A lone sailboat survived the weekend scramble to retire the boats for the season at Mascoma Lakeside Park. I had the park to myself this glorious morning. A perfect end to the boating season.
From Hurricane Hill in WRJ, Ted Levin witnessed this sunrise and wrote in his blog, “The grace of the sky: mottled, crowded with color; far more in the heavens than the hills (color mostly departed)—luminescent rose and orange clouds, long, thick, peeling, slowly grade into a pink-gray and mauve above Hurricane Hill. Golden light. Copper light. I can’t stop looking up … momentous and ephemeral, a monument to starting the day in the dark. Along an empty road, just chickadees and me below a Benjamin Moore sunrise.”
It was a fabulous foliage season. I will mostly cover it by presenting Mountain Views, Conserved Areas, Fog, Birds, and a mini-Photo lesson.
Mountain Views
Bethlehem
Bethlehem is a town I rarely visit, although I sometimes drive through to get elsewhere as I was doing this day. My GPS took me on a road I had never travelled. And it made all the difference, revealing a very nice view of Mount Washington in the center of this photo.
Canaan
Moose Mountain (South Peak) from Canaan Street Lake area.
Mount Cardigan has a bare peak with a new tower. It is seen here from Route 4. To its left is Firescrew Mountain, a great place to visit when hiking Cardigan. On the right is Cardigan Rimrock.
Cornish
A classic view of Mount Ascutney across the Windsor-Cornish Covered Bridge. Some of these photos are too easy — if the timing is right. (More on timing at the end of this blog.)
Enfield
Moose Mountain from a great viewpoint.
Etna
We live in Etna, so I take many photos there. I’m artificially separating it from the rest of Hanover even though there are no clear boundary lines as far as I can tell.
Mount Ascutney
Along Trescott Road near the Bob Adams Farm being conserved by the Hanover Conservancy is this view of Mount Ascutney taken a few days ago.
From a few miles north of our house, we can look back SW to Mount Ascutney. The hill before it and to the left a bit is Hayes Hill.
During a hike with three friends along the Ridge Trail on Moose Mountain, I took these three photos of Mount Ascutney. The lake you can see in two of them is Lake Mascoma.
In the section of this blog on Conserved Lands, I will show another view of Mount Ascutney from Etna.
Mount Cardigan
Also from the Ridge Trail, there are nice views of the Mount Cardigan range to the east.
The peaks are labeled in the version below.
Carr Mountain and Mount Osceola
Both can be seen in the photo below from the Ridge Trail on Moose Mountain. Carr is center left and Osceola is to the right.
Mount Cube and Smarts Mountain
From the same ridgeline, there was a distant view of Mount Cube between Moose Mountain on the left and Smarts Mountain on the right.
Mount Kearsarge
Mount Kearsarge can be seen from many places, but few would think it could be spotted from Hanover. It can be seen as the distant bump in the middle of the photo below from the Ridge Trail in Etna.
Here is a closer view from a nearby spot.
Mount Killington
Two views of Mount Killington from our deck on evenings two weeks apart.
An early morning view of Killington with Pico at the far right.
Down the hill from our home, a view of Killington and Pico mid-morning.
A mid-afternoon view of the Mount Killington range.
Here is Killington from the Baboon Bypass Trail on Moose Mountain. The hill in the fog on the right is the Velvet Rocks area of Hanover along the AT.
A day later at almost the same time in the morning, we see Velvet Rocks has moved to the left of Killington.
Moose Mountain
We get a view of Moose Mountain across a neighbor’s yard just down the road.
Sandwich Mountain
Another unexpected view from Hanover is Sandwich Mountain in Sandwich and Waterville Valley. I took this from that very productive ridgeline hike in Etna. It is the distant mountain in the center.
Franconia
I visited a favorite spot in Franconia and found many Yellow-rumped Warblers stocking up for their long flight south. While there I took these two photos of Mounts Lafayette and Lincoln (the smaller bump to the right).
Grafton
During a mid-October drive, I got a number of nice views of the Mount Cardigan range. The photo below shows, left to right, Firescrew, Cardigan, and Orange Mountain.
Here are two move views of Cardigan from Grafton.
From a similar location in Grafton, there was a peek at Moosilauke, seen in the middle of the photo below.
Hanover
I covered the Hanover village of Etna above. But there are some nice views of Mount Cardigan from the “other” side of Moose Mountain. If you are travelling there by car you must go through either Lyme or Lebanon, Enfield, and Canaan to get to this area! The photo below shows Mount Cardigan from Goss Road in Hanover.
Also from Goss Road, we can see, left to right, Firescrew, Cardigan, Cardigan Rimrock, and Orange.
