We have been out on various local lakes and rivers a couple of times a week and have seen a lot: ducks, herons, other birds, deer, beaver, and flowers etc.
Cormorants. Connecticut River 6/23/26Mallard family. Connecticut River 6/23/26Blue flag. Ompompanoosuc River 6/25/26Not quite adult mallards. Connecticut River 6/30/26Cormorant on a log. Connecticut River 7/2/26Cormorant. Connecticut River 7/2/26Fawn. Connecticut River 7/2/26Jane with wispy fog. Connecticut River 7/2/26Molting mallard takes a stretch. Connecticut River 7/2/26Dragonfly. North Hartland Lake 7/3/26Immature eagle in flight. North Hartland Lake 7/3/26Adult bald eagle. North Hartland Lake 7/3/26Orchid (?) Lake Armington 7/5/26Sundew. Lake Armington 7/5/26Raft of ducks. Connecticut River 7/8/26Gull. Connecticut River 7/8/26Osprey Connecticut River 7/8/26Turkey vulture with the moon. Connecticut River 7/8/26Black eyed susans. Ompompanoosuc River 7/9/26Dragonfly. Ompompanoosuc River 7/9/26Mergansers. Ompompanoosuc River 7/9/26Bald eagle flying with a fish. North Hartland Lake 7/12/26Bald eagle with a fish. North Hartland Lake 7/12/26Belted kingfisher. North Hartland Lake 7/12/26 Great blue heron with a fish. North Hartland Lake 7/12/26Beaver. Connecticut River 7/14/26Song sparrow. Connecticut River 7/14/26Common merganser family. North Hartland Lake 7/12/26
We were late starting kayaking this year, what with rain, cold water temperatures and doctors’ appointments, but on May 23 we made it to McDaniels Marsh. It was a chilly morning. We were hoping to see the frogs that Jane had seen a few days earlier when it was up to around 80 F, but it was too cold for them.
We did go out on North Hartland Lake, the Connecticut and the Pompy a few times in June. In mid May we saw a large family of mallards from the shore and again a few weeks later from the kayak.
Mallard ducklings. Connecticut River 5/18/26Mallards. Connecticut River 6/8/2026Ducklings preening. Connecticut River 6/10/26Mallard and ducklings. Connecticut River 6/17/26Canada geese with goslings Connecticut River 6/17/26Red columbine. Connecticut River 6/8/26Yellow Warbler. Connecticut River 6/8/26Hooded merganser and chick. Ompompanoosuc River 6/5/26Tree swallow. Ompompanoosuc River. 6/5/26Painted turtles. North Hartland Lake 6/13/26
We paddled North Hartland Lake twice on their closing weekend (Labor Day). We will miss seeing the eagles, herons, kingfishers and turtles until next year.
Bald eagle. North Hartland Lake 8/30/25Young bald eagle. North Hartland Lake 8/30/25Migrating birds. North Hartland Lake 8/30/25Wood ducks flying. North Hartland Lake 8/30/25Adult bald eagle. North Hartland Lake 9/1/25Immature bald eagle fluffing it’s feathers North Hartland Lake 9/1/25Belted kingfisher North Hartland Lake 9/1/25Osprey, North Hartland Lake 9/1/25 Spotted sandpiper (?). North Hartland Lake 9/1/25
Green heron. Connecticut River 8/7/25Wood duck and painted turtle. Connecticut River 8/7/25Mallard with web. Connecticut River 8/7/25Immature bald eagle. North Hartland Lake 8/9/25Great blue heron, North Hartland Lake 8/9/25Belted kingfisher, North Hartland Lake 8/9/25Kingfisher. North Hartland Lake 8/9/25Snapping turtle. North Hartland Lake 8/9/25Green heron and mallards on a log. Mink Brook 8/10/25 Broad-winged hawk. Connecticut River 8/13/25Broad-winged hawk. Connecticut River 8/13/25Merganser. Connecticut River 8/13/25Great blue heron. North Hartland Lake 8/14/25Green heron. Ompompanoosuc River 8/13/25Belted kingfisher. North Hartland Lake 8/16/25Painted turtle. North Hartland Lake 8/16/25Song sparrow. North Hartland Lake 8/16/25Immature eagle. North Hartland Lake 816/25
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