Tag: Connecticut River

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From my kayak August-September-October

I guess it is past time to post. The kayaks have been put away for the winter, but we did have some fine paddles in the late summer and fall.

Bald eagle. Lake Tarleton 8/23/23
Osprey on top of a tree. Connecticut River 9/3/23
Osprey taking flight. Osmore Pond. 8/6/23
Osprey eating a fish. Osmore Pond. 8/6
Kingfisher. Ompompanoosuc River 9/1/23
Great Blue Heron. Ompompanoosuc River 9/1/23
Green heron pretending he is a stick. Ompompanoosu River. 8/12/23
Green heron. Connecticut River, 8/3/23
Cedar waxwing. Ompompanoosuc River 9/1/23
Phoebe fledgling. Connecticut River 8/29/23
Spotted sandpiper. Connecticut River, 8/3/23
Loon. Lake Tarleton 8/23/23
Jane and Suzy. Lake Tarleton 8/23/23
Ducks. Connecticut River 8/14/23
Merganser and mallard keeping company. Ompompanoosu River. 8/12/23
Loon. Osmore Pond. 8/6
Emily, Rick and Russ. Osmore Pond. 8/6
closed gentian. Connecticut River 9/3/23
Eagle near the on top of a tree, with wings spread. Connecticut River 9/5/23
Sand piper. Connecticut River 9/3/23
Wood ducks flying. Connecticut River 9/3/23
Wood ducks on a log. Connecticut River 9/27/23
Wood duck Connecticut River 9/5/23
Wood duck. Connecticut River 10/5/23
Mallards. Connecticut River 9/27/23
Cormorants. Connecticut River 10/5
Hairy woodpecker Connecticut River 9/5/23
Great blue heron. Long Pond 10/4/23
Dew covered web. Connecticut River 9/5/23
Wood turtle. Ompompanoosuc River9/14/23
Kayakers. Connecticut River 9/28/23
Rick, Suzy and Jane. Long Pond 10/4/23
Moon over the trees. Long Pond 10/4/23
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From my kayak 7/25-8/1

We have not been out kayaking much this summer thanks to predicted thunder showers, flooding and various appointments. One of our favorite locations, North Hartland Lake, has been closed for the rest of the summer because of the floods in mid July. But we have managed a few outings.

Mt Cardigan. Grafton Pond 8/1/23
Loon. Grafton Pond 8/1/23
Great blue heron. Grafton Pond 8/1/23
Great blue heron. Grafton Pond 8/1/23
Great blue heron on top of a pine. Ompompanoosuc River 7/26/23
Turkey vulture. Ompompanoosuc River 7/26/23
The sentry. Ompompanoosuc River. 7/26/23
Hooded mergansers. Connecticut River 7/25/23
Cardinal. Mink Brook 7/25/2023
Wood ducks. Connecticut River 7/25/23
Painted turtle on a log. Grafton Pond 8/1/23
Dragonfly. Ompompanoosuc River 7/26/23
Pond lilies. Grafton Pond 8/1/23
Roots. Grafton Pond 8/1/23
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Kayaking 6/15-7/1

The weather has been iffy, with threats of thunderstorms almost daily, but we did get out in our kayaks a few times, mostly in our usual places but also in Molly’s Pond in Vermont.

Tim, Eric and Rick paddling in the smoke at Molly’s Pond 7/1/23

The birds have babies.

Canada geese with goslings. Ompompanoosuc River, 6/22/23
Wood ducks. Connecticut River 6/29/23
Mama merganser splashing to draw our attention away from her chicks. Connecticut River 6/29/23
Merganser family. Connecticut River 6/29/23
Loon with baby chick. Molly’s Pond 7/1/23
Loon chicks swimming towards us. Molly’s Pond 7/1/23
Eagle eyeing the loon’s nest. Molly’s Pond 7/1/23
Immature eagle taking off. North Hartland Lake 6/20/23

We also saw some other birds and animals.

Great blue heron. Mink Brook 6/15/23
Yellow throat. North Hartland Lake 6/20/23
Yellowthroat. North Hartland Lake 6/20/23
Painted turtle. North Hartland Lake 6/20/23
Mink. Connecticut River 6/15/2023
Mink. Connecticut River 6/15/2023
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From my kayak 6/1 -6/12

We had a few trips in our kayaks, though the weather didn’t always cooperate.

Jane in the rain. North Hartland Lake. 6/3/23
Taking refuge under the highway bridge. Ompompanoosuc river 6/10/23

We did get a chance to see some birds: some unusual ones, and more of the standbys.

Black legged kittiwake Lake Fairlee 6/12/23
Black legged kittiwake Lake Fairlee 6/12/23
Immature cormorant high in a pine tree, panting. Connecticut River 6/1/23
Merganser. Ompompanoosuc River 6/10/23
Bald eagle. Lake Fairlee 6/12/23

The mallard drakes have gathered together and are molting. The baby mallards are hatching, and have to beware of hungry loons and osprey.

Mallard drake preening. Connecticut River 6/1/23
Young mallard ducklings. Connecticut River 6/6/23
Loon chasing ducklings. Connecticut River 6/6/23
Barn. Ompompanoosuc River 6/10/23
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From my kayak — Fall 2022

We’ve been out several time a week this fall, mostly on the Connecticut and the Pompy (we miss North Hartland Lake which is closed to repair the culvert under the parking lot), but we also have been to Lake Armington, Upper Baker Pond, Grafton Pond, Long Pond and Indian Pond.

Mt Cube from Indian Pond, Orford, NH. 10/6/22
Jane’s family paddling on Upper Baker Pond, 8/28/33
Susy on Long Pond. 10/3/22

We have seen our usual ducks and have enjoyed seeing them changing into breeding colors.

Wood duck. Connecticut River 9/7/22
Wood duck in breeding colors. Connecticut River 10/5/22
Mallards. Connecticut River 9/21/22
Mallards. Connecticut River 10/4/22

Common mergansers. Ompompanoosuc River 9/16/22
Merganser taking a bath. Ompompanoosuc River 10/4/22

We have also seen a number of other birds.

Green heron in the fog. Connecticut River 9/17/22
Loon family. Grafton Pond 9/10/22
Loon with foliage. Indian Pond, 10/6/22
Eagle. Connecticut River 9/20/22
Immature bald eagle. Ompompanoosuc River 9/25/22
Broad winged hawk. Ompompanoosuc River 9/15/22
Sparrow bathing. Connecticut River
Cardinal. Connecticut River 9/7/22

As well as a variety of turtles.

Wood turtle. Ompompanoosuc River 9/16/22
Painted turtle. Grafton Pond 9/10/22
Painted turtle. Lake Armington 9/2/22

And flowers.

Closed gentian. Connecticut River 9/7/22
Jewel weed. Ompompanoosuc River 9/4/22
Jerusalem artichoke. Ompompanoosuc River 9/16/22