The Rain Finally Let Up

On May 14, 2025 - Loons, Wildlife Photography

After a long stretch of windy, rainy days, I was able to get the boat out yesterday to see who’s about on the ponds. I headed up to visit the Westons Tuesday and the Middletons today.

I’ve been playing with a GoPro waterproof video camera and caught this cute scene:

The Westons’ pond has a lot of marsh with very clear, shallow water. The turtles have awakened for the season. First there were lots of painted turtles around. I found several huddles and a few parades – a couple to several turtles following each other underwater. My guess is the leader is a cute lady turtle. The snapping turtles seem to take longer to wake in the spring. Perhaps it just takes longer for the longer turtles to warm? One of my goals for the camera is to get some footage of the snappers underwater.

The Weston’s pond was downright balmy when I arrived, 43° with a light breeze. Any wind ruffles the water, you’ll notice lots of my shots take advantage of the flat water for the reflections. And, working with a long lens in a kayak, even a gentle breeze makes it difficult to manage.

Paddling down the sunny side of the pond, I heard lots of warblers. They were all feeding high in the trees, well away from photographers. Eastern kingbirds are back along with Baltimore orioles. Both were occupied where I could see but not photograph them. The loons seemed to be exploring real estate for their nest. I amused myself taking photos of the red-winged blackbirds. The males return earlier than the females to scout a territory. The females are back in force now and the males are busy trying to get their attention.

When a pretty female flew through the marsh, several males would perch in the clear and sing and display.

When waiting for a lady to visit, they practiced looking good.

Or snacking. This bird dug deep into a cattail.

And came up with what looks like a spider.

Then off to the next perch to be ready for the ladies again.

A closer look found that the Westons have chosen their nest site and there was a loon already sitting on it. The last few years, the Westons have been the first to nest by a week or 10 days. Looks like they’re ahead again.

Shift change came for nesting duty and the loons took to the main part of their pond to breakfast together. An intruding loon arrived on the pond and I snuck a look at the nest – with a 600mm lens staying well back. They’ve got an egg!

In a short while, the intruder was sent packing and the loons returned to their cove and one climbed onto the nest. The sun was well up and the wind picked up, I retreated to head home.

This morning, I headed out to visit the Middletons. The forecasted clouds weren’t to be found, the pond was dead still and it was warm enough to feel my fingers as I headed out before dawn.

As I paddled out from the boat launch, an intruding loon arrived on the pond. The Middletons went to evict him(?).

When there’s a territory dispute on the pond, it is hard to tell the players. They’re all wearing the same colors and lots of the action is underwater. I quickly lose track of who is who. Here’s someone trying to impress the others that he or she is too big and tough to be messed with. While this was going on, a fourth loon arrived on the pond.

The first stage of a territory dispute is circling and sizing each other up. I’m convinced that the position of their heads is communicating something – probably just as well for the blog that I can’t translate it.

Here’s what I think is Mr. Middleton winding up to yodel at the intruders. Only males yodel and it is a sign of aggression and that the dispute is escalating.

After a lot of circling and some aggressive dives someone went wing rowing down the pond away from the group. (Someone asked at one of my talks how you can tell if a dive is aggressive. The best answer is the same way you can tell your wife’s mood by the way she closes a door.)

Shortly afterwards, the wing-rowing loon departed the pond. The remaining challenger moved off away from the Middletons who went to breakfast at the other end of the pond.

Peace wasn’t to last too long. 30 or 40 minutes later, a loon landed on the pond. Maybe the same one that had retreated, but no way to tell. Here’s one of the Middletons with a full head of steam – look at the wake he’s? pushing as he heads out to meet the intruder. There was a brief bit of circling and a few dives before I lost track of all three loons. The Middletons appeared far from the action after a time. The intruder must have flown off without my seeing.

Now the Middletons had another chance for breakfast and headed to the cove where they like to find it.

There was still one intruder on the pond – one of the ones that arrived around dawn. After the Middletons foraged a bit, they returned to the main pond. The intruder was sticking close to the shore, well away from them. They didn’t seem concerned with the intruder, who eventually left without a kerfuffle.

With the Middletons settling in for a nap, I went to see who else out out. This spotted sandpiper flew in for a cameo, landing briefly on this log.

With the sun out and rapidly warming temps, the painted turtles were climbing out on every rock and log they could find to bask.

This guy kept a close eye on my as I went by, but seemed to comfortable to give up his spot.

And just when I thought I had my ducks in a row….. four mallard drakes were swimming along the edge of the reeds. By the time the camera came up, one had other ideas.