Haverhill
Black Mountain in Benton can be reached by trailheads in Benton and Haverhill. I have hiked the Chippawa Trail off Lime Kiln Road many times in all seasons including many years ago with our young family. It is a wonderful hike with many fantastic viewpoints. Be sure to make it all the way to the summit; you can be fooled and stop short. And be sure to visit the lime kiln a short distance to the left soon after you start the hike.
Here are two photo from early October.
Lebanon
Lebanon features nice views of Ascutney, Killington, and Pico. Here are two views of Mount Ascutney from different spots two weeks apart.
And Killington and Pico in late October.
Orange
Mount Ascutney on the left and, near the center, Pico.
Orford
From the Mountain View Farm Conservation Area in the Quinttown area of Orford, one gets a close view of Mount Cube.
I will show more photos of Mount Cube from this beautiful spot in the section below on Conserved Areas.
Plainfield
Plainfield affords some nice views of Mount Ascutney including this one.
Sugar Hill
Sugar Hill is a favorite foliage trip. I normally stop at Polly’s for the views, but in recent years I have skipped the crowds and the pancakes. Here is Cannon Mountain from across the road from Polly’s Pancake Parlor.
One of my favorite photos of Mount Washington was taken in early-October, 2019 from Sugar Hill when the summit was covered with snow. Here is that old photo.
Conditions were not as dramatic during my 2024 trip. Mount Washington is the right-most peak in the photo below.
The photo below will help you identify the other mountains in the photo above.
Sunapee
In previous blog posts I have shown many photos of Mount Sunapee. Here is a view I have not presented before, taken in September.
Thetford
Smarts Mountain can be viewed from Stevens Road in Thetford…
… and also from Clay Road.
Mount Cube can be seen from Quail John Road.
Wilmot
Bog Mountain in Wilmot is an easy and rewarding climb. One can start in North Wilmot or along Route 4A, but the easiest way up is from Stearns Road. Here are two views of the bog from early October with the mountain in the background.
Windsor
I feel the best views of Mount Ascutney are up close in Windsor, especially in the early morning. Here are two photos from mid-October.
Conserved Lands
I took advantage of some of the many Conserved Lands in the Upper Valley this Fall. Two key local organizations deserve note: the Upper Valley Land Trust, UVLT, and the Hanover Conservancy, HC. You can check the links now it you wish; I will not repeat them below.
Adams Farm
The Adams Farm along Trescott Road in my home town is being conserved by the HC. It affords a nice view of Mount Ascutney.
In August 1984, we gave some felled trees to Bob Adams for firewood from an area we cleared for a pond at our new home in Etna. He came to drag them down a logging road ¼ mile using oxen. Here is an old slide photo I recently digitized. This image and another similar old photo are planned for an agricultural history interpretive sign at the adjoining Hudson Farm, also an HC project.
Baum Conservation Area
While travelling Goss Road for photos of foliage and views of Cardigan, I stopped briefly at the UVLT Baum Conservation Area. I’ve hiked, xc-skied, and snowshoed the trails in this little-known gem in Hanover on the east side of Moose Mountain. The trails connect to the huge network of HC trails on Moose Mountain.
Bear Pond
The UVLT Bear Pond Natural Area in Canaan can be entered from two small parking areas or a bushwhack through the Canaan Town Forest off Route 4. The parking spot on Goose Pond Road borders Straw Brook where these two photos were taken. The huge Bear Pond NA is on the right side of the second photo.
Bicknell Brook
The UVLT Colette Trail and Bicknell Loop Trail in Enfield, NH is a wonderful place for photographing moving water. I’ve photographed there many times in all seasons. In winter snowshoes or spikes are normally mandatory. This fall the brook was lower than I have ever seen it. The main fall under the bridge was a quiet stream, but charming nonetheless.
Coffin Pond
Located at a small parking area in Sugar Hill, Coffin Pond is a beautiful spot in fall. From Polly’s you have to pass through a piece of Franconia to get there along Route 118.
Harris Brook
The Harris Brook Scenic Area is a pleasant hour or less walk around the old Enfield Reservoir in Canaan. Here is a recent photo from the trail in.
Headwaters Forest
This newly conserved HC site in Etna is along one of the many short disjointed pieces of Wolfeboro Road in Hanover. I hiked five different sections of this historic road from Concord to Dartmouth this Fall, all in Hanover on both sides of Moose Mountain. The North Peak of Moose Mountain is in the background of this photo from October 11.
An earlier photo of the tamaracks in the October 25 photo below graced last year’s Hanover Conservancy Annual Report cover.
