merlin – Nancy's Corner

August 29, 2020

From my kayak 8/13-8/24

We saw some unusual wildlife (for us) recently. At North Hartland Lake we came upon a bear swimming across the lake.

Black bear crossing the river. North Hartland Lake, 8/15/2020

The next time we were there, we saw a couple of coyotes.

Coyote. North Hartland Lake. 8/22/2020

Coyote digging. North Hartland Lake. 8/22/2020

They looked and acted so much like my dog Freya, it was uncanny.

Freya.

We have been watching green herons, both on the Connecticut and the Pompy.

Green heron. Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 8/24

Green heron yawning. Connecticut River 8/17/2020

We also saw some of the more usual wildlife: cormorants, ducks, geese, a merlin and of course, painted turtles.

Cormorants. North Hartland Lake, 9/15/2020

Wood duck. Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 8/17/2020

Mallard beginning to get breeding colors. Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 8/13/2020

Mallards preening. Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 8/23/2020

“Sentry” Canada goose. Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT 8/20/2020

Merlin. North Hartland Lake, 8/22/2020

Painted turtles on a log. North Hartland Lake, 8/15/2020

September 5, 2018September 5, 2018

From my kayak 8/31-9/4

This has been a week for fog, green herons, falcons, turtles, and a cormorant.

Goose and duck in the fog. Connecticut River 9/4/2018

Annoyed green heron. Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 8/31/2018

Green heron. Mink Brook, 9/4/2018

Green heron sticking out his tongue. Mink Brook, 9/4/2018

Peregrin with kingbird. Ompompanousuc, Norwich, VT 9/2/2018

Merlin. North Hartland Lake 9/1/2018

American kestrel. North Hartland Lake 9/1/2018

Painted turtle North Hartland Lake 9/1/2018

Wood turtle. Ompompanousuc River 9/2/2018

Cormorant. Connecticut River 8/31/2018

July 29-Aug 4

We paddled a few times this week, mostly on the Connecticut River between Wilder and Hanover, but also the North Hartland Lake. We saw beaver,

Beaver -- Connecticut River — Beaver — Connecticut River

Getting ready for a warning splash

Splash

cormorants,

Cormorant --Connecticut River — Cormorant –Connecticut River

mergansers,

Mergansers --North Hartland Lake — Mergansers –North Hartland Lake

great blue herons,

Great blue heron fishing --North Hartland Lake — Great blue heron fishing –North Hartland Lake

Great blue heron caught something

an indigo bunting,

Indigo bunting -- North Hartland Lake — Indigo bunting — North Hartland Lake

kingfishers,

Kingfisher --North Hartland Lake — Kingfisher –North Hartland Lake

a yellowthroat,

Yellowthroat --North Hartland Lake — Yellowthroat –North Hartland Lake

damsel flies,

Damsel flies --Connecticut River — Damsel flies –Connecticut River

merlins,

Merlins --Connecticut River — Merlins –Connecticut River

and lots of mallards and wood ducks.

Duck stretch --Connecticut River — Duck stretch –Connecticut River

Ducklings had a successful snail hunt --Connecticut River — Ducklings had a successful snail hunt –Connecticut River

Mallard reflection --Connecticut River — Mallard reflection –Connecticut River

Mallard preening --Connecticut River — Mallard preening –Connecticut River

Wood duck --Connecticut River — Wood duck –Connecticut River

On Tuesday, our friends Diane Langley and Mardrey Swenson (and Gemma) came with us.

Gemma isn't sure she wants to be in the kayak with Mardrey Swenson --Connecticut River. — Gemma isn’t sure she wants to be in the kayak with Mardrey Swenson –Connecticut River.

Diane Langley -- Connecticut River — Diane Langley — Connecticut River