OK, this one will be a bit long as I try to catch up on all the loon families and the heron rookery. Please keep going, we’ll check in with the loons, Hank Heron, our moose returned and a few of our other friends.
Thanks to everyone for all the kind words on the Tall Ships post. Perhaps I should give up on the critters and take up marine photography?
I’m looking for a field of sunflowers to try to get some shots of indigo buntings. If you know of one relatively near Newbury, VT, I’d love to know about it.
It is time again for the The 93rd Annual League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair . It opens this Saturday, August 1 and runs through Sunday August 9. I won’t have a booth this year, nine days is just too much for me anymore. But, I’ll have note cards, my 2027 Wildlife Calendar and a few prints in The Shop At The Fair at the League Fair. And everything is available on my web site, www.IanClark.com. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, please send an email or give me a call. And, be sure to visit all the other craftspeople at the Fair – there’s lots of amazing work to see.
My 2027 Wildlife Calendar has arrived! They’re available on my site at www.IanClark.com. This year, I’ve added a couple photos of bears from my trip to Alaska last fall, including a cuddly-looking little first-year cub I wanted to bring home. But, while never specifically stated, I’m sure that would have broken at least one of my wife’s rules.
When we last checked on the loon families, the Westons had hatched two chicks, the Middletons had abandoned their first nest and were sitting on a second clutch and the Eastons’ chicks had hatched in the last days of June. The heron chicks were getting big.
I went to check on the Middletons on July 8. It was a chilly morning with thick fog.
As I paddled out, I got a great look at Champ, one of the lake monsters that is supposed to live in Lake Champlain. Come on, this is the clearest photo of Champ yet!
Mrs. Middleton was on nest duty. And it was a quiet morning. I headed in early.
On the 9th, I headed up to check on the Eastons.
Hank was fluffed up pondside finishing up his ablutions.
And finishing with a good shake before heading off to perch in a nearby tree.
He decided he’d missed a few spots while preening and set about some touch ups.
If Auguste Rodin sculpted a heron…. what would Hank be thinking of? Tasty fish? I’ve always found herons trying to scratch their head an amazing feat of balance. I’m in awe of their being able to do it perched high in a tree.
Hey! Did you hear the one about the wildlife photographer that got up really early?
I’m not sure what herons are doing when they open wide. They often stretch their necks high up before doing it. I wonder if it is a burp or a stretch or maybe trying to reposition food in their gullet. Sometimes they stand with their mouths open when it is warm, that would seem to be panting to cool. But they’ll often open wide for a few seconds and then return to what they were doing. And wildlife photographer jokes aren’t that funny.
After Hank settled for a nap, I went to catch up with the Eastons. They were feeding the chicks. Here’s Dad for the handoff.
I’ve heard back from the Loon Preservation Committee’s intern. Our banded bird this year is last year’s Mrs. Easton. They banded her late in the season after I’d headed to Alaska.
All gone but the tail… come on little guy! You can do it! Of course he can. And he’s instantly ready for the next meal.
Watching the Eastons I was interrupted when I noticed a visitor to the salad bar at the far end of the pond.
What looks like the moose I’d seen back in June returned – in daylight! There was another photographer out on the pond. We were able to hide in the deep shadows on the east side of the pond to watch. The moose stayed about 90 minutes. Plenty of time for us to go through a couple of camera batteries.
The moose was browsing in the shallow water. Occasionally he’d reach deep enough to get his head under, requiring a shake when he raised his head.
He took his time feeding, and moved around enough to let us get several angles.
This was a great opportunity for photos. I hope he’ll give me a repeat performance after he drops the velvet on his antlers.
I think the sores on his leg and flank are from botfly larvae. I wrote to NH Fish & Game’s Moose Biologist. I’ll update when I hear back.
On the 12th, I went back to check on the Middletons on a foggy morning. Mrs. M was on the nest. She was fidgeting and checking the eggs regularly. I suspect one of the chicks was hatching. I paddled around to see who else might be around. Most of the marsh birds have moved on already. I found just a couple red-winged black birds and several kingbirds.
There were a few painted turtles out basking and looking good.
There were lots of northern flickers chattering in the brush. There must have been several fledglings in the flock. It turns out a flock of flickers is a guttering, a menorah, or a Peterson.
And while I waited for news of the loon chicks, I had time to channel my inner Monet with the water lilies.
There wasn’t any news from the nest by the time I had to head home. The next day, LPC emailed to tell me someone on the pond had spotted the Middletons with a chick.
All too early on the 13th I was up and driving two hours to check in on the heron rookery.