Mascoma Lakeside Park
Mascoma Lakeside Park in Enfield is a favorite sunrise spot, especially in Autumn. The lead photo of this blog was taken there. Here are two more. In the first you might be able to see a disorganized skein of Canada Geese flying over the UVLT Smith Pond Shaker Forest area.
Mill Pond Forest
High up on Moose Mountain in Etna, the HC Mill Pond Forest is part of a huge network of hiking, xc-skiing, and snowshoe trails. Here is Mill Pond from late September.
Moose Mountain Trails
For many years I have hiked, xc-skied, and snowshoed the large network of trails on Moose Mountain. They are right out our front door; well, actually 3 miles away. I have long wanted to hike the full Ridge Trail but never did until a few weeks ago when I joined three friends. It was a fabulous hike with many great views east and west. I showed some photos from this hike in the Mountain Views section above. The photo below shows the short path leading to an expansive viewpoint over Mascoma Lake and to Mount Ascutney in Vermont.
Mountain View Farm Conservation Area
This Autumn I discovered the wonderful UVLT Mountain View Farm CA in Orford. I did not have time to walk the relatively short distance to Mason Pond, but I plan to return soon to do so. However, it might be on snowshoes if I can’t get there soon enough. Here are four photos. The second shows Mount Cube behind the historic barn of the reclusive Billy Brown. There are no power lines or other structures visible from the land’s 360 degree panoramic view.
Paradise Park
Located off Route 5 just north of the village of Windsor, Paradise Park is a wonderful area for birds or just a causal stroll. There are views across Lake Runnemede to Mount Ascutney. Here are four photos from mid-October.
Two Rivers Conservation Area
This area hidden behind a shopping area in West Lebanon was purchased by the UVLT, which holds a conservation easement, and given to the city of Lebanon. Some of the bird photos I have taken there have been published, most memorably Blue-gray Gnatcatchers gathering spider webbing for a nest. Over the years it has been upgraded with trails.
Windsor Grasslands WMA
Located along Marton Road in Windsor, this new area is a fantastic birding site. It is the most reliable place in the Upper Valley to find Blue-winged Warblers and related hybrids.
Birds
Most of the spring and summer birds have headed south for the winter, especially warblers. But I caught a few warblers before they departed. I also photographed some birds that were obviously about to attempt their first migration. It is amazing that they know where to go. And more amazingly, how individual birds can return to the exact same site the following spring.
The most productive spot for birds these weeks has been our yard in Etna. This is surprising because I do not think of it as a “hot spot” for birds. However, it is the place I am most often so my chances of finding interesting birds here are greater than other places that I visit relatively briefly. These five weeks I had photographed in our yard (in order of appearance): Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Palm Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, White-breasted Nuthatch, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Dark-eyed Junco, and Golden-crowned Kinglet. (I’ve also seen but not photographed hairy and downy woodpeckers, chickadees, titmice, red-breasted nuthatch, blue jays, and ruffed grouse.)
Warblers
The rail trail at Ice House Road in Lebanon is a reliable site for at least three species of warblers. Here is a Common Yellowthroat in late September.
I found beautiful Palm Warblers in Sunapee and in our Etna yard the last two days of September.
The last three of the photos above show the first ever Palm Warblers I can recall seeing in our yard.
An even more surprising visitor to our yard this Fall was a Blackpoll Warbler, certainly the first ever. It came on the same day as the Palm Warbler and some Yellow-rumped Warblers. They were likely migrating together. Here are photos of the Blackpoll Warbler.
Yellow-rumped Warblers seem to be the most plentiful warbler species every Fall. I found them in our yard, at the Headwaters Forest in Etna, in Sunapee, at Bedell Bridge SP in Haverhill, in Franconia, at Paradise Park in Windsor, and at Campbell Flat in Norwich. In our yard I photographed them catching insects. Here is a long slide show of Yellow-rumped Warblers from the last five weeks.
Sparrows
This is the time of year that sparrows seem to move around. Some appear and some depart. I photographed them in Sunapee, Etna, Enfield, Haverhill, Norwich, and Windsor.
I found Chipping Sparrows at Mascoma Lakeside Park and in Sunapee.
Dark-eyed Juncos were photographed in Sunapee and in our Etna yard.
I found a surprising Field Sparrow at Mascoma Lakeside Park in Enfield. I guess during migration nothing should be too surprising.
I found a beautiful Lincoln’s Sparrow at Bedell Bridge SP in Haverhill.
Savannah Sparrows were photographed in Norwich and in North Haverhill at a friend’s farm.
I found Song Sparrows in Enfield, Sunapee, Norwich, and Windsor. This seems to be our most common sparrow.
Swamp Sparrows were found in Norwich, Windsor, and Haverhill.
I photographed a beautiful White-crowned Sparrow at a friend’s farm in North Haverhill during a very productive 10 minutes.
