Tag: kayaking

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Late Spring Kayaking

Jane and I have been kayaking several times since mid-May.

The Pompy in the spring. Ompompanoosuc River 5/16/21

The Pompy had several families of Canada geese as well as some hooded mergansers.

Canada Goose and goslings. Ompompanoosuc River. 5/25/21
Hooded merganser family. Ompompanoosuc River. 5/25

They are both good parents but with differing parenting styles. The geese kept close watch over their goslings, keeping them in line with adults at both ends.

Canada goose family all in a line. Ompompanoosuc River 5/25/21

On the other hand, the hooded merganser mother hid her family and splashed away, hoping we would follow her.

Mama hooded merganser splashing to lead us away from her family.

We also saw a variety of birds, animals, and flowers on the rivers we paddled.

Kingbird. Connecticut River 5/19/21
Red winged blackbird. Ompompanoosuc River. 5/25/21
Eagle. North Hartland Lake 6/1/21
Frog. Connecticut River 5/19/21
Columbine. Connecticut River 5/19/21
Pink petals in the river. Connecticut River 5/19/21
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Ricker Pond 9/26

I joined Jane, her brother and two sons for a delightful paddle on Ricker Pond. The color was just about peak.

Reflections. Ricker Pond State Park, Groton, VT 9/26/2020
Fall colors. Ricker Pond State Park, Groton, VT 9/26/2020

Jeremy took delivery of his new fishing kayak.

Jeremy in his new kayak. Ricker Pond State Park, Groton, VT 9/26/2020
Jaimie. Ricker Pond State Park, Groton, VT 9/26/2020
Rick. Ricker Pond State Park, Groton, VT 9/26/2020
Jane and a loon. Ricker Pond State Park, Groton, VT 9/26/2020

We found a parent and young loon

Loons. Ricker Pond State Park, Groton, VT 9/26/2020

who dove when they spotted an eagle flying overhead.

Loons splash as they dive. Ricker Pond State Park, Groton, VT 9/26/2020
Eagle. Ricker Pond State Park, Groton, VT 9/26/2020
Mallard. Ricker Pond State Park, Groton, VT 9/26/2020
An aster. Ricker Pond State Park, Groton, VT 9/26/2020
The dam. Ricker Pond State Park, Groton, VT 9/26/2020
Returning. Ricker Pond State Park, Groton, VT 9/26/2020
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Joe’s Pond 8/9/19

I accompanied Jane, her brother, two sisters, a brother-in-law and nephew on their trip to Joe’s Pond in Danville, VT. The main pond was nearly wall to wall cottages.

Jane and her sisters on Joe’s Pond. 8/9/19

We did see a couple of groupings of loons there.

4 common loons. –Joe’s Pond, Danville, VT 8/9/19

We proceeded to the inlet, which was covered with lilies and ducks.

Duck in the lilies. –Joe’s Pond, Danville, VT 8/9/19

Heading upstream, we came across several low beaver dams which we could cross.

Jane’s family going up the inlet. –Joe’s Pond, Danville, VT 8/9/19
Rick paddles over the dam. Joe’s Pond, Danville, VT 8/9/19
Judson, Jane’s nephew.

We saw birds, bugs and wildflowers.

Black winged damselfly (ebony jewelwing). Joe’s Pond, Danville, VT 8/9/19
gull –Joe’s Pond, Danville, VT 8/9/19
Wild flowers. –Joe’s Pond, Danville, VT 8/9/19
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Eagles here and there (and other stuff) 6/15-19

We have seen eagles everywhere we paddled this week, as well as other interesting stuff.

  • Eagle. Connecticut River, Wilder 6/13/19
  • Female wood duck leading us (and the eagle) away from her babies. Connecticut River, Wilder 6/13/19
  • Snake swimming. Connecticut River. 6/13/19
  • Eagle tangled in some debris. North Hartland Lake 6/15/19
  • Beaver. North Hartland Lake 6/15/19
  • Rebecca and Susan paddling. Squam Lake 6/18/19
  • Immature eagle. Squam Lake 6/18/19
  • Blueberry flowers. Squam Lake 6/18/19
  • 2 young muskrats. Mink Brook, 6/17/19
  • Blue flag. Connecticut River, Wilder 6/17/19
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From my kayak 8/19-28

We’ve paddled the usual places the past 10 days.  The mornings are getting colder and more foggy. We’ve seen great blue herons, green herons, cormorants, loons, ducks and other creatures.  Loons do fly, they just take a long runway to take off.

Jane paddles in the fog. North Hartland Lake, VT 8/25/18
Great blue heron Grafton Pond, NH 8/28/18
Great blue heron taking off. Connecticut River 8/24/18
Green heron. Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 8/27/18
Cormorant drying his wings. Connecticut River, Lebanon, NH 8/27/18
Loon launching. Grafton Pond, NH 8/28/18
Loons flying Grafton Pond, NH 8/28/18
Wood duck. Connecticut River 8/20/18
Mallards on a log Connecticut River 8/20/18
Troll. North Hartland Lake, VT 8/25/18
Birch bark reflection. Connecticut River 8/20/18