Harris Brook early November 2016

You might be asking, what and where Harris Brook is. This is a relatively new area created by the Enfield Conservation Commission. Its centerpiece is the Enfield Reservoir, which was constructed in 1903 and supplied water to Enfield until 1983. I “discovered” the Enfield Reservoir some years ago on my mountain bike.

In 2015 the Enfield Conservation Commission added many improvements including a well-marked trail around the reservoir and a parking lot. They named it the Harris Brook Scenic Area. Directions to the parking area are at the end of this blog.

Here is the short trail between the parking lot and the reservoir.

ej921c

Jann and I hiked around the reservoir twice in the last three days. After the first hike I knew I had to come back with a longer lens to try to photograph the very shy mergansers that were on the reservoir.

I got a few merganser photos during our second trip, although most of our walk was characterized by the mergansers swimming on the opposite side of the reservoir from where we were. Obviously they knew somebody was in the woods.

On the right edge of the photo below is the eastern end of the dam. Just to its left is where Harris Brook exits.  There is a new bridge just below this spot so one no longer has to walk across the top of the spillway.

ej919m

We looped the reservoir counter-clockwise on our first visit, crossing the impressive dam and the new bridge across Harris Brook as it heads down to join the Mascoma River. The photos below take you around the reservoir clockwise, which is what we did our second trip.

Below shows a small cove that has an apparently active beaver lodge along the trail to the left before the reservoir. Most of the reservoir is hidden in this view.

ej920-enfield-reservoir-pan-4

The photo below shows the beginnings of the beaver’s winter food supply on the left and its bank lodge on the right.

ej964-beaver-food-supply-and-lodge-pan-3

I got this photo on our first visit from the western side of the reservoir.  You likely cannot make out the 9 Common Mergansers in the photo, but you might be able to see the single Hooded Merganser in the dead center.

ej919e

A side trail leads to a beautiful point on the western side of the reservoir just before the northern cove.

ej965c

Harris Brook enters on the north side of the reservoir. This photo was taken from one of the two new bridges over Harris Brook. Below this bridge one can see painted blazes on the rocks in the brook indicating the former trail before the bridge was built.

ej966-harris-brook-pan-3

Moose Mountain forms the background in the photo below of the northern cove taken from the east side of the reservoir. You might be able to make out the tiny dot in the water that is a male hooded merganser.

ej919g

Farther along, approaching the dam from the east, one gets this view.

ej968b

Here are three photos of the Common Mergansers. There were at least 9 present.

Here is a photo that I believe shows two male and one female Hooded Mergansers with a female or juvenile Bufflehead tagging along.

ej971v-flip

Below are photos of the Hooded Mergansers. We saw 3 males and 2 females.

I plan to return to this area in spring.  It shows signs that it might be a good area for birds. Perhaps I will see you there.

Here is a quiz for those who have been paying attention, or not.  In what town is the Enfield Reservoir located?  The obvious guess is wrong. But here are directions for finding it.  From the Enfield Post Office just off Route 4 head north on Maple for one mile.  You will enter Canaan and see an obvious sign for the Harris Brook parking area on your right.

If you were to continue north on Maple/Goss you would enter Hanover and pass the Baum Conservation Area, a very nice, little-used area for hiking, xc-skiing, and snowshoeing.  The only “direct” ways to get to this area by car from downtown Hanover is the southern route through Lebanon, Enfield, Canaan, and back to Hanover or the northern route through Lyme, Hanover, Canaan, and back to Hanover.  Of course, you can hike over Moose Mountain staying in Hanover the whole time – something I have done on snowshoes.

 

Close Menu