We haven’t be out much this month what with appointments, bad weather and being down with a respiratory infection, but when we did go out, we enjoyed what we saw. We went to North Hartland Lake several times, seeing eagles, herons, turtles as well as some other birds, animals and plants. Unfortunately, the recreation area is now closed for the season.
Immature eagle stretching. North Hartland Lake, 8/29/24Eagle changing directions. North Hartland Lake, 8/31/24Immature eagle flying over me. North Hartland Lake, 8/31/24Immature eagle flying. North Hartland Lake, 8/31/24 Immature eagles. North Hartland Lake 8/13/24Adult eagle. North Hartland Lake, 8/29/24
We also paddled out of Wilder a few times and the Pompy.
Mallards at the boat launch. Connecticut River 8/25/24Turtlehead. Connecticut River 8/28/24Osprey diving. Connecticut River 8/23/24 Foggy morning in Wilder. Connecticut River 8/23/24Kingfisher, Mink Brook 8/15/24 Bittern. Ompompanoosuc River, 8/22/24Mallards. Ompompanoosuc River 8/22/24Green heron. Ompompanoosuc River 8/22/24Butterfly on Jeruselam artichoke. Ompompanoosuc River 8/22/24Hawkweed (?) going to seed. Ompompanoosuc River 8/22/24Joe Pye weed. Ompompanoosuc River 8/22/24
After a long winter and a short spring photographing the dogs at Kilowatt, Jane and I put our kayaks in the water. We have been to our usual spots (the Connecticut River out of Wilder, and the Pompy) as well as trips to Upper Baker Pond and MacDaniel’s Marsh. Unfortunately, the North Hartland Lake is still closed from the flooding last July.
Ompompanousuc River 6/12/24
The ducks and geese have little ones.
Canada goose family. McDaniels Marsh, 5/23/24
Canada geese families. Ompompanousuc River 6/1/24
The heron is coming! Mallard family. Connecticut River 6/11/24
People are coming! Wood duck family. Ompompanousuc River 6/5/24
Common merganser family. Ompompanousuc River 6/12/24
We have seen other birds:
Common loon. McDaniel’s Marsh 5/23/24 Double crested cormorant McDaniel’s Marsh 5/23/24Spotted sand piper. Connecticut River 5/26/24Great blue heron. Ompompanousuc River 6/12/24Great blue heron Connecticut River 6/11/24Green heron. Ompompanousuc River 6/5/24Osprey. Upper Baker Pond 6/2/24
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 8/23/23Osprey on top of a tree. Connecticut River 9/3/23Osprey taking flight. Osmore Pond. 8/6/23Osprey eating a fish. Osmore Pond. 8/6Kingfisher. Ompompanoosuc River 9/1/23Great Blue Heron. Ompompanoosuc River 9/1/23Green heron pretending he is a stick. Ompompanoosu River. 8/12/23Green heron. Connecticut River, 8/3/23Cedar waxwing. Ompompanoosuc River 9/1/23Phoebe fledgling. Connecticut River 8/29/23Spotted sandpiper. Connecticut River, 8/3/23Loon. Lake Tarleton 8/23/23Jane and Suzy. Lake Tarleton 8/23/23Ducks. Connecticut River 8/14/23Merganser and mallard keeping company. Ompompanoosu River. 8/12/23Loon. Osmore Pond. 8/6Emily, Rick and Russ. Osmore Pond. 8/6closed gentian. Connecticut River 9/3/23Eagle near the on top of a tree, with wings spread. Connecticut River 9/5/23Sand piper. Connecticut River 9/3/23Wood ducks flying. Connecticut River 9/3/23Wood ducks on a log. Connecticut River 9/27/23 Wood duck Connecticut River 9/5/23Wood duck. Connecticut River 10/5/23
Mallards. Connecticut River 9/27/23Cormorants. Connecticut River 10/5Hairy woodpecker Connecticut River 9/5/23Great blue heron. Long Pond 10/4/23Dew covered web. Connecticut River 9/5/23Wood turtle. Ompompanoosuc River9/14/23Kayakers. Connecticut River 9/28/23
Rick, Suzy and Jane. Long Pond 10/4/23Moon over the trees. Long Pond 10/4/23
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
Flotilla for a trip around Great IslandNabilJuniperJuniper and IsaacPhil working on the gutter.Around Great IslandSundewPainted turtlesRing-billed gullGreat blue heronDragonfly