Upper Valley Photos

09/07/2026

A last look at the juvenile black-crowned night heron I encountered last week. This is the same bird I've posted the last few days. I found him right at the end of the channel when I came out from the marsh - where I'd been looking for him. The only way home would have taken me within a few feet of him. I was sure he'd spook. He didn't. I managed to turn the boat and back up the shore a bit. The water was shallow and got too shallow for the boat. I grounded it and watched while the heron foraged - and thrashed the sticks. He's just given the sticks a good pummeling. He's turned and it looks like he's on the way to settle my hash..... Bradford, VT August 31, 2026.

09/06/2026

One again with the juvenile black-crowned night heron I encountered last week. This is the one that thrashed the sticks and walked up close to my boat to chase the dragonflies. Not catching his fill of the dragonflies, it looks like he's pondering taking me down... Black-crowned night heron, Bradford, VT August 31, 2026.

09/05/2026

The juvenile black-crowned night heron I've posted the last couple days seems to still be learning what makes a meal. As I watched him work through the shallows, he grabbed several sticks. This time, he's grabbed a branch on a larger stick. Each one was picked up and explored. When they proved to be inedible, each was given a good thrashing. Seems harsh, but the sticks probably had it coming. Black-crowned night heron, Bradford, VT August 31, 202.

#

09/04/2026

As I was coming out of the marsh the other evening, this juvenile black-crowned night heron was standing on a sandbar just by the channel into the marsh. I figured I was sure to flush him, there was no way but to paddle within 10 or 15 feet of him and it was time to head in. When he stood his ground and let me pass, I decided to spend the last couple minutes of daylight with him. I turned my boat and beached it probably 20' from him. He went about his business, eventually wading closer to me - close enough that the 800mm wouldn't focus on him. Fortunately I had a shorter lens and put it on and tried again. The heron was interested in catching dragonflies and watched them intently until they ventured close enough to strike. Black-crowned night heron, Bradford, VT August 31, 2026.

09/03/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BpUX1mMdx/

Only 37 days until Oct. 10th -11th and the 2026 Vermont North by Hand Artisans Coop Studio Tour Sat. & Sun. 10am-5pm
Artist profiles & maps at https://vermontnorthbyhand.org/tour-map/
Brochures available at local shops
Chart out your VNBH Studio tour in Bradford, Corinth, Fairlee, Thetford, E. Topsham and Newbury. Tour notes and more artist info will be posted here and on VNBH Instagram page as the tour nears.

09/03/2026

More news from the Easton loon family and the herons I've been following. Check out the pix in my new blog post at https://blog.ianclark.com/.../more-herons-more-eastons/

09/02/2026

Humm, where is it? I know I left my crayfish right here... While I was waiting for the green heron to venture out from behind the brush, a wood duck I hadn't noticed and the heron both squawked and came flying out of the brush. I figured they'd started each other, but a few moments later, this raccoon wandered out. He spent about 20 minutes foraging along the shore, glancing up at me occasionally.

09/01/2026

These two painted turtles watched me the other evening as I waited for the heron to appear. They'd occasionally bob their heads - as if laughing at some turtle joke. They reminded me of Statler and Waldorf - the two grumpy old men in the balcony from The Muppet Show. Painted turtles, Bradford, VT, August 29, 2026.

08/31/2026

This is one of a pair of loon chicks - the Eastons from my blog - that are just about 10 weeks old. I spent the morning with the family. The chicks are getting very independent, both were foraging on their own when I arrived. They eventually tracked Mom down and demanded to be fed. They're at the stage where they hound the parents to be fed. Mom would surface toss whatever she caught towards the chick and immediately dive again. The chicks were also practicing their calls. So far, they sound exactly unlike loons. I waited until the wind came up to see if they'd practice flying, but the showed no interest this morning. Common loon, Grafton County, NH August 31, 2026.

08/30/2026

This loon chick - one of the Easton chicks from my blog - is now about nine and a half weeks old. The chicks should be trying to fly by now, but I haven't been around to see it. They're trying to learn their calls. Both attempted wails when I visited. They still sound more like the squeal a subway car makes going around a sharp curve than a loon. But they'll get there. With their winter feathers grown in, they have to spend time preening. And they've learned to take a big stretch when they finish. Common loon, Grafton County, NH August 29, 2026.


bestnatureshots