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:

as well as other animals and plants.

Spring is coming

We’ve seen our first robins, red-winged black birds, cedar waxwings.

American robin, eating sumac, 2/28/17 Hartford, VT

Cedar waxwings, 3/1/17, Hartford, VT

The ice is mostly gone from the Connecticut and the waterfowl are around.

Mallard pair, 2/28/17, Connecticut River, Hartford, VT

Chipmunks have joined the red squirrels at the wood pile (one at a time)

Red squirrel –3/1/17 Hartford, VT

Connecticut River, Bradford to Orford

Yesterday, I kayaked the stretch of the Connecticut River from Bradford, VT to Orford, NH with Jane’s family. It was a trip down memory lane for me. My sister, Barb, (and sometimes others) paddled this stretch several times, camping near Piermont, painting several scenes each trip.

Looking toward Piermont, NH
Looking toward Piermont, NH

Approaching the Bradford  bridge
Approaching the Bradford bridge

We had a relaxing paddle,

Russ looking at the waterfall
Russ looking at the waterfall

Rick
Rick

Averil and her mom
Averil and her mom

Averil and Leslie
Averil and Leslie

did some bird watching,

Cedar waxwing
Cedar waxwing

Turkey vulture
Turkey vulture

Kingbird
Kingbird

Green heron
Green heron

Canada geese
Canada geese

but were very glad to see the Orford bridge.

Approaching the Orford bridge
Approaching the Orford bridge

We ended the trip with a stop for ice-cream in Fairlee.

Russ with an ice-cream cone.
Russ with an ice-cream cone.