It was getting to be time to head out, so I took the boat back to the launch. As I was putting the kayak straps on the car, I looked up and saw a veery sitting on a branch just about over the other side of the car. He? was unbothered by me, and flew down to forage on the ground next to the car while I packed up.

He even posed nicely in the sunlight for me – a treat since they usually stay under cover in the woods.

I’m watching the weather for tomorrow morning. One app says rain, the other says no….

birds, common loons, loons, new hampshire wildlife, vermont wildlife

Out and About in the Boat

On April 26, 2025 - Game Birds, Herons, Loons, Wildlife Photography

I’ve been able to get out to visit the Middletons and Westons a couple times in the past couple weeks. Spring is in full swing on the ponds, let’s see who else is around.

Every spring, brings new subscribers, welcome. I’ve been following loons on three ponds since 2012. My blog has gotten popular enough that I’ve learned to be vague about the loons’ homes to protect them. There’s a pond to my west that hosts the Weston family, a pond to my east that hosts the Eastons and the pond in the middle hosts the Middletons. I’m photographing from a kayak, using Canon gear, with lenses from 400mm to 800mm.

On Saturday, May 3, at 1:00 pm, I’ll be at the Rockingham, VT, Public Library to give my slideshow ‘An Uncommon Look at the Common Loon.’ Free and everyone welcome. The details are on the Library’s site: https://rockinghamlibrary.org/northern-loon/.

On to the photos.

Monday April 14 was a chilly 27° when I put the boat in to visit the Middletons. One of them was swimming leisurely on the east end of the pond when I put in. I headed the other way and never caught up with that loon again.

The second loon on the pond was unimpressed that I’d come to visit and spent most of the morning sleeping in the sunshine. There are several geese families on the pond – a couple already on their nests. They’re often good entertainment as they chase each other around but they were all on their best behavior and I skipped photographing them.

The highlights of the pond residents that morning were a pair of great blue herons. They were foraging in the sunshine on the west side of the pond, allowing me to park the boat in the sun as well. I could soon feel my fingers again.

And finding the one sunny spot in this end of the reeds.

On the 18th, I was on the Westons’ pond at dawn – a chilly 23° had me breaking a skim of ice to get out from the boat launch.

The Westons spent a quiet morning, snoozing, foraging, preening and even investigating some real estate for their nest. Here’s one stretching just after dawn.

There were lots of ducks – mallards, woodies, a few ring-necks and lots of mergansers. Here’s a male wood duck just out looking pretty.

There are many goose families on the pond. Canada geese get along well with each other most of the year, but come mating season, all bets are off. Here’s one arriving on the pond.

Where he? soon discovered he wasn’t at all welcome….

After a brief kerfuffle, he decided that being somewhere else would be better.

Here’s a goose that has spotted something on the pond that must go. This goose swam up and down the shore in this aggressive posture. I never figured out what he was bothered by.

The loons woke from a nap, preened for a time and both gave nice wing stretches just a few seconds apart.

And the second one…. I had to head out for the day.

Dawn on the 21st found me back on the Westons’ pond, this time it was pleasantly fully 35°.

Mr. Weston was in the process of escorting an interloper from the pond as I set out. The intruder left without much encouragement. Mr. Weston yodeled at him as he circled the pond on his way out. Only male loons yodel, giving us a clue as to who is who.

Here’s the intruder departing. The pond has steep hills on all sides, departing loons have to circle a couple times to gain enough altitude to clear them.

Mr. Weston swam by to check me out. He decided I could stay.

The male red-winged blackbirds are out staking out territory. They perch above a good spot and sing and display the red patches on their wings to announce their claim.

I was back to visit the Middletons on the 23rd. There was a heat wave and it was 39° when I put in. The Middletons were sleeping in again.

I heard an American bittern singing in the reeds and headed over to see if I could spot him. He made a short flight as I approached, landing behind some brush. But, I knew where he was down to a couple dozen square feet. When I came around the brush, I spent several minutes looking for him before seeing him in plain sight in front of the reeds. But, with a branch interfering with the shot. I took my eyes off him for 15 or 20 seconds while I moved the boat. When I looked again, I was sure he’d flown when I wasn’t looking. After about 10 minutes searching, I found him – when he took off from the same spot he’d been standing the whole time.

The geese weren’t sleeping in. They were coming and going – and squabbling throughout the morning. Here’s a pair inbound.

Where the met a frosty reception as they landed.

Before the newcomers beat a hasty retreat.

The loons woke from their nap, here’s on yawning.

