Ompompanoosuc River, Norwich, VT
This is a collection of photos from several trips along both sides of the Connecticut River between April 14 and 25, 2020. The photos are presented by location moving counterclockwise from Hanover to Lyme and Orford, NH and back south to Norwich, VT. Because these photos were taken between a bit before 7 and a few minutes after 8 AM, and because of covid-19, I saw almost no cars or people out walking.
During these trips, waterfowl at Wilson’s Landing was scarce. Just two Canada Geese and a Mallard at 7:02 AM, April 19.
The clouds over the mouth of Grant Brook in Lyme reflected nicely in the calm water at 7:01 AM, April 14.
Just three minutes before this photo, I got a nice Hooded Merganser swimming in the early golden reflections in a different part of the mouth.
There can be many Wood Ducks in Grant Brook. Unfortunately, these skittish ducks are normally quite far away.
In the photo below, the female is almost invisible near the colorful drake.
In this photo I count 8 males and 2 females.
One day a female Common Merganser swam away creating a nice pattern as she progressed.
On April 23, in addition to the 10 wood ducks above, I got a pair of Hooded Merganser.
My one trip as far north as Orford on April 25 netted two large birds, both quite far away. Just south of Reed’s Marsh was a Bald Eagle.
Just north of Reed’s Marsh I spotted a Great Egret in the trees far across the partially flooded field. These photos are huge crops.
In Reed’s Marsh itself, a single Ring-necked Duck preened and swam quietly by itself. That is until some Common Mergansers came too close and disturbed its social isolation.
After leaving the Ring-necked alone, one of the half dozen female Common Mergansers that were present caught and devoured something, perhaps a crayfish.
In Norwich, VT along Kendall Station Road, a pair of Common Merganser swam toward me until they noticed my camera and headed away.
Along Route 132 above the Ompompanoosuc River, a Red-winged Blackbird called.
A single Wood Duck swam in the tiny stream near the beginning of Campbell Flats.
Back along the Pompy on the west side of the interstate, I watched a Hooded Merganser catch and swallow a crayfish.
In the Pompy on the east side of the interstate I found a Yellowlegs. I believe it is a Greater Yellowlegs, but I welcome corrections.
Heading south along Route 5, there was a single Wood Duck in the pond across from Patchen’s Point.
Not a bad way to spend an early morning enjoying nature away from people.