had some warmer weather and the water temperatures are now above 50, so we’ve taken to the water. The quarantine rules have relaxed some, so I am traveling a bit farther afield. I drove to Squam Lake, spent the day with my niece and her husband, washed a few windows and took a short paddle.

The next day, Jane and I met her brother, sister, and brother-in-law for a delightful kayak on Upper Baker Pond in Orford. We saw a pair of loons, some white flowering bushes,

Shad bush (Service Berry?) Upper Baker Pond, NH 5/21/20

and one mallard drake. Is the hen sitting on a nest?

Mallard drake. Upper Baker Pond, NH 5/21/20

We kayaked on the Connecticut River out of Wilder on Saturday. We came across a family of geese.

Canada goose family. Connecticut River, NH 5/22/20

It was finally warm enough that we heard the frogs singing.

Spotted sandpiper. Connecticut River, VT. 5/23/20

October 28, 2019

From my kayak 9/17-10/14

It has been a beautiful fall: some rain, some sun and dropping temperatures.

Storm’s a-coming. Connecticut River, Orford, NH 9/24/19

We continued to paddle a few times a week.

Reflections. Connecticut River, Fairlee, VT 9/24/19

Rick. Lake Katherine, Piermont, NH 9/21/19

Barb with yellow tree. Squam Lake, Holderness, NH 10/13/19

Colorful trees across the cove. Squam Lake, Holderness, NH 10/12/19

We haven’t seen a lot of wildlife: a few ducks, geese, a green heron…

Mallard flying. Connecticut River, Fairlee, VT 9/24/19

Green heron. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 9/18/19

Bald eagle. Squam Lake, Holderness, NH 10/13/19

Loon in winter garb. Goose Pond, Canaan, NH 10/14/19

Hornet’s nest. Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 10/5/19

Chipmunk. Connecticut River, Norwich, VT 9/28/19

Geese flying. Goose Pond, Canaan, NH 10/14/19

Moose Mountain. Goose Pond, Canaan, NH 10/14/19

Unfortunately, all good things come to an end. The water is now below 50 and because we don’t have wet/dry suits, we have put the kayaks away for the season.

September 17, 2019

From my kayak 8/27-9/17

We’ve been in our kayaks often in the past few weeks and have see a lot.

Great blue herons have appeared in most the the usual spots, but doing some unusual things.

Great blue heron with pond lilies.–Ompompanoosuc River 8/27/19

Great blue heron displaying. North Hartland Lake 8/31/19

This heron landed near another heron and put on this display.

“What’s that invading my marsh?” Great blue heron –McDaniel’s Marsh 9/7/19

Great blue heron fishing from a perch. Grafton Pond 9/10/19

The heron was fishing from a branch a few feet above the water, dove into the water, missed the fish, struggled back up to the branch and ruffled his feathers to dry off.

Great blue heron drying off from a dip in the lake. Grafton Pond 9/10/19

We also saw an egret and several green herons, eagles, deer, dragonflies and butterflies, and flowers.

Green heron scratching — Connecticut River 9/6/19

Young eagle getting his adult feathers. Connecticut River 9/15/19

Butterfly on asters. Connecticut River 9/15/19

Closed gentian –Connecticut River 9/12/19

August 26, 2019

From my kayak 8/13-26

We have been out eight times in the past two weeks to our usual haunts: North Hartland Lake, Grafton Pond and the Connecticut River near Wilder, VT. We have seen birds: