Posts in Category: Loons

Updates and photos as Ian follows the local loon families

Loon Fight For Territory

On June 26, 2022 - Loons, Wildlife Photography

Today was another beautiful day to get out to check on the loons. I headed to the pond where the chicks had yet to hatch when I visited Friday. This is the westernmost pond that I’ve been watching, so these birds are the ‘Westons.’

There was a single loon floating by itself near the boat launch, and a long way from the nest. This is the pond that has had intruders challenging the home team for the territory this spring.

A ways down the pond, I found the home team lazily foraging with two chicks.

Out newest loons, one chick riding, the other is tucked under the far wing.

One of the parents attempting to deliver a 10 ounce fish to the three ounce chicks. The fish was uncooperative and the loon dropped it. The loon reached underwater for it, not sure if it caught it or if it was the fish’s lucky day.

Our family drifted out towards the middle of the pond when things got exciting.

The intruding loon surfaced right next to the parent babysitting the chicks and went for them. Loons intent on taking over a territory will try to kill any chicks. Without chicks, the holders of the territory have less to fight for. The loon doing the penguin dance is the home team male, with the intruder in front of him. After the skirmish, the home team loon returned to the family, then turned and yodeled at the intruder hiding at the far end of the pond. Only male loons yodel, so this was most likely a fight between our male and another male who wishes to take over his territory.

The male from the home team rearing up to try to scare the intruder.

The chase is on! The intruder retreats, with our male in hot pursuit. Loons in a heated territory dispute will ‘wing row’ (‘wing oar’ to our friends across the pond) across the water. If the pursuing loon can catch up, they will fight by hitting each other with their wings or their beaks. Fights go until one retreats or gets killed.

“When you strike at a king, you must kill him” – or face the consequences. The intruder tries to get away.

The fight continued up and down the pond.

Loons wing rowing turn by dipping one wing into the water, the pursuing loon usually matches the move. With the spray, it can be hard to tell what’s going on.

And stay out! After chasing the intruder into the brush at the far end of the pond, our male returned to his mate and chicks. He spent several minutes yodeling in the direction of the intruder and pretty much any critter that moved around the pond. The intruder has retreated, but not left the pond. The fight may not be over.

baby loons, birding, birds, loon babies, loon chicks, loon riding on back, loonlet, loons, new hampshire wildlife, vermont wildlife

Loon Chicks At One Week

On June 25, 2022 - Loons, Wildlife Photography

This morning was a perfect morning to be a loon on an Upper Valley Pond. Well, I can’t know that for sure, but it was a great day to be a loon photographer… The family I visited – I’m going to call them the Eastons – had the chicks hatch Friday and Saturday a week ago.

I’m trying to follow three families again this summer. Last year, I kept trying to sort out which family we were looking at by the number of chicks. That’s not going to work this year, the first two families each hatched two chicks. (The third is due… yesterday.) So, This family, that had the two chicks last year is now the ‘Eastons.’ The second family in the last post is now the ‘Middletons.’ And the family still sitting is now the ‘Westons.’ (I’ve learned the hard way to be circumspect about where I’m working. I’m now getting something like 10,000 visitors a month and not all of them have the loons’ best interest at heart.

Let’s take a quick peek to see how the Westons are doing.

The home team was still sitting on the nest. There were two intruders on the pond, one interacting with one of the home team and another off by itself. I think this is one of the home team. The stretched neck shows the loon is alerted to a danger. In this case, the other loon is hiding and this one is trying to locate it.

This is probably the intruder on the pond. The loon was hiding up against a birch log along the shore. The black and white blended beautifully into the birch bark. Now, did the loon realized the coloring with hide him, or was this just chance? I’m betting loons are smart enough that this was intentional.

Along the way, I found a cedar waxwing gathering material for a nest. Apparently, the female does almost all the work on the first nest of the season. If they have a second brood, dad will help building or rebuilding the nest.

A hairy woodpecker peers out the front door to see what I’m about.

Moving east to this morning’s outing, one of the great blue herons on this pond usually gives me two nice photo ops a year. I think I collected one of them today.

The great blue heron wading through the fog shortly before dawn.

One adult was baby sitting while the other was off foraging as the sun rose. We’ve got on chick on back and one under the far wing.

Our second adult soon appeared to serve up breakfast. Today’s menu was mostly fish – and all small enough for a chick – along with a few insect nymphs.

Both adults were soon busy foraging for the chicks.

This looks to be another insect nymph. Our chicks have greatly improved their skills at taking the handoff from their parents. Last week, they fumbled the handoff more than not, today they were on their game.