The Loon Preservation Committee banded the pair of adult loons on this pond last summer. I was curious to see if the same pair returned. I watched and waited while they preened to see if I could spot the bands.

Mr. Middleton proudly showed me his LPC bling. From behavior, I suspect this male has been on the pond since I started watching in 2012.

And a bit of a surprise when the second loon raised an unbanded leg. We have a new female on the pond this year. I’m curious to see if last year’s female is spotted on another pond this season.

Loons seem to be very practical about mating. If a pair is successful hatching chicks one year, they’re likely to pair up again the next year. And they often choose the same nest site. If they’re unsuccessful, they’re likely to change partners the next year.

Reporting banded birds is a great way to help the study of the population. If you see a banded loon, the conservationists would love to know. Loons get four bands of different colors, you need to see all four to identify the individual. One of the bands will be silver with a unique number registered with the US Geological Survey. If the bird is banded as an adult, the USGS tag goes on the right leg. If they’re banded in their first year, this band goes on the left leg. You won’t be able to read the number unless you’re very close to the bird, and the birds disapprove of that.

Since the number is next to impossible to read, the birds get three more bands of various colors, often with a stripe or shape in a contrasting color. This let’s you ID the bird at a distance to avoid bothering them.

IF you can get photos of all four bands – with along lens and not disturbing the birds – the researchers love to be able to confirm the bands.

On the 26th, I headed back to visit the Westons.

The Westons’ pond hosts two beaver families. This time of year, there are lots of young beavers around the pond. The kits are born in the spring and spend their first year with the family, wintering with them into their second year. In their second year, they head out to find their own stream that needs to become a pond. There looked to be two year’s worth of kits as well as adults out and about. The second year kits look like small adults, this year’s kits are about the size of Guinea pigs – dragging a tail that’s about as big as their body. This looks like a second year kit enjoying a nice breakfast of stick.

This beaver was unconcerned about me. I stopped and photographed him? for several minutes without disturbing him. He had his butt towards me, not the best angle for photos. I gave up and moved on. After a bit, I noticed he’d turned around and went back to get more photos. He chewed contentedly for a bit before heading out. He stashed the tasty stick behind a some rocks. I looked down at my camera gear and it was only as I was getting wet from the splash that I realized he’d surfaced four or five feet from my boat and gave a good tail slap.

While I waited for the beaver to turn around, I found a small flock of common mergansers. The brush and fog made for a nice shot.

The loons had been sleeping in for a bit. Here’s a stretch from one of them as they got up to start their day.

The male red-winged blackbirds were out doing their thing. The males arrive back in the breeding territory well before the females, something like a 10 days to two weeks or more before. This morning was the first time I saw a female, just one, for the year.

Sometimes the birds just don’t cooperate. This male red-winged was perched on top of that reed – right up until I lifted the camera when he exited stage left.

The swamp sparrows are claiming their territories as well.

I found a nice surprise further up the pond – a pie-billed grebe out in the open. They’re common in the area, but are very shy and hard to find in a spot they can be photographed. This cute little bird made a circuit around the pond, staying just on the very edge of my lens’ range.

Here’s a heavily cropped shot of the same bird.

Along the way, I found a pair of black-capped chickadees working to improve a nest hole in a dead tree.

And we’ll close with an artsy shot of some of the reeds along the pond’s edge.

birding, birds, new hampshire wildlife, vermont wildlife

Signs of Spring

On April 12, 2025 - Wildlife Photography

There are signs I’m shaking off my torpor and am preparing for spring. I’ve been out a few times, let’s see what I’ve found.

First, the signs that spring is indeed here. The Middletons returned last week and the Westons showed up yesterday. Bluebirds have been checking out the box on the deck – and so far, the camera is working again. The song sparrow that summers in the azalea near the deck has returned. He’s been sitting on the deck railing calling out to declare that the lands between the driveways and from the road to the trees are his territory and beware all who enter. Ducks and turtles are out already. And our road is turning to mud.

I made several trips to the coast looking for birds, with some success.

On my first trip I spotted a familiar face swimming in the Hampton Harbor Inlet. I asked about his plans for the summer. He was a bit vague, but the plans included finding a nice pond with a cute lady loon and fish. Lots of fish.

There were a few snowy owls still around. Here’s one sunning on the dunes by the beach.

It was a pleasant day and our owl nodded off for a bit.

Before waking to laugh at the photographers.

Not far from the beach was a road with not one, but two screech owls. Here’s a red morph snoozing in his nest hole.

And his neighbor, a grey morph napping in the limited sun, confident he was well camouflaged.

Parker River had a few coots out and about. I was unable to determine their age.

