Our next trip was to the North Hartland Lake. Because of government cutbacks, the boat launch is only open on weekends and holidays from 9-6. We miss not being able to go on weekdays, early when it is still foggy and the animals are more apt to be around. That being said, we still see flowers, eagles, herons, flycatchers, kildeers and turtles there.
Adult bald eagles. North Hartland Lake, 6/29/25Adult bald eagle. North Hartland Lake. 6/8/25.Immature bald eagle. North Hartland Lake. 6/8/25. Immature bald eagle. North Hartland Lake, 6/29/25 Red tailed hawk. North Hartland Lake. 6/8/25. Lupin. North Hartland Lake. 6/8/25.Flycatcher. North Hartland Lake, 6/29/25 Kildeer. North Hartland Lake, 6/29/25Painted turtle. North Hartland Lake, 6/29/25 Great blue heron caught a fish. North Hartland Lake 7/4/2025 He orients the fish for swallowing. North Hartland Lake 7/4/2025All swallowed! North Hartland Lake 7/4/2025 F-35 flyby for July 4th. North Hartland Lake 7/4/2025
One of our favorite spots is the “Pompy” we often see a variety of ducks, as well as a lot of flowers and small birds.
Gadwall (?) Ompompanousuc River 7/7/2025Barn swallow on bridge. Ompompanousuc River 6/12/25 Green Heron. Ompompanousuc River 7/7/2025 Kingbird. Ompompanousuc River 6/12/25 Dragonfly. Ompompanousuc River 7/7/2025 forget-me-not. Ompompanousuc River 6/12/25Water lily Ompompanousuc River 7/7/2025
The place we return to most is the Connecticut River out of Wilder, and Mink Brook. We find the most variety: from eagles, to herons, to a variety of ducks and small birds as well as mammals, insects and plants. We never know what we will find.
Mallard with ducklings. Connecticut River 6/17/25 Mallard ducklings eating water bugs. Connecticut River 6/17/25 Mallard “bachelor” group on a log. Connecticut River 6/19/2025 Dragonfly Connecticut River 6/19/2025 Great blue heron. Connecticut River 6/19/2025 Great blue heron. Connecticut River 6/21/2025 Kingbird. Connecticut River 6/21/2025 Mama mallards with many ducklings. Connecticut River 6/21/2025 Muskrat. Connecticut River 7/8/25 Squirrel swimming. Connecticut River 6/21/2025 Mama merganser acting as decoy Connecticut River 6/21/2025 Baby merganser hiding. Connecticut River 6/21/2025 Mallard with older ducklings. Connecticut River 6/25/2025 Wood duck with ducklings. Connecticut River 6/25/2025 Wood duck with ducklings. Connecticut River 7/2/2025Mallard testing the water. Connecticut River 6/25/2025 Osprey landing. Connecticut River 7/2/2025Spotted sandpiper Connecticut River 7/8/25 Black locust. Connecticut River 6/17/25Columbine. Connecticut River. 6/11/2520 mallards on a log. Connecticut River 7/8/25
We have been out several times in the last few weeks. North Hartland Lake is now open for boating, after being closed for more than year after last year’s flooding.
Remains of last year’s flooding. North Hartland Lake 7/27/24Bald eagle adult. North Hartland Lake 7/27/24Immature eagle. North Hartland Lake 7/27/24Two immature eagles leaving a tree. North Hartland Lake 7/27/24Immature eagle flying. North Hartland Lake 7/27/24Great blue heron. North Hartland Lake 7/27/24Kingfisher. North Hartland Lake 7/27/24Beaver. North Hartland Lake 7/27/24Beaver splash. North Hartland Lake 7/27/24
The Connecticut River to Mink Brook is a favorite. It is easy to get to, and almost always has things to see (and there are places to pee).
Canada goose at the boat launch. Connecticut River 7/24/24Canada geese. Connecticut River 7/24/24Mallard duckling and mama. Connecticut River 7/24/24Mama mallard and ducklings. Connecticut River 7/24/24Mallards on a log. Connecticut River 7/25/24Mergansers. Mink Brook 7/30/24Wood ducks. Connecticut River 7/24/24Female wood duck. Connecticut River 7/30/24Male wood duck. Connecticut River 7/30/24Cormorant. Connecticut River 7/25/24Cormorant walking on water. Connecticut River 7/25/24Hornet nest. Mink Brook 7/25/24Eastern phoebe. Connecticut River 7/25/24Kingbird. Connecticut River 7/30/24Fledgeling robin. Connecticut River 7/25/24Robin. Connecticut River 7/30/24Dog in Mink Brook. 7/30/34Underwater water lily. Connecticut River 7/24/24
The Ompompanoosuc River is another favorite.
Song sparrow with lunch for the family. Ompompanoosuc River 7/20/24 Mergansers taking off. Ompompanoosuc. River 7/20/24 Young merganser. Ompompanoosuc River 7/20/24
We joined Jane’s brother and sister-in-law on Lake Fairlee and saw loons and pink water lilies.
Loon and chick. Lake Fairlee 7/28/24Baby loon. Lake Fairlee 7/28/24Loon and chick. Lake Fairlee 7/28/24Loon family. Lake Fairlee 7/28/24 Loon. Lake Fairlee 7/28/24Loon calling. Lake Fairlee 7/28/24Loon parents. Lake Fairlee 7/28/24 Gull. Lake Fairlee 7/28/24Kingfisher. Lake Fairlee. 7/28/24Pink water lilies Lake Fairlee 7/28/24Pink water lily. Lake Fairlee 7/28/24Water lily. Lake Fairlee 7/28/24Painted turtle. Lake Fairlee 7/28/24
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
It has been a while since I posted; we had internet problems. We have continued to go kayaking 3-4 times a week mostly at our usual haunts: the Connecticut River north of Wilder, the Ompompanoosuc River, North Hartland Lake before it closed for the season, as well as Grafton Pond and Reservoir Pond in New Hampshire. We have seen eagles,
Eagle with fish. North Hartland Lake 8/25/21
Immature eagle. North Hartland Lake. 8/25/21
herons, both great blue and green,
Great blue heron. North Hartland Lake 8/25/21
Great blue heron. Connecticut River 8/24/21
Great blue heron. North Hartland Lake 9/4/21
Great blue heron. Connecticut River 9/5/21
Green heron. Connecticut River 9/17/21
Green heron. Connecticut River 9/1/21
Green heron eating a fish. Mink Brook 8/24/21
loons,
Loon and chick. Grafton Pond 8/31/21
Loon stretch. Connecticut River 9/17/21
other birds,
Turkey vultures. Ompompanoosuc River 9/19/21
Cormorant. North Hartland Lake 9/4/21
Spotted sandpiper. Connecticut River 9/5/21
Waterthrush. Reservoir Pond,Lyme, NH, 9/14/21
some turtles,
Wood turtle. Ompompanoosuc River. 9/19/21
Painted turtles. North Hartland Lake 9/4/21
and some other interesting things.
Duck feather. Connecticut River 9/18/21
Waterfall with purple asters. Connecticut River 9/11/21
Jane’s sister Susy and her granddaughter, Emily. Ompompanoosuc River 8/27/21