Here are White-throated Sparrows from Sunapee, Norwich, Enfield, Haverhill, and Etna.
Wrens
In Enfield along the rail trail north of Lakeside Park I photographed adult and obviously juvenile Carolina Wrens. Surprisingly they were still singing in late September.
Kinglets
Here are Ruby-crowned Kinglets from Campbell Flat in Norwich …
… and our yard.
A striking Golden-crowned Kinglet paid a brief visit to our yard.
Vireos
I photographed a Blue-headed Vireo in Newbury, NH.
And a more common Red-eyed Vireo along the rail trail in Lebanon near Ice House Road.
Other Species
I photographed American Goldfinch at three spots in Vermont: Campbell Flat in Norwich, the Co-op Community Gardens in Norwich, and Paradise Park in Windsor.
An Eastern Bluebird at Ice House Road.
An Eastern Phoebe at Campbell Flat.
An American Crow in Thetford.
A Tufted Titmouse in Sunapee quietly perched, then spinning its head.
A White-breasted Nuthatch in our yard.
A Gray Catbird at the Hayes Farm Park in Etna.
And another Gray Catbird along the rail trail in Lebanon.
A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Bedell Bridge SP.
A shy Ruffed Grouse along Grafton Pond Road.
A pair of Wood Duck that unfortunately saw me before I saw them on Lake Runnemede in Windsor.
At Airport Marsh in Whitefield, a Double-crested Cormorant.
A Blue Jay coexisting with a Chipmunk nearby in the Pompy area of Norwich.
A huge flock of Red-winged Blackbirds at Campbell Flat.
A Turkey Vulture flying over farm fields in North Haverhill.
And another Turkey Vulture in Orford.
Also in North Haverhill, a Red-tailed Hawk.
And another Red-tailed Hawk high over Campbell Flat that George Clark spotted for me.
A Sharp-shinned Hawk flying high over our yard.
And finally, an Osprey in East Barnard, VT.
Fog
Fog can hide or enhance a scene. It normally softens the contrast, but sometimes produces drama when the sun penetrates and is partially blocked by trees. Here is a slide show of photos with varying amounts of fog from Etna, Enfield, Canaan, Dorchester, Grafton, Lyme, Pomfret, and East Barnard.
Hunter’s Moon
The Hunter’s Moon this year was a Supermoon, but not a big deal. Still, it is fun to photograph the moon. Here it is in a dark 6:38 PM sky and an early morning at Primitive Pickings in Lebanon.
Foliage 2024
This is a slide show of some foliage photos from September and October 2024.
Some simple ideas that maybe will help.
One of my favorite local spots for sunrise is Mascoma Lakeside Park. In the fall, I will often see photographers with New York or Connecticut license plates already set up along the shore when I arrive around 45 minutes before sunrise. Sometimes they get lucky, but most often the lake and sailboats are in heavy fog or the sky is filled with featureless and colorless clouds.
I’ve gone many times when the forecast looked promising – clouds beginning to dissipate right around sunrise. But more often than not I’ve come up empty. I sit and enjoy my coffee and then leave without picking up my camera. But the times the sky lights up makes up for those “wasted” hours.
Often folks walk down the obvious path, set up their tripods, and not move for over an hour. In contrast, I am normally moving quite a bit as the scene develops and the colors change. Quite often foreground elements can be critical in sunrise photos.
The rock pile now appears to be much farther away from the chairs.
Here are two more pairs of photos taken a few days ago that illustrate perspective. You should be able to tell which of each pair was made with a longer lens and from a farther distance.
None of these are great photos, but you can see how changing perspective by moving your feet can greatly change the look of a photo. And when you do move back or forward, move a long distance, not just a few yards.
Speaking of shadows, they can be very real objects in a photo for better or worse. In the woods on a sunny day, shadows add confusing elements. But other times they can be the subject.
The photo above has strong leading lines. Often lines that lead the viewer’s eye through the photo can improve the image.
Here the lines in the field and the sky all lead the viewer’s eye to the subject.
And if the lines are curved, so much the better.
The photo below is soft and quiet but plain.
Adding foreground elements that lead the viewer into the lake and sky can produce a different image. Which of the pair is “better” is left to the viewer and the purpose of the photo. The second has several key elements of a magazine cover photo — vertical orientation and a clean area on top for the masthead.
Here are a pair of photo taken a few days ago without and with a polarizer.
And a pair taken of a great lookout spot on the Ridge Trail on Moose Mountain with a long lens.
The two photos above were taken from the boat launch in Lebanon along Route 4A as seen below.
If you want to improve your photography, take a lot of photos and critically examine the results. You learn by doing and working hard to make better images.