And here’s a fellow I’ve been looking for since being sent on my first snipe hunt as a Tenderfoot back a few years ago. This is Wilson’s snipe.

The killdeer were out and about. They get their name from their call, they’re no threat to deer.

There was a small number of swans at Parker River, none very cooperative with photographers.

The highlight of my trips to the coast was finding this long-eared owl. He lives in a small clump of trees in a public area. I sat and watched the trees for over 40 hours, hoping he’d show himself. Photographers kept stopping by and showing me pix of him sitting fully in the open – in sunlight. He didn’t cooperate for me and this was the clearest shot I could get of him, hidden back in the brush.

Last week, I made it down to southern Vermont where spring had been fully installed. Peepers were peeping and turtles basking confirmed it. I found a pair of ducks foraging before stopping to take a bath.

Then they were back at work, there are ducklings to be made.

A friend helped me find another screech owl. I spent a few hours sitting staring at a hole in the tree before the little guy put in an appearance.

The kayak is out of the basement, the roof rack is on the car. As soon as we get a decent morning, I’ll be out visiting with the loons.

I’m also looking for mammals. Anyone have bobcats, foxes or coyotes kits around? I’m always on the lookout for any mammal larger than a squirrel. Also looking for owl and woodpecker nests. If you’ve got critters where I can come and go without bothering you or them, I’d love a chance to photograph them.

Cute Fox Review

On November 18, 2024 - Foxes, Wildlife Photography

I’ve been asked to come up with a red fox exhibit, so I’ve been digging back through the archives to see what I can come up with. Here are a few of my favorites.

This next weekend, November 22-24, I’ll be at the 802 Arts House Celebrate Vermont Art Show at the Doubletree in Burlington, VT. I’ll have lots of prints, note cards and calendars. Stop by and say hello. All the show details here: https://www.starbirdevents.com/celebrate-vermont.

My 2025 New England Wildlife Calendar is still available. You can order them on my site www.IanClark.com.

On to the foxes. I think some of the first professional level wildlife photos I took were of a fox den in Swiftwater, NH, back in 2013. A friend found a den and tipped me off. I was able to set up my blind and watched the family for about 25 hours over several mornings. And I was hooked. Fox kits are just too cute to ignore.

I’d seen the kits out and about before I set up my blind. After getting installed in the blind, I had about 45 minutes of anxious waiting to see if they’re reappear. This guy eventually came out and posed.

Soon three more kits appeared and started interacting.

Interacting the way siblings of all species interact….

Mom appeared to deliver breakfast. Mom could hear my shutter and gave me a hard look before deciding I was not a threat.

A few years later, a friend told me she had kits living under her barn. She’d been watching them for a time, often from a lawn chair not far from the barn. When I showed up to photograph them, they watched me set up my blind before going about their business. I pretended to hide, they pretended not to see me.

My first couple of trips to visit them, they didn’t do much playing. They spent a lot of time sunning near the barn and occasionally chasing small things I couldn’t see.

The next den I found was in a busy park, not far from a well-traveled path. The first couple trips, I took my blind. After watching people walking their dogs between me and the kits – without the kits reacting – I decided I could skip the blind.

This den was hard to photograph. There was a lot of brush around the entrance, and the kits liked to run down the bank on the far side of the hole. I’d been watching the den something like 60 hours before I got them to pose nicely.

The next year, a friend told me the vixen had moved the den. She was being seen regularly, but I needed to search to find the den. After a couple afternoons watching and searching, I found the den. About an hour before sunup the next morning, I set up the blind, cut some brush to further hide me and settled in to wait. About 45 minutes later, Mom returned from her errands, trotted right past the den and came up to inspect me. Good thing I hid. She decided I was uninteresting and went on about her business.

This past spring, a friend found me a den in a cow pasture. There were five kits that were happy to romp in the pasture while I watched.

Watching crows fly past. All very cute, but I was still waiting for the wrestling to break out.

I hear there are several snow owls that have been spotted in New England. I’ll be out looking for them after I get past the show next weekend. Happy Thanksgiving!

fox kits, new hampshire wildlife, red fox, red fox kits, vermont wildlife

Looking Back at the Herons

On November 1, 2024 - Herons, Wildlife Photography

Great blue herons are pretty common around the Upper Valley. All three of the loons’ ponds host great blues each year. Over the years, I’ve gotten a number of good shots of them. I’m pondering a ‘Heronscapes’ exhibit and have been digging through the archives to see what I’ve got. Let’s take a look.