After a time, everyone settled in for a quick nap.

The adults were floating about 25 feet apart, each with one chick.

One of the birds on the pond last year was banded. Today was the first time I got a good look this season. Our banded bird has returned. The Loon Preservation Committee banded this bird over on Lee’s Pond in Moultonborough, NH in 2015. They were unable to determine the sex.

One of our chicks gives a foot wave. Lot’s of growing to do before that foot fits. Foot waving is thought to be a way for the bird to cool down.

After a bit of feeding, the chicks started to ride the babysitter’s back while the other adult continued to bring food for them.

And one of our chicks giving a stretch.

And a few more stretching shots, just because they’re fun…

birding, loon babies, loon chicks, loon chicks on back, loon riding on back, loonlet, loons, new hampshire wildlife, vermont wildlife

Loon Chicks Have Hatched

On June 20, 2022 - Loons, Wildlife Photography

The strong winds over the weekend kept me home – pacing wondering how the loon chicks were doing. This morning, the wind was calm, and when I got to the pond, it was fully five degrees above having to worry about breaking ice while kayaking. I was able to check on two loon families.

First, our bluebirds are back for a second clutch. I’m not going to post daily updates for them this round, just too many things going to keep up with them.

If you’d like to see loons, take a look at the Loon Preservation Committee’s site, they host paddling trips where you visit lakes where they know there are loons with one of their biologists.

All the loon photos are taken with long telephoto lenses and cropped to let me shoot without disturbing the birds.
When I arrived on the pond, I found one adult preening and lazily foraging by itself and couldn’t see anyone on the nest. As I paddled down the pond, I found the second adult still on the nest. But the chicks should have hatched already….

After watching a few minutes, a chick appeared from under a wing….. A little later the second one peek out.

While waiting for the family to leave the nest, the second adult appeared to be hunting ducklings. The loon flattened out like there was a threat , it swam along the brush where a pair of duck families were hiding. The loon would poke into the brush and look around. The mother ducks were not happy.

With the chicks still in the nest, the odds are that one hatched Saturday and the other Sunday. Loons will leave the nest shortly after the second chick hatches. If it is late in the day, they may spend the night on the nest before heading out. The adult on this pond waited for the sun to get almost to the nest before heading out with the chicks.

The adult that had been sitting with the chicks has left the nest and the chicks are getting ready to go.

Loon chicks are voracious. I’ve seen estimates that say a loon family will eat 500 pounds of fish, crayfish and other protein in a season.

The first order of business is to feed the chicks. Both parents will spend many hours feeding the chicks throughout the summer.

The chicks quickly picked up on the way feeding works.

I’m not sure what the parent is offering here. It could be a small crayfish or an insect nymph. Either way, the chicks seemed skeptical. The parent had to present it a few times before a chick took it.

One chick worked up the nerve to try the offering, but promptly dropped it.

The second chick finally took the offering and ate it.

The two chicks on the surface while the parents dive to forage.

One of the parents has just surfaced behind the chicks.

Another delivery of fish as the second parent looks on.

The second adult actually had another meal waiting just below the surface.

The chick settled down and dealt with one feeding at at time.

The loons on this pond last year were partial to feeding crayfish to the chicks. I’m curious if there was an abundant supply of crayfish, a shortage of fish or the parents just had a preference. One of the parents soon presented a crayfish.

The crayfish proved too large for the first chick to handle. The parent tried to give it to the second chick. The second chick couldn’t handle it either and the parent ate the crayfish.

I was able to stop at a second pond before heading home. The loons there had also hatched two chicks. They look to be just a couple days old.

These chicks have mastered riding on the adult’s back.

The second parent brought a fish. This chick has caught on quickly – after dropping the fish, the chick attempted to dive after it.

And, we have to have a stretching shot…..

The chicks pay attention to every move the parents make and will often mirror the adult’s position.

I hope to be able to follow these two families and a third through out the season. To watch them grow, sign up for updates when I add a post.

baby loons, common loons, loon chicks, loon riding on back, loonlet, loons

Local Wildlife

On June 17, 2022 - Loons, Wildlife Photography

Many of the birds around the marsh are nesting, there are lots of parents hauling groceries back their nests, others still sitting on their eggs. The Canada geese have mostly moved on, making the local ponds much quieter places. Let’s see who was out and about this past week.

With several nice days, painted turtles were out in force basking around the local ponds and streams.

Turtles are out laying eggs around the Upper Valley. She”ll lay between 20 and 40 eggs. The eggs will take something like 80 to 90 days to hatch. The hatchling turtles may spend the winter in the hole she dug before venturing out in the spring.

