We got out a few times in October, before the weather turned too cold. We saw some of our usual suspects: Common mergansers and mallards, loons, blackbirds and kingfishers, a hawk or two, a painted turtle and a beaver.
Loon. Kettle Pond 9/27/24
Common mergansers. Grafton Pond, 10/4/24 Common mergansers. Squam Lake 10/13/24Mallard flying. Ompompanoosuc River, 10/3/24Flock of mallards. Connecticut River 10/2/24Common loon. Grafton Pond, 10/4/24Common loon. Long Pond, 10/6/24Red winged blackbirds. Ompompanoosuc River, 10/3/24Kingfisher Connecticut River 10/2/24Hawk. Ompompanoosuc River, 10/3/24Young ring-billed gull. Grafton Pond, 10/4/24Beaver. Kettle Pond 9/27/24Painted turtle. Grafton Pond, 10/4/24
We also found a few interesting things: rocks that look like elephants, a large black ball with a handle, a log that looks like a wolf. The foliage turned colors and the leaves fell. The mornings were cold and the valley was full of fog.
Rock that looks like an elephant . Kettle Pond 9/27/24Connecticut River. 10/21/24The wolf log. Squam Lake 10/13/24Mt. Cardigan. Grafton Pond, 10/4/24Kettle Pond 9/27/24 Color on the point. Squam Lake 10/13/24 Long Pond, 10/6/24Paddle to Great Island. Squam Lake 10/13/24Sun thru the fog. Connecticut River 10/2/24Rowing in the fog. Connecticut River 10/2/24Jane in the fog. Connecticut River 10/2/24
Most of the birds have flown, and the kayaks have been put away for the winter. It was a good season.
We have been out in our kayaks several times this week. Saturday we started out in a heavy mist, paddling out of Wilder.
Ducklings. Connecticut River 6/22/23Mostly butts. Ducklings on a log. Connecticut River 6/22/23Loon. Connecticut River 6/22/23Loon. Connecticut River 6/22/24Bald eagle. Connecticut River 6/22/23
On Tuesday we headed to Grafton pond. There were plenty of dragonflies and damsel flies. The goose family was near the boat launch. We only saw three loons: a single adult in the middle of the lake and a pair near the boat launch as we were taking out. We also found a turtle and some laurel and sundew.
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 8/1/23Great blue heron. Grafton Pond 8/1/23Great blue heron on top of a pine. Ompompanoosuc River 7/26/23Turkey vulture. Ompompanoosuc River 7/26/23
The sentry. Ompompanoosuc River. 7/26/23Hooded mergansers. Connecticut River 7/25/23Cardinal. Mink Brook 7/25/2023Wood ducks. Connecticut River 7/25/23Painted turtle on a log. Grafton Pond 8/1/23Dragonfly. Ompompanoosuc River 7/26/23Pond lilies. Grafton Pond 8/1/23Roots. Grafton Pond 8/1/23
After a winter of walking with the dogs, we are looking forward to getting back in the kayaks.
On Tuesday, Jane and I went out to Grafton Pond. It was the only day this week that didn’t have a windy afternoon. We saw a few loons, some geese and a turtle, and enjoyed a lovely paddle. It was good to be back on the water.
Jane and I have been out in our kayaks a 3-4 times a week all summer, mostly on the Connecticut River out of Wilder, VT; the Ompompanoosuc River in Norwich, VT; or North Hartland Lake in Hartland, VT. We also made trips to Goose Pond, Grafton Pond, Squam Lake, and Lake Tarleton.
We’ve seen the usual wildlife.
Ducks
Wood ducks. Ompompanoosuc River 8/13/22
Wood ducks hiding near the shore. Connecticut River 7/27/22
A pile of common mergansers sleeping on a rock. Ompompanoosuc River 8/13/22
Momma mallard with young duckling. Connecticut River 7/8/22
Some herons
Green heron. Connecticut River 8/21/22
Great blue heron. North Hartland Lake 7/31/22
Great blue heron in a pine tree. North Hartland Lake 7/29/22
Some loons and cormorants.
Fish for breakfast. Adult loon feeding its chick. Grafton Pond. 8/5/22
Cormorant drying its wings. Connecticut River. 8/16/22
Some shore birds
Sandpiper. Connecticut River 8/20/22
Ring-billed gull. Goose Pond 8/3/22
Belted kingfisher. Ompompanoosuc River 7/30/22
Eagles
Bald eagle diving. North Hartland Lake 8/7/22
Some turtles.
Painted turtle. Grafton Pond 8/5/22
Some mammals
Muskrat with leaves. North Hartland Lake 7/31/22
Doe behind the pickerel weeds. North Hartland Lake 7/29/22
Paraglider. Connecticut River 8/20/22
We also saw some insects.
Hornet on a lily pad. Connecticut River 8/21/22
Hornets’ nest. Connecticut River 8/10/22.
Monarch butterfly on Joe Pye weed. North Hartland Lake 7/31/22