I found just empty nests. And, as birds are wont to do, they left no forwarding address. This was a fun project, hopefully I watch the rookery again next year.
I didn’t get a chance to get back to the Middletons until the 16th.
I found both parents sleeping and floating together. I watched for the chick….
Dad woke and headed off to handle some loon affairs.
Mom awoke and stretched. Sadly, there wasn’t a chick.
On the 17th, I headed west to check on the Westons. A lone loon flew in as I was leaving the boat launch. The loon was feeding with determination and covering a lot of the pond. This was the only loon I saw that morning. On my last visit, the Westons had been at the very far end of the pond. I didn’t get all the way down there this trip. Friends on the pond emailed later to tell me the Westons and their chick had moved back to the main part of the pond.
There was a handful of solitary sandpipers out feeding in the shallows. This one seemed to be doing quite well in the water lilies.
The 20th found me back on the Eastons’ pond. The morning started quietly, with the chicks getting breakfast and the adults preening and stretching.
But things soon took a turn for the worse.
An intruder flew in. The confrontation escalated quickly, with lots of vocalizations and wing rowing. The dispute is between two females. Both went wing rowing up the pond out of sight. Shortly after, two loons came flying back down. I’ve never seen a dispute take to the air. I’m not sure if one of these is the intruder, or if it is the home team. The dispute soon resumed with lots of wing rowing. A couple times, the intruder dove and reappeared between the home team and the chicks. The home team didn’t approve of this and both would go after the intruder.
Here they come wing rowing back up the pond. That’s Mrs. Easton out front getting chased.
And back down the pond – this went on for about 45 minutes. You can see the bands on Mrs. E’s leg, she’s the loon on the left.
Eventually, the intruder departed, circling the pond several times tremoloing. The Eastons had some time to stretch and rest. I headed home.
I went back on the 25th. Once again, the morning started quietly with the parents providing breakfast for the chicks.
Hank was foraging nearby.
The chicks fed, one of the Eastons went off for some time alone. I didn’t see the bands to know who was who, but I’m betting it is Mrs. Easton – she always seemed to do the minimum needed with her chicks.
Hank relocated to a tree to preen.
First the left side…..
Then the right….
Finishing with the back.
The chicks settled in for a nap.
Dad has spotted a threat!
Mom has alerted and is looking for the threat. It was the intruding loon again. The confrontation soon escalated again.
The intruder coming up the pond. I’d estimate loons get going about 25 mph when they’re wing rowing. This one was making good time. A change of tactics! The intruder dives! Mrs. Easton dove too and they resurfaced out of sight.
But soon came rowing back down the pond…
Mrs. E making time as she goes by. With the intruder close behind!
The intruder again…..
They’ve turned around and are coming back down the pond. This is the intruder again.
Mrs. E starts to turn. To turn, the loons put one wing into the water which quickly turns them towards that side.
Mrs. E has her right wing in the water, she’s lifting her left – probably for balance.
And off she goes about 75° off her original course.
With the intruder matching her turn and continuing the chase.
This was another extended fight, with them rowing up and down the pond.
Mrs. E is in the foreground – you can just barely see her orange band in the splashing water.
When the chasing loon catches up, they’ll attack with either their bill or by ‘punching’ with the joint in their wing. Here the intruder has caught Mrs. E and is hitting her with her wing. The fight still isn’t settled. They resumed rowing for a time before the intruder left for the day. I suspect she’ll be back until one of the loons is exhausted or dead. It is tough to watch, but we’ve got to let nature take its course. That doesn’t stop me from rooting for the home team.
With the intruder gone, I went back to check on the chicks. One was sleeping, this one was flexing his wing.
Dad was keeping a sharp eye out to make sure the intruder didn’t return.
Mom didn’t trust the intruder either and was keeping watch too.
After several minutes, the home team relaxed and took time for a quick preening and a stretch. I had to head home. I’ll get back up when I can, looks like we won’t have good weather until the end of the week.
If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to get notified of future posts with the form below. I won’t share or sell your info, you’ll just get an email when I add a post. And you can help me out by sharing this on social media or with your friends. Thanks!
If you want my vote, stay with the critters! the tall ships were interesting but didn’t hold my attention for long!
Love all the images and the accompanying commentary. Thanks for sharing.
Marvelous photographs and narrative. Thank you for the update.
This is as good as settling in with a new novelette!! Love the updates.
Thank you for sharing these fabulous photos along with a story that provides continuity with what goes on with life on the waterways.
If you want my vote, stay with the critters! the tall ships were interesting but didn’t hold my attention for long!
Love all the images and the accompanying commentary. Thanks for sharing.