Tag: Connecticut River

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Kayaking 7/5 – 10

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 7/5/17
Wood 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
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On the rivers again

After a cold and wet spring, the water temperature is high enough to allow safe paddling. Yesterday, Jane and I paddled the Connecticut from Wilder. The river was full of people: kayaks, canoes, motorboats, jetskis and not full of waterfowl. We did see some songbirds,

Scarlet tanager –Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 5/27/17

Female scarlet tanager, Connecticut River 5/27/17

some spring flowers,

Columbine

pink flower

and had a chance to examine some of the beavers’ winter handiwork.

Beaver log

This morning we headed to North Hartland Lake. We were surrounded by birdsong but only saw a few birds.

Song sparrow –North Hartland Lake, 5/28/17

Spotted sandpiper –North Hartland Lake, 5/28/17

Mallards eating snails. –North Hartland Lake, 5/58/17

Common merganser family –North Hartland Lake, 5/28/17

The highlight was a porcupine in a tree.

Porcupine –North Hartland Lake, 5/28/17

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Last of the this year’s kayaking

The last couple weeks the foliage has been beautiful. We have made trips to Grafton Pond,

Fog lifting. Grafton Pond 10/6/16
Fog lifting. Grafton Pond 10/6/16

Young loon. Grafton Pond, NH 10/6.
Young loon. Grafton Pond, NH 10/6.

Red leaf in fog. Grafton Pond, NH 10/6.
Red leaf in fog. Grafton Pond, NH 10/6.

Mt. Cardigan from Grafton Pond, NH 10/6.
Mt. Cardigan from Grafton Pond, NH 10/6.

Mirrored island Grafton Pond, NH 10/6.
Mirrored island Grafton Pond, NH 10/6.

Squam Lake,

Loon. Squam Lake, NH 10/11
Loon. Squam Lake, NH 10/11

Sunset. Squam Lake, NH, 10/10
Sunset. Squam Lake, NH, 10/10

Connecticut River,

Foliage, Connecticut River 10/11
Foliage, Connecticut River 10/11

Fluffy seeds. Connecticut River, 10/15
Fluffy seeds. Connecticut River, 10/15

Jane on the Connecticut. 10/18/
Jane on the Connecticut. 10/18

Connecticut River 10/18
Connecticut River 10/18

the Pompy,

Tranquil Pompy. Ompompanoosuc River 10/16
Tranquil Pompy. Ompompanoosuc River 10/16

and Mink Brook.

Mink Brook, NH 10/19
Mink Brook, NH 10/19

We haven’t seen many birds, and most were very skittish with the exception being the loons on Grafton Pond.

We did come across a horned grebe, a lifer.

Horned grebe. Connecticut River, 10/11
Horned grebe. Connecticut River, 10/11

Mallards. Ompompanoosuc River, 10/16
Mallards. Ompompanoosuc River, 10/16

The water and air temperatures are getting colder, and for safety’s sake, the kayaks have been put away for the winter.

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Sept. 26 – Oct.4

Fall has come.

Red trees --Ompompanoosuc River 10/4/16
Red trees –Ompompanoosuc River 10/4/16

Duck hunting season has started and the ducks seem to know it. For the most part, they are more skittish and more adept at hiding, but there were a few exceptions. A female merganser let us get quite close and even followed us when we paddled downriver.

Merganser -- Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 9/26/16
Merganser — Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 9/26/16

Merganser -- Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 9/26/16
Merganser — Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 9/26/16

Merganser -- Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 9/26/16
Merganser — Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 9/26/16

Merganser -- Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 9/26/16
Merganser — Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 9/26/16

Wood ducks --Connecticut River , NH 10/3/16
Wood ducks –Connecticut River , NH 10/3/16

Mallards taking flight. Connecticut River, NH, 10/3/16
Mallards taking flight. Connecticut River, NH, 10/3/16

Mallard splashing --Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 10/3/16
Mallard splashing –Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 10/3/16

We also saw a great blue heron,

Great blue heron --Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 10/4/16
Great blue heron –Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 10/4/16

a cormorant,

Cormorant -- Connecticut River, NH 10/3/16
Cormorant — Connecticut River, NH 10/3/16

and some song birds.

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July 29-Aug 4

We paddled a few times this week, mostly on the Connecticut River between Wilder and Hanover, but also the North Hartland Lake. We saw beaver,

Beaver -- Connecticut River
Beaver — Connecticut River

Getting ready for a warning splash
Getting ready for a warning splash

Splash
Splash

cormorants,

Cormorant --Connecticut River
Cormorant –Connecticut River

mergansers,

Mergansers --North Hartland Lake
Mergansers –North Hartland Lake

great blue herons,

Great blue heron fishing --North Hartland Lake
Great blue heron fishing –North Hartland Lake

Great blue heron caught something
Great blue heron caught something

an indigo bunting,

Indigo bunting -- North Hartland Lake
Indigo bunting — North Hartland Lake

kingfishers,

Kingfisher --North Hartland Lake
Kingfisher –North Hartland Lake

a yellowthroat,

Yellowthroat --North Hartland Lake
Yellowthroat –North Hartland Lake

damsel flies,

Damsel flies --Connecticut River
Damsel flies –Connecticut River

merlins,

Merlins --Connecticut River
Merlins –Connecticut River

and lots of mallards and wood ducks.

Duck stretch --Connecticut River
Duck stretch –Connecticut River

Ducklings had a successful snail hunt --Connecticut River
Ducklings had a successful snail hunt –Connecticut River

Mallard reflection --Connecticut River
Mallard reflection –Connecticut River

Mallard preening --Connecticut River
Mallard preening –Connecticut River

Wood duck --Connecticut River
Wood duck –Connecticut River

On Tuesday, our friends Diane Langley and Mardrey Swenson (and Gemma) came with us.

Gemma isn't sure she wants to be in the kayak with Mardrey Swenson --Connecticut River.
Gemma isn’t sure she wants to be in the kayak with Mardrey Swenson –Connecticut River.

Diane Langley -- Connecticut River
Diane Langley — Connecticut River