Dragonflies and damselflies are abundant this time of year. They’re great mosquito hunters and prey for many of the birds around the marsh.

Eastern kingbirds are common around the marsh. They hunt insects, including the dragonflies and damselflies. Kingbirds will often perch on stumps or brush just above the water, darting out when a meal comes in range.

An eastern kingbird hunting insects over the water in the marsh.

Eastern kingbirds nest in trees along the edge of the marsh or fields. The female will incubate the eggs and both will work to raise the chicks.

Our loons are still sitting on their eggs in the Upper Valley. They should hatch within the next few days. Please don’t approach the nest or chicks, this was taken with an 800mm lens and cropped.

Another one of the local loons sitting on the nest.

And, of course, no visit to the pond is complete without a couple photos of the loon stretching.

This loon has just finished a shift of nest sitting and gives a good stretch.

birding, birds, common loon, loon, new hampshire wildlife, vermont wildlife

A Peaceful Morning With The Loons, et al, June 8, 2022

On June 8, 2022 - Loons, Wildlife Photography

Monday morning was a beautiful spring morning to visit the loons and friends. Provided one doesn’t object to paddling about in 42° weather. Let’s see what I found.

The Adirondack Loon Center is raffling off a Hornbeck Canoe to raise funds for loon preservation in the Adirondacks. Hornbeck boats are beautiful, very light weight boats, worth taking a look.

One of our pair of loons was patrolling the pond and foraging as the sun rose.

A few minutes later, the loon departed on an errand. The pond is surrounded by hills. Often departing loons have to circle the pond to gain enough altitude to clear the hills, giving me an extra change to get in flight shots.

A song sparrow went through his repertoire to greet the morning.

Mr. Oriole was busy hauling groceries to his nest.

A couple mergansers promenaded around the pond.

Even Mrs. Kingfisher was generous enough to hold still for a photo – quite the rare occurrence.

Our loon on nest duty took a break to stretch, preen, forage and nap after a time.

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

Loons Are Nesting, May 31, 2022

On May 31, 2022 - Loons

Many of the loons around the area have laid their eggs and are sitting on their nests. I’ve been out on several ponds this last week, checking on them and in some cases, putting out the loon nesting signs. Let’s see what I saw along the way.

Just a reminder to let the loons be. You may have the best intentions, but the loons don’t know what you’re up to and approaching them may stress them. And, while it may be harmless for you to approach the nest to have a quick peek, remember you could be the 20th person getting close enough to stress the loons. All the photos of the loons on or near their nest were shot with a 800mm lens and cropped – I’m back well over 100′.

A pileated woodpecker gives me a flyby over one of the local ponds.

An eastern kingbird poses nicely not far from one of the loon nests.

There’s a beaver lodge that I have to pass to visit the loons on one of the ponds. The beavers are sure to greet me as I pass.

When I last checked on the loons on this pond, they were still exploring real estate. The swim along the shoreline – usually on an island or check out the hummocks in the marsh. They vocalize softly while hunting for a spot. The male will eventually pick a spot. If a pair was successful hatching chicks the year before, they’re likely to pick the same spot again – if it is still available.

On my most recent visit, the loons had selected a spot near where last year’s nest was and were sitting on egg(s).

Loons’ legs are very far back on their body, making walking difficult. They’ll nest within a couple of feet of the water. This loon is climbing out of the water to take a shift sitting on the egg(s).

Both parents take turns sitting on the eggs. Females are more likely to take the night shift and spend more time sitting as incubation ends. During the day, the pair will do a handful of nest exchanges – a shift change for sitting. Often when the off duty loon returns to the area around the nest, the loons will dip their heads with the tip their bills in the water. I suspect it is a greeting, but haven’t found any documentation to back that up.

Loons coming off a shift of nest sitting will often stretch and preen a bit before heading out to forage. I think is is the loon version of a yawn, with full neck stretch.

An early morning departure for one of the loons on a local pond.

Another loon sitting on a nest. The loons on this pond were successful in raising two chicks last year, the laid their eggs in the same spot. All those black specks are black flies. It is a very good year for the flies.

Here’s the same loon leaving the nest for shift change. This shot gives you a good view of how far back their legs are.

Loons lay one or two eggs in a simple nest.

Here’s the same nest late in the day. I returned to the pond with their sign to try to keep people away from the nest. Loons will pant like dogs when they’re hot. This loon has been in direct sun for several hours and is trying to cool down.

This loon is very stressed – an otter surfaced not far from the nest while I was watching. If a loon flattens out like this when you approach, you’re too close and are bothering the loon.

