Tag: McDaniel’s Marsh

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Back in the kayaks!

After a long winter, we are back on the water! Our first paddle was on the McDaniels Marsh. The water temperature was warm: the frogs and turtles were abundant, the geese were paired with at least one with goslings, and the red-winged blackbirds were staking out their territories.

McDaniels Marsh, Springfield, NH 5/14/22
Painted turtles on a log. McDaniels Marsh, Springfield, NH 5/14/22
Canada geese with goslings. McDaniels Marsh, Springfield, NH 5/14/22
Red-winged blackbird. McDaniels Marsh, Springfield, NH 5/14/22

Our next trip was to Upper Baker Pond near Orford, NH. When we arrived, Mt Cube had it’s top in the clouds. It was nice to paddle without the usual docks out. We didn’t see much wildlife: one pair of geese flying, a great blue heron in a tree, a red-winged blackbird. Was it too early in the year? has the avian flu decimated the bird population? were we too late in the day?…

Mt. Cube. Upper Baker Pond, 5/19/22
New leaves with a freshet. Upper Baker Pond, 5/20/22
Red-winged blackbird. Upper Baker Pond, 5/20/22
Blueberry blossoms. Upper Baker Pond, 5/20/22

The next day, Jane and I went to the Pompy. The water temperature was marginally warm, I wouldn’t want to swim in it, probably in the mid 50’s. The bushes on both sides of the river were filled with birdsong, with just enough leaves so it was hard to see the birds.

Bobolink. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 5/21/22
Catbird. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 5/21/22
Canada goose with goslings. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 5/21/22
Goslings. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 5/21/22
Female red-winged blackbird. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 5/21/22
Tree swallows. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 5/21/22
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McDaniels Marsh 5/25

We had a good day at McDaniels. A little chilly and windy, but the wildlife viewing was excellent. The highlight of the day was seeing an American bittern, a lifer for me.

American bittern McDaniels Marsh, NH. 5/25/20
American bittern. McDaniels Marsh, NH. 5/25/20

The blackbirds were plentiful,

Red-winged blackbird. McDaniels Marsh, NH. 5/25/20

as were the Canadian geese.

Canadian geese. McDaniels Marsh, NH. 5/25/20

We even saw a loon pair.

Loon. McDaniels Marsh, NH. 5/25/20

The frogs were singing mating calls,

Frogs McDaniels Marsh, NH. 5/25/20

and the osprey was watching it all.

Osprey. McDaniels Marsh, NH. 5/25/20
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From my kayak 8/27-9/17

We’ve been in our kayaks often in the past few weeks and have see a lot.

Great blue herons have appeared in most the the usual spots, but doing some unusual things.

Great blue heron with pond lilies.–Ompompanoosuc River 8/27/19
Great blue heron displaying. North Hartland Lake 8/31/19

This heron landed near another heron and put on this display.

“What’s that invading my marsh?” Great blue heron –McDaniel’s Marsh 9/7/19
Great blue heron fishing from a perch. Grafton Pond 9/10/19

The heron was fishing from a branch a few feet above the water, dove into the water, missed the fish, struggled back up to the branch and ruffled his feathers to dry off.

Great blue heron drying off from a dip in the lake. Grafton Pond 9/10/19

We also saw an egret and several green herons, eagles, deer, dragonflies and butterflies, and flowers.

Egret. North Hartland Lake 8/31/19
Green heron. –Connecticut River 9/6/19
Green heron scratching — Connecticut River 9/6/19
Young eagle getting his adult feathers. Connecticut River 9/15/19
Cormorant –Connecticut River 8/26/19
Deer — North Hartland Lake 8/31/19
Dragonfly –Connecticut River 9/15/19
Butterfly on asters. Connecticut River 9/15/19
Closed gentian –Connecticut River 9/12/19
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Kayaking 7/12-18

This week found us on several of our favorite waters. Of course we saw ducks,

Duck on a log –Mink Brook, Hanover, NH 7/14/17

Mallard flotilla — Connecticut River, 7/14/17

“Quack” Mallard ducks — Connecticut River, 7/17/17

great blue herons,

Great blue heron — –North Hartland Lake 7/16/17

Great blue heron with a big fish (catfish?)
–North Hartland Lake 7/16/17

Great blue heron –McDaniel’s marsh 7/18/17

phoebes,
Fledgling Eastern Phoebe and adult — Connecticut River, 7/14/17

kingfishers,
Kingfisher — McDaniel’s Marsh, Enfield, NH 7/18/17

and kingbirds.
Nestling kingbird –North Hartland Lake 7/16/17

Kingbird on the honeysuckle bush — Connecticut River, 7/17/17

We also saw turtles,

Painted turtle — McDaniel’s Marsh, Enfield, NH 7/18/17
Painted turtle, –Mink Brook, Hanover, NH 7/14/17

muskrats,

Muskrat — Connecticut River, 7/17/17

and flowers.
Pond lily — McDaniel’s Marsh, Enfield, NH 7/18/17

I still don’t know what this is. — McDaniel’s Marsh, Enfield, NH 7/18/17

Pickerel weed — McDaniel’s Marsh, Enfield, NH 7/18/17
Wild rose — McDaniel’s Marsh, Enfield, NH 7/18/17

Water lily — McDaniel’s Marsh, Enfield, NH 7/18/17