Mono Pond in Columbia, CT

Mono Pond is a small area but feels far bigger because there’s a good sized island right in the middle of it. I went in the afternoon so was pleasantly surprised to see some wildlife: I didn’t get a photo of it, but I saw a huge snapping turtle just below the surface of the water while paddling. There are two beaver lodges on the pond that look active, too. The area is fairly quiet with few houses, mostly set back from the water.

I paddled under this bird’s nest and went back to try to capture a photo of it. It looked pretty cool with the light shining through all of the branches and needles. I don’t think this quite captures it, but it’s a fair start.