The Hartland, VT, Public Library will host me to present my slideshow, An Uncommon Look at the Common Loon, this Wednesday, November 6 at 6 p.m. Free and everyone welcome. My print exhibit of loons is hanging in the Library through the end of November.

And my 2025 calendar is available:

The calendars are large – 9″x12″ with 13 of my favorite wildlife images. They’re $25 and $3 shipping per order. You can get one on my site: https://www.ianclark.com/.

On to the herons.

Most of the time, we spot great blue herons foraging along the shore of a river or pond. They can stand incredibly still before striking with lighting speed. They don’t seem fussy about prey. They’ll grab fish, crayfish, frogs, small birds and mammals. After we take the hay in our field, we get a pair of herons that show up to hunt the mice and voles. This heron has nabbed a crayfish.

Foraging in shallow water on the Weston’s Pond.

Flying past the reeds on the Easton’s Pond.

Herons will perch in trees overlooking the water. This probably gives protection from many of their predators.

Herons are smart enough to know where the sun will first hit their territory in the morning. On chilly mornings, they’re often perched to catch the earliest light.

Herons nest in rookeries, with nests high in trees. Most of the nests in this rookery were 25-30 feet above the ground. I’ve seen reports that they’ll build as high as 100 feet high.

A clutch is usually between three and six eggs. They grow into funny looking chicks. I suspect they were designed by Jim Henson.

Foraging in the early morning light on the Eastons’ Pond. I often joke that the herons on the Eastons’ Pond are skittish, but pose nicely twice a year. This year they outdid themselves, giving me extra opportunities.

Here’s one of the herons on the Eastons’ Pond ignoring the early morning light. But, this was July 2 and we weren’t chilly.

Another early morning shot on the Eastons’ Pond.

Wading in shallow water as the sun rises.

This morning wasn’t an easy one for our heron to find breakfast. He? moved around to several spots before I saw him catch a meal.

Many of my favorite shots are actually from before sun up. I love the muted light and fog.

I almost passed on this shot. I was much closer to the heron when I noticed him. I turned the kayak around and headed back up pond to get far enough back for some scenery. Fortunately, the bird waited while I moved and sat waiting for the water to quiet again.

One of our herons stretching as the sun begins to warm the pond.

Waiting for the sun on a chilly October morning.

And my favorite heron shot from this year.

birds, great blue heron, herons

Painted Turtle Snack – The Story Behind The Shot

On October 25, 2024 - Wildlife Photography

Trying something different today; a story with some background on one of my favorite shots.

Since my last post, I’ve had more excitement than I need. The circus-style tent at the Stowe Foliage Art show came down and destroyed my booth. Thankfully, it collapsed early in the morning and no one was injured. I’ll be doing the Celebrate Vermont show at the Doubletree in Burlington November 22-24 2024 using a booth borrowed from one of my competitors, Jonathan Hart. Thanks Jonathan!

The circus-style tent in Stowe at the start of the show.

What we found when we came back for the second day of the show.

The remains of my set up. It will take awhile to figure out who’s insurance is going to cover what. I was luckier than many of the artists.

In happier news, my 2025 New England Wildlife Calendar is now available.

The calendars are large – 9″x12″ with 13 of my favorite wildlife images. They’re $25 and $3 shipping per order. You can get one on my site: www.IanClark.com/

Let’s go way back to 2013, the year after I met the loons. On a visit to the Middleton’s pond, I was exploring a cove where they like to breakfast. They were still off in the main part of the pond and I settled in to wait for them. While I waited, I noticed a painted turtle in the lily pads.

The turtle was cruising along with his head out of the water. He? must have seen me, but wasn’t concerned.

He swam over to one of the lilies. I missed the shot, but he took one – just one – bite out of the flower.

He continued on to another lily….. and again took one – just one – bite out of the flower.

He move on again. This lily was too high and he examined it for a bit before moving on to the next lily.

This one took a stretch, but up he went. And took a bite – just one bite – out of the flower.

The next lily was low to the water. He grabbed hold….

And moved around the flower before he took one – just one – bite out of the flower. Was it too hot? Was it too cold? I looked over my shoulder to make sure there weren’t three bears in the neighborhood.

Off he went to the next lily. Looks like his buddy already took his bite out of this one.

Could this be the one that’s just right? Nope, he took one – just one – bite out of the flower.

And here’s the shot I love. He’s found the lily that is just right! And I got the shot.

I’ve never seen a turtle take a bite out of a lily before or since. I’ve seen a couple that have taken insects from the flowers or lily pads, but never the flower.

