Birders talk about a “Big Day” or a “Big Year”. I’ve had some big days and weeks photographically venturing out alone or with a friend exploring interesting spots in NH and VT by car and foot.
I recently published blogs on each of the four weeks of October 2018. I have been doing something similar for years. Below are links to previous “Days of” and “Weeks of” blogs. You can click the Headings or the Images to get to the respective blog.
First Morning of September 2015
The day started with a sunrise behind Loon Island Light, then early fog in Sunapee. I also traveled to New London and Sutton taking photos at some nice spots.
This was a day exploring the early foliage near Route 4A in Enfield, Springfield, and Wilmot, NH. The highlights were some spots along Bog Road as seen here.
Last Saturday of September 2015
The morning was spent on McDaniel’s Marsh kayaking with otters and sandpipers. There was early fog and lots of lily pads.
Another morning kayaking in early fog at my favorite pond. I did not go to photograph loon, but they were irresistible.
A friend and I toured some nice spots in Reading, West Windsor, and Pomfret, Vermont. We were a bit early for foliage but still got some nice shots.
Second Thursday of October 2015
A friend and I started early at Seyton State Park. We photographed in Groton, seen below, and Peacham, VT. The foliage was quite good.
A friend and I visited Profile Falls of the Smith River in Bristol, NH. We then photographed at various spots in Danbury and Wilmot, ending at sunset. The photo below shows the eastern sky at 5:48 PM.
Late March photos in NH included sunrise over Lake Mascoma, scenes and ducks in Lyme and maple sugar buckets in Etna. Vermont spots include Quechee and Woodstock. Below is a hooded merganser.
This spring week focused naturally on birds in NH: an American Bittern at Cascade Marsh in Sutton, many species at Bedell Bridge State Park in Haverhill, and warblers at several location in Hanover. The surprise was a snapping turtle near George Pond in Enfield. This photo was used on a Wildlife Calendar.
A wonderful week touring areas near Route 4A in Enfield, Springfield, and Wilmot was highlighted by an adult bald eagle perched along the shore of Lake Mascoma.
Travels this week were mainly along Routes 4 and 4A in Lebanon, Springfield, Wilmot, Andover, Danbury, Canaan, and Grafton, NH. The photo below shows the Blackwater River in Andover.
I traveled far and wide in NH and VT this week, sometimes alone and sometimes with a fellow photographer. Woodstock, Franconia, Sugar Hill, Haverhill, Orford, Dorchester, Rumney, Ellsworth, Campton, Enfield, Hanover, and Lebanon were some of the NH spots. In VT, I visited Norwich, Pomfret, and Barnard.
The foliage was excellent in Reading and West Windsor, VT this week. I also visited the VT towns of Norwich, Sharon, and Thetford. I got wood ducks flying in Cornish, NH. The photo below is from near my home in Etna, NH.
In early October, I hiked Black Mountain in Haverhill twice and Bog Mountain in Wilmot. I toured Bear Notch, Crawford Notch, Franconia, and Sugar Hill after a wonderful sunrise along the Kancamagus Highway. I also got a great sunrise on Lake Mascoma in Enfield. The photo below is McDaniel’s Marsh in Springfield.
I hiked Mount Cardigan and Mount Sunapee during these six days. Photos from late October included NH locations of Orange, Sunapee, Springfield, New London, Newport, Cornish, Enfield, and Meriden. The photo below shows early morning fog from Enfield.
The first week of October started on Monhegan Island. I hiked Mount Ascutney in Vermont and and did an SRKG hike to three ponds in Andover. I photographed in Enfield, Springfield, and Wilmot, NH. The photo below was taken near Hopkins Pond in Andover.
I photographed in Woodstock, NH as well as in Franconia Notch, Sugar Hill, Landaff, Orford, Lyme, and Enfield, NH. I hiked Mount Sunapee up the Newbury Trail and down the Andrew’s Brook Trail visiting White Ledges and Lake Solitude along the way. Below is perhaps my favorite photo of the week taken from Springfield, NH at Little Lake Sunapee.
A friend and I hiked to Bridal Veil Falls in Franconia this week. I photographed waterfalls in Trues Brook, Grants Brook, and Bicknell Brook and foliage in Hanover, Lyme, and Orford, NH. A friend and I toured Grafton, Athens, West Windsor, and Reading, VT. I photographed some amazing iridescent clouds from Etna. The photo below was taken in Hanover Center with early morning fog.
During the last 10 days of October a friend and I hiked over Mounts Pierce, Jackson, Firescrew, Cardigan, and Orange. The photo below, from near the summit of Mount Pierce, shows Mount Eisenhower and lots of rime ice. The featured birds of the week were very friendly Canada Jays.
I’m very grateful to be able to live where I do. I’m wondering what 2019 will bring. Happy Thanksgiving.