Lower Symes Pond-Fabulous Sounds

June 21, 2024                                                         Most Recent Posts:
Moose River Campground                                  Fast Forward to the FLOOD
St. Johnsbury Vermont                                       The Fairbanks Museum

Returning to where I’d left off in my chronological postings, I’ve flown backwards from the flood which thankfully is over and the river has receded.  The link to that post is above.

June 21st was a beautiful Friday with gorgeous temperatures in the 70’s so I set off early for Lower Symes Pond which I have not been to before.  No idea where these ponds get their names but I suppose Symes was someone and lower must mean there is an upper though I can’t find it.  You can see Tootsie (my kayak) down at the bottom of the ramp.  I wanted to remember the layout and parking.  Not sure I’ll be here next year but just in case.

I had tried to find this pond last year and ended up going down a very narrow road where Ruby bottomed out and I backed out.  This time I asked google maps for Lower Symes Pond ACCESS which I learned this year will take me to the boat ramp for the ponds rather than just down some road that goes near it.

I was thrilled to see the loons and chick.  They are a big draw for kayaking in Vermont. 

I was lucky enough to get this video of one of the loons calling.  I love its echo.

Use this link to see and hear it.   It was the highlight of the day.

Flowering lily pads are lovely and they create habitat for fish. Areas covered in lilies are less likely to have algae blooms because the surface coverage blocks sunlight needed for algae to grow.  However extensive lily cover can reduce the exchange of oxygen at the water surface. This oxygen is vital to all aquatic life. Water lilies also attract mosquitoes and aphids.   They spread very seriously and are difficult to paddle through.  I guess everything may have its pluses and minuses.

I heard many birds but saw few and got even fewer good pictures.  I did get the Red-winged Blackbird singing, though not a great shot, and the Eastern Kingbird perching.

There was no rain predicted for today so I was surprised when the clouds came over and the drops started.  I was too far from the boat ramp and didn’t really want to leave so I took a chance that it was just a passing shower and pulled over under a spruce tree which kept me pretty dry.  That is a raindrop on my lens.

When the rain finished I paddled closely around the marshy edges of the pond looking at the plant life growing there in addition to the lilies.

I just love these plants with their red raspberry color.  I am pretty sure I have posted pictures of them before but I cannot for the life of me remember their name.

This tall beauty was abundant but I have no idea what it is.

I absolutely love finding the tiny Venus Flytrap.   The are so hard to spot that I am always excited when I do.  And then of course once I do, I see them again and again.

Mostly I had to be right on top of them to get a picture since they were hidden in the surrounds.  This was the only place they were fairly easily photographed.

Most of the ponds I’ve kayaked in Vermont have Loons and many have Beaver lodges  How do they get it stacked up so high.

Pretty sure this is a Swamp Rose.  Its pink petals stand out in the green.

When looking closely in the marshy area for perhaps Pitcher Plans,  I was surprised to see these shell piles nearly hidden in the foliage.  Wish I knew what they indicated.

It was a a lovely day on Lower Symes with wonderful birds and flowers.

On the way home, I stopped at an overlook for the view.  It was the gray clouds that kept the temperatures so lovely today so I’m happy for them.