Looking back at the files from this morning, I didn’t get any remarkable shots of the Middletons. But, I did photograph a cow moose and her calf, several turtles and eastern kingbird nestlings getting fed. But, I remember the turtle.

painted turtle, reptiles, turtles, wildlife

We Say Goodbye to the Loons

On October 9, 2024 - Loons, Wildlife Photography

Loon season in the Upper Valley is coming to a close. The Middletons and Westons decamped about two weeks ago. The Easton chicks hatched later, they’re still on their pond with mom. For now.

I’m packing up for the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival this weekend, October 11-13. I’ll have note cards, my 2025 wildlife calendar and prints big and small. Come on out and have a look. All the details about the Festival here: https://stoweartsfest.com/.

On November 6, I’ll be a the Hartland, VT, Public Library at 6 pm. I’ll also have a print exhibit of some of my favorite loon photos hanging in the Hartland Library during November.

Sunday (10/6), I headed up to visit with the Eastons. Fall has arrived in force – it was 37° and foggy when I launched.

I found one of the great blue herons before I found the loons. The heron circled this little island as he walked, constantly putting the brush between us. While I was waiting for enough light for the shot and him to get into position, I heard – but couldn’t see -one of the loon chicks pass me in the fog.

As the fog lifted, the loons came into view. The chicks have grown into their winter plumage. One was foraging on his? own, the other was pestering mom for food.

Taking a break from chasing mom to stretch.

The chicks together. I’ve seen the behavior of the one on the right several times. I’m not sure exactly what they’re doing. My guess is clearing their throat.

After the wind came up, both chicks gave a go at flying. They both took short runs where they were still unable to get their bellies out of the water.

Another attempt to fly. The chicks took a only of couple runs. I stayed the morning hoping to see more. As I left the pond, I realized I’d never been out on their pond at noon before.

I returned to the pond yesterday (Tuesday 10/8) . Monday’s rain finished the color, most of the trees were bare. One of the herons was huddled against the cold on his island. The herons seem to know where the sun will hit the pond first. On chilly mornings, they’ll be in position to be in the sun as it rises.

After the fog lifted, mom took off. She circled the pond several times before heading over the hills. Any time now, she’ll leave for the fall. The chicks will follow several days later. Shortly after she left, the chicks got to work on their flying lessons. Here’s a good run – technically he’s airborne. He didn’t make it up – this time.

This wasn’t the time. He settled back on the water and stretched.

Let’s try this again…. The chick taxied downwind and tried another run.

Looking good! Feet are clear of the water, there’s air under him!

He’s up! He flew for something like a third of a mile. He made a nice turn and returned to the pond with a smooth landing. The second chick followed with a flight of his own shortly after.

With the chicks flying, they’ll be moving on soon. I won’t be able to get back to their pond until midweek next week. I’ll be surprised if their still there. I said goodbye to the chicks and wished them well.

New England’s loons mostly winter in the Atlantic between Cape Cod and Maine. Of course, there are always a few adventurers and those that didn’t read the manual who wander further. The youngsters will spend roughly three to five years either at sea or in ponds without a territorial pair before seeking their own territories and mates.

Now I’m off to find some new photo opportunities.

birds, common loons, loon chicks, loons

The Easton Chicks Growing Up

On October 4, 2024 - Loons, Wildlife Photography

The Easton chicks are still on their pond and are finishing their lessons on how to be loons. The Middletons and Westons seem to have departed for the season.

Tomorrow – Saturday October 5 – I’ll be giving my slideshow, An Uncommon Look at the Common Loon at the Richford, VT, Town Hall at 10 am. On November 6, I’ll be a the Hartland, VT, Public Library at 6 pm. I’ll also have a print exhibit of some of my favorite loon photos hanging in the Hartland Library during November.

And next weekend I’ll be up at the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival October 11-13 with note cards, calendars and prints. Come on out and have a look. All the details about the Festival here: https://stoweartsfest.com/.

I made it up to visit the Eastons on the 24th. Mom and both chicks were out and about. The chicks should be able to feed themselves by now, but are still willing to pester their parents for food.

The loons were off doing loon things when I arrived. I spent a time just enjoying being out on the pond.

After a bit, one of the chicks showed up, foraging on his own before stretching.

The other chick was chasing and pestering mom to be fed. Mom came up with a nice horned pout. It took the chick a bit of work to get it down.

And before the chick has fully swallowed the fish, he? returned to pestering mom for more.

It wasn’t long before mom scored another good sized horned pout. Which the chick put away without a problem.

Mom dove and put some space between her and the chick – probably to get a moment’s peace.

A good look at the chicks. They’ve lost all their down and are dressed in their winter plumage.

