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.
From my kayak 8/30-9/1
From my kayak, summer 2022
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
Some herons
Some loons and cormorants.
Some shore birds
Eagles
Some turtles.
Some mammals
We also saw some insects.
Mostly from my kayak 9/5-14
It has been an interesting few weeks since my last post. My sons visited from Portland, OR. My husband had a heart attack (he is doing well). Instead of a week at Squam Lake we had planned, I was there for just 2 days. But I have been able to paddle my kayak and see some wildlife.
North Hartland Lake closed for the season on Labor Day. We went out on that Saturday and caught our last peeks at the eagles, cormorants and of course turtles.
The ducks are molting into their breeding colors.
We found herons on all 3 of the rivers we paddle.
and small birds and large.
We saw a muskrat for the first time this year on the Pompy.
and a young deer running across the playing field at Kilowatt Park.
The most unusual animal we saw was a Northern phalarope as it was passing through. It nests in the Arctic and winters to the south.
From my kayak 7/13-21
The young birds are all around. Some are still in the nest.
Some have just left the nest and are watched over by a parent.
Others are off on their own.
And there are a few adults, too.
Dragonflies and butterflies put in their appearances too.
From my kayak 8/13-26
We have been out eight times in the past two weeks to our usual haunts: North Hartland Lake, Grafton Pond and the Connecticut River near Wilder, VT. We have seen birds:
Great blue heron –North Hartland Lake 8/25/19 
Great blue heron –North Hartland Lake 8/18/19 
Duck swimming between me and Jane’s kayak. Connecticut River 8/19/19 
Ducks –Connecticut River 8/19/19 
Wood ducks — Connecticut River8/13/19 
Young loon –Grafton Pond 8/20/19 
Sandpiper –North Hartland Lake 8/25/19 
2 eagles — North Hartland Lake 8/25/19 
Bald eagle — North Hartland Lake 8/24/19 
Cedar waxwing — Connecticut River 8/26/19
as well as other animals and plants.
Deer drinking –Connecticut River 8/13/19 
3 painted turtles –North Hartland Lake 8/25/19 
Painted turtle with a peeling shell. North Hartland Lake 8/24/19 
Fishing –Grafton Pond 8/20/19 
Purple loosestrife with 2 types of bees. North Hartland Lake 8/25/19
Arrowroot — North Hartland Lake 8/18/19 
Redosier dogwood– Connecticut River 8/13/19 
Log in the fog –Connecticut River 8/26/19 
The some falls at the base of Quechee Gorge. –North Hartland Lake 8/25/19 