Jane and I went to Grafton Pond on Tuesday. The loon chicks have hatched and are being tended by their parents. We saw two families of loons, one with a very young chick, Loon parent feeding chick. Grafton Pond, NH 7/10/18
A young chick riding on the parent’s back. Grafton Pond, NH 7/10/18A parent loon stretching after preening while the baby looks on. Grafton Pond, NH 7/10/18
and another with a larger and older chick. Loon showing its leg bands, older chick nearby. Grafton Pond, NH 7/10/18
We also found a great blue heron hiding in the bushes. Great blue heron hiding. Grafton Pond, NH 7/10/18
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 7/31/17Green 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
During the past week, we have paddled on the Connecticut River, North Hartland Lake and the Ompompanoosuc River and have seen a variety of critters. Spotted sandpiper
Mama wood duck guarding her ducklingsyoung loon spreading its wingsA loon with winter plumage on its head and summer plumage on its body.Beaver in the evening light Wood turtlesquirrel on a dockGoslings