Mom was keeping her distance, so one of the chicks tried to get the other to come up with a meal. No dice. I stuck around until the wind came up and was a little surprised that neither chick showed interest in attempting to fly.

On the first, I made it back to check in with them again. Fall has arrived.

The colors along the pond were just about peak.

The chicks are now 12-weeks-old. One was foraging for himself without the rest of the family in sight.

The other chick was begging from mom. Dad wasn’t to be found, he may have left for the season. After a little bit, mom took time to stretch.

Mom was traveling a good distance with every dive, possibly to try to lose the chick and make him forage on his own. The chick would head for mom when she surfaced, she usually dove before he got close. They soon got far enough away from me that I looked for other critters to photograph.

I hadn’t seen the herons on my last couple trips and guessed they’d moved on. But I found one hunting in the fog. I’m not sure if this was one of the residents or someone stopping by on his way elsewhere. But, he? posed nicely through the morning, so I was glad to see him.

Striking out finding breakfast in the first spot, he moved to again pose nicely.

Once again, I waited for the wind to come up to see if the chicks would attempt to fly. Having a brisk wind increases the lift their wings generate. They’ll always take off into the wind. Mom swam downwind of the chicks, turned into the wind and took off. She seemed to demonstrate how to take off for the chicks. It took her much longer than usual to gain height. She ran across the water for longer than usual and she seemed slower than usual. It sure looked like a lesson on how to take off.

Still running across the water with the chicks watching.

The demonstration seemed to work. About 30 seconds after mom took off, the first of the chicks stretched and turned into the wind.

Clear the runway! The chick made a run trying to take off. He wasn’t able to get high enough out of the water to get his legs under him to let him run across the water. This was as high as he got. This time.

When the chicks decide to end their takeoff attempt, they slow down by turning and skidding across the water – sort of like a skier making a snowplow stop.

Soon after, the second chick made an attempt to take off.

Not going to happen today little guy…. Soon, very soon……

After the chicks make a good effort they always seem to looked pleased with themselves.

And a good stretch and fluff to get the feathers back in place.

They were still trying to take off as I left. I suspect they’ve got just a few days before they get airborne. This late in the season, I suspect they’ll depart their pond shortly after successfully flying. I’m going to try to get back once more, but I won’t be surprised if they’ve headed out before I return. This may be the last post with this year’s chicks.

And a shoutout to everyone working to protect the loons. They have lots of great info about loons online. A few sites to check out:

The Loon Preservation Committee works to protect and study loons in New Hampshire. In Vermont the Vermont Center for Ecostudies does work with loons and other wildlife. The Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation works in the Adirondacks. And The Loon Project works in the Upper Midwest.

birds, birds in flight, common loons, loons

Loon Update

On September 22, 2024 - Loons, Wildlife Photography

I had a chance to check in with the Eastons and Middletons over the last week. Let’s see what they’re up to.

I’ll be up at the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival October 11-13 with note cards, calendars and prints. Come on out and have a look. All the details about the Festival here: https://stoweartsfest.com/.

I’ll be giving my slideshow, An Uncommon Look at the Common Loon a couple times in the near future. First is at 10 a.m. October 5 at the Richford, VT, Town Hall. And again at 6 p.m. on November 6 at the Hartland, VT, Library.

This week, the folks behind the Lake Fairlee loon cam, Doug Tift, Sean Brown and Eric Hanson, gave a great presentation on the success of the cam. The cam is offline for the season, but they’ll have it back up in the spring. They’ve got a collection of highlights from this past season up at https://www.youtube.com/@LakeFairleeAssociation/playlists. They’ve captured lots of great video of various behaviors and interactions with the other critters on the ponds.

September 17 was a beautiful day above the valley fog. The Eastons were enjoying a light mist when I arrived. Mom and the chicks were at the south end of the pond, with the chicks hounding her to be fed. Dad took the morning off and drifted leisurely alone at the north end of the pond.

Dad was cruising the north end of the pond, occasionally diving to forage.

The colors are coming on. With the late hatch for these chicks, we’ve probably got another couple weeks before any of them move on for the season.

Dad is beginning to change into his winter plumage, see the gray feathers around the base of his bill. The lump under his bill is likely a fibroma – a benign tumor, probably the result of an abscess from getting poked with something sharp – like a fish spine or fish hook. He’s had it for some time and it doesn’t seem to bother.

Down the other end of the pond, the chicks were chasing mom, trying to get her to feed them. They’re old enough to forage on their own, but still want the parents to feed them. When the chicks are this big, it must be exhausting for the parents. The chicks are big enough to keep up with the adults and will be on them within a couple seconds of their surfacing. And they don’t stop….

