The past few weeks we have continued to paddle the Connecticut River between Wilder and Hanover including Mink Brook, and North Hartland Lake. We have seen beaver and muskrat on both lakes,
Beaver raising its tail to splash. North Hartland Lake, VT 6/23/18beaver splash. North Hartland Lake, VT 6/23/18
as well as great blue herons,
Great blue heron. Mink Brook, Hanover, NH 7/7/18
eagles,
Immature bald eagle being chased by a kingbird. North Hartland Lake, VT 7/8/18
dragon flies, Dragon fly. North Hartland Lake, VT 7/5/18
damsel flies, Water lily with a damsel fly. Mink Brook, Hanover, NH 7/3/18
and plenty of ducklings.
Ducklings swimming. Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 7/3/18 Ducklings following mama. Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 6/30/18
This week found us on several of our favorite waters. Of course we saw ducks, Duck on a log –Mink Brook, Hanover, NH 7/14/17 Mallard flotilla — Connecticut River, 7/14/17 “Quack” Mallard ducks — Connecticut River, 7/17/17
great blue herons, Great blue heron — –North Hartland Lake 7/16/17
Great blue heron with a big fish (catfish?) –North Hartland Lake 7/16/17 Great blue heron –McDaniel’s marsh 7/18/17
phoebes, Fledgling Eastern Phoebe and adult — Connecticut River, 7/14/17
kingfishers, Kingfisher — McDaniel’s Marsh, Enfield, NH 7/18/17
and kingbirds.Nestling kingbird –North Hartland Lake 7/16/17
Kingbird on the honeysuckle bush — Connecticut River, 7/17/17
We also saw turtles, Painted turtle — McDaniel’s Marsh, Enfield, NH 7/18/17Painted turtle, –Mink Brook, Hanover, NH 7/14/17
muskrats,Muskrat — Connecticut River, 7/17/17
and flowers. Pond lily — McDaniel’s Marsh, Enfield, NH 7/18/17
I still don’t know what this is. — McDaniel’s Marsh, Enfield, NH 7/18/17
On July 1, we had a flooding event. The Wilder dam opened its floodgates,making for unsafe paddling conditions. Above the dam it was either mudflat or strong current filled with floating debris. Finally on Wednesday, the river was back to normal levels so we went out.
A family of ducks. –Connecticut River, Wilder 7/5/17Wood duck — Connecticut River, Wilder 7/5/17
The next day, we headed to North Hartland Dam. Here, the water levels had risen about 4 feet, leaving a bath tub ring of mud on the plants around the lake. They were busy dredging the outlet of the dam, trying to get rid of accumulated silt and debris.
Dredging the outlet at the North Hartland Dam –North Hartland Lake, 7/6/17
We saw a number of birds of prey: eagles,
Bald eagle, probably 4 years old. –North Hartland Lake, 7/6/17
a couple of osprey,
Osprey –North Hartland Lake, 7/6/17
a great blue heron
Great blue heron –North Hartland Lake, 7/6/17
as well as a red-winged blackbird.
Red-winged blackbird –North Hartland Lake, 7/6/17
After a ducky day on the Connecticut,
Duck family –Connecticut River 7/8/17
we returned to North Hartland.
Duck family –North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
Kingfisher –North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
Kingbird feeding babies—North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
Great blue heron –North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
Water lily –North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
Fishing at the North Hartland Dam –North Hartland Lake, 7/10/17
We’ve had a busy week paddling. Wednesday found us on the Pompy. We didn’t see a lot of wildlife, but it is always a pleasant paddle. Yellow shafted flicker –Ompompanoosuc River 6/21/17
North Hartland Lake was our next outing. We saw our first great blue heron of the year as well as the usual sandpipers, a cormorant, turtles and a grackle. We were serenaded by songs birds, but didn’t see many. The yellow and blue flags were in full bloom. Great blue heron –North Hartland Lake 6/22/17
Grackle –North Hartland Lake 6/22/17
Yellow flag –North Hartland Lake 6/22/17
Today we went to Grafton Pond. We found loons, including a young chick. Loon parent and baby –Grafton Pond, NH 6/25/17
One of the loons tried to fly right at us, but decided the runway was too short, so stopped and dove. Loon trying take off –Grafton Pond, NH 6/25/17
Canada goose and blue flag –Grafton Pond, NH 6/25/17
Turtle –Grafton Pond, NH 6/25/17
Butterfly on mountain laurel –Grafton Pond, NH 6/25/17
