snapping turtle – Nancy's Corner

From my kayak 6/25-27

One of our favorite paddling spots, North Hartland Lake, is now open Wednesday-Sunday! The eagles have built a nest, but we didn’t see any evidence of eaglets.

Bald eagle. Hartland, VT 6/25/20

We saw the usual painted turtles and spotted sandpipers and were treated with some deer.

Painted turtle. Hartland, VT 6/25/20

Spotted sandpiper on the boom. North Hartland Dam, Hartland, VT 6/25/20

Deer. Hartland, VT 6/25/20

The next day, on the Connecticut River, we came across a large snapping turtle sunning himself. Over the years, we have seen him a few times before, but always underwater.

Snapping turtle and dragon fly. Lebanon, NH 6/26/20

The kingbirds are trying for a second clutch of eggs in at least two nests.

Kingbird with nest. Hanover, NH 6/26/20

And the damselflies are out and about.

Damselfly on my kayak. Hanover, NH 6/26/20

Today on the Ompompanoosuc, we found the family of geese, now getting their adult feathers.

Canada goose with half grown goslings. Norwich, VT 6/27/20

We also saw a family of common mergansers.

Common merganser family. Norwich, VT 6/27/20

June 19, 2018June 20, 2018

Views from a kayak 6/16-19

The ducklings have arrived this week,

Ducklings by the benches.
Connecticut River, Wilder, VT 6/16/18

Ducklings.
Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 6/19/18

Mama with ducklings in the rough water.
Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 6/19/18

along with other birds,

Kildeer.
North Hartland Lake. 6/17/18

Northern waterthrush.
Ompompanousuc River, Norwich, VT 6/18/18

Female hooded merganser.
Ompompanousuc River, Norwich, VT 6/18/18

a variety of turtles,

Snapping turtle.
North Hartland Lake. 6/17/18

Painted turtle.
North Hartland Lake, VT 6/17/18

swimming mammals,

Swimming red squirrel.
North Hartland Lake. 6/17/18

Beaver.
Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 6/16/18

and flowers.

Blue flag.
Connecticut River, Hanover, NH 6/16/18

Yellow flag.
North Hartland Lake. 6/17, 2018

The first water lily.
North Hartland Lake, VT 6/17/18

Squam Lake Wildlife

Although the Pine Needle Point reunion last week was mostly about people, I did get a chance to photograph some wildlife.

Snake that lives near our dock.

Ducks swimming by our dock.

Common mergansers

Snapping turtle by the narrows.

Ducklings skimming the water