Another shot of a chick encouraging mom to feed him.

On the 20th, I made it over to the Middleton’s pond. Friends on the pond said they hadn’t seen the Middletons for a week. I spent a couple of hours on the pond without finding them, they’ve moved on. They’ve left a little earlier than in previous years. Most of New England’s loons will winter in the Atlantic between Cape Cod and Maine. Of course, they don’t all read the manual and there will be some that go off to other places. They may well stop on a larger pond to the south or east of home before continuing to the Atlantic. This time of year, it is common to find ‘rafts’ or ‘asylums’ of loons gathering on ponds. Without having to worry about chicks, they’re more social.

There was a small flock of geese resting in the morning fog.

And a double-crested cormorant has stopped on the pond. After feeding, he? perched on a submerged log.

The Loon Preservation Committee banded the Middleton adults this year. It will be interesting to see if they both come back in the spring. I’ve been following the loons on the pond since 2012. From his behavior, I think we’ve had the same male the whole time. We lost the original female in a fight with a goose in 2017. Let’s hope the Middletons have safe travels and reunite in the spring.

birds, loon chicks, loons

A Foggy Morning with the Middletons

On September 10, 2024 - Loons, Wildlife Photography

Last week I had a chance to visit with the Middletons on a foggy morning, here’s a brief update.

And, I’ve gotten a slew of new subscribers in the past week. Welcome. I follow loons on three ponds every year. To protect their privacy, I don’t share which ponds. But the loons on the pond to my east are the ‘Eastons,’ the loons to my west are the ‘Westons.’ The pond in the middle hosts the Middletons.

This coming weekend, I’ll be at the Artrider Fall Crafts at Lyndhurst Show in Tarrytown, NY. Stop by and say hello. All the details about the show are on Artrider’s site https://www.artrider.com/fall-crafts-at-lyndhurst-2024.

Next, I’ll be teaching a workshop, Photographing Your Student Athlete at the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester on September 28. This is designed for parents with kids playing in Little League through varsity. We’ll be working with cameras with interchangeable lenses, if you’re shooting with a phone, this may not be for you. All the details on the Currier’s site https://currier.org/class/photography-in-motion-with-ian-clark/.

Just a couple more…. I’ll be giving my slideshow An Uncommon Look at the Common Loon at the Town Hall in Richford, VT, Saturday, October 5 at 10 am and again at the Hartland, VT, Public Library on November 6. Still working to find the exact time, but it will be something like 5 pm. I’ll post when we get it finalized.

On to the loons… The Middleton chicks were 11-weeks-old when I visited last week. They look like they’re doing well. Dad (he’s banded) was the only adult on the pond. This time of year, it is likely that mom took some time off and is resting on a nearby pond. You’ll see why she needed a break below.

The chicks are pretty independent and are perfectly capable of foraging for themselves. That doesn’t stop them from demanding food from the parents. Here’s one of our chicks resting as the sun rises.

Dad appeared out of the fog and gave a nice stretch.

He was quickly joined by one of the hungry chicks.

I love watching the sun filter through the fog and trees. It makes getting a good shot challenging, but when it works, it’s wonderful.

The other chick tracked dad down and started pestering him for a meal. The chicks will poke at, and pull feathers on their parent when they want a meal. They usually aim for the parent’s neck or breast. And they’re persistent. This time of year, I often see parents hand off a meal and almost immediately dive again to get away from the chick. Dad wasn’t interested in diving and suffered the consequences. The first photo I have of this chick getting in his face was at 07:42, the chick was still at it when I left at 08:30. I’m convinced this is why the parents are the first to leave the pond in the fall.

Dad turned away from the chick and tried to stretch his leg. The chick was content to give it a good tug.

Back around front, the chick tries poking dad’s chin.

Dad still isn’t getting the hint but our chick isn’t giving up….

Dad tries to put some space between him and the chick. But the chick isn’t having it….

The chick tries dad’s neck again…. Look at the chick’s upper bill, you can see he’s gotten under dad’s feathers.

Dad is slow on the uptake this morning and the chick gets in a good poke. Dad is probably deliberately ignoring the chick to get him to forage on his own.

The chick moves around to the back of the neck again – he’s got a good bite of dad.

Dad still isn’t taking the hint, the chick tries the left side of his neck…

As I was getting ready to head out, our chick gave a nice stretch.

I hope to get back out to visit the families again next week, will update when I can.

birding, loon chicks, loons, new hampshire wildlife

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