If you’re sitting quietly, loons will sometimes surface close to your boat.

Of course, we’re all looking for the shot of a loon stretching…

I hope to follow a couple of loon families for the rest of the summer again. Sign up for post updates to keep up with how they’re doing.

You can learn more about loons and conservation efforts on their behalf on the Loon Preservation Committee’s site, the Vermont Center for Ecostudies site or the Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation site.

birding, birds, common loon, loon, new hampshire wildlife, vermont wildlife

Loon Chicks at Ten Weeks, September 7, 2021

On September 7, 2021 - Loons, Wildlife Photography

Our loon chicks are now about ten and a half weeks old. I had a chance to catch up with them this morning. Both chicks seem to be doing well. They’re growing fast. Both are feeding on their own – as well as pestering their parents for food.

They’re getting very independent, one wander off something like a half mile from the parent on duty this morning. (Only one parent was around this morning, the other has probably headed off for a short break.)

One of the osprey made an appearance as well. It flew over the pond a few times, then settled on a branch to watch.

After several minutes, it flew back over with a nice breakfast.

Most of the loon’s morning was spent foraging, or pestering the parent to forage. The loons didn’t seem to have much luck catching fish. The parent surfaced several times with fingerlings, but never a good-sized fish.

Here’s our parent inbound with another crayfish.

The crayfish didn’t get far, our chick ties again..

The chick is determined and tries again.

No! Not again! Once more the crayfish makes a break for it!

As soon as our parent surfaced this morning, at least one of the chicks would head over and start pestering the parent for a meal. If the parent was delivering a meal, the chick would eat that and immediately start pestering. The parent was rarely on the surface for more than a few second at a time. The parent was pretty good at deflecting the chick’s bill away, but the chicks were persistent and often managed to pinch the parent.

The chicks seem to prefer to grab a bit of neck to get attention.

One of our chicks eventually took a break from foraging and did some feather maintenance. First the feathers on top…

Then a good wing flap to get everything back in place.

This shot gives a good view of the flight feathers along the bottom of the chick’s wing. Won’t be long before they’re put to use.

The trees on the hills around our pond are already turning a little rusty. We’ve got just a few weeks left before our family moves on.

Checking In With The Loons, August 4, 2021

On August 4, 2021 - Loons, Wildlife Photography

Our loon family with two chicks was receiving visitors yesterday morning, August 3. The chicks are now 46 & 47 days old. They both appear to be doing well. They’re diving, and occasionally catching food, on their own. But, they’re always hungry and encouraging the parents to feed them.

The loons will have to take a brief hiatus. I’ll be down at the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen Fair for through August 15. I’ll resume the story as soon as possible after the Fair.

The loons were foraging at the far end of the pond from the boat launch, I ran into some of the usual suspects along the way to see the loons. This is the most common view I get of common mergansers.

The fishing wasn’t very good this morning. Hank caught just one small fish while I watched.

This osprey made seven or eight dives without catching anything before perching to watch for a meal.

This was the largest fish I saw the parents hand off to the chicks.

The parents were foraging fairly far away from the chicks. They were covering a good portion of their pond.

One of the loons took some time off from feeding the chicks to preen….

The chicks are getting big. From a distance, it is hard to tell them from their parents. Their fluff is going and their feathers are growing in.

The chicks were actively foraging in the shallow water. They both managed to catch food. There appeared to be several dragonfly nymphs, but most of what they caught was too small for me to ID.

And one last shot of the chicks before I had to head out.

birding, birds, loons

A Visit With The Loons, Chicks Are 22 & 23 Days Old, July 11, 2021

On July 11, 2021 - Herons, Loons, Raptors, Wildlife Photography

I spent the morning visiting the loon family with two chicks in the Upper Valley area. Both chicks appear to be doing well, both are growing rapidly, are active and feeding eagerly.

The loons aren’t the only inhabitants of their pond. This great blue heron was out and about a little before sun up.

I got too close to Hank for the shot with my long lens before I noticed him. I debated it it was worth turning around, getting further back and waiting for the water to settle again. I figured he’d move along before I was set. Glad he didn’t.

After the fog lifted, an osprey was up hunting for breakfast, and came to a hover almost directly overhead. Loons appear to differentiate osprey from other raptors at long range. Hawks and eagles are met with cries and the chicks flatten out to hide. But, the loons pretty much ignore the osprey (whose diet is almost entirely fish).

One of the adults stretching. I think this is our banded loon. The Loon Preservation Committee banded a bird with this combination of bands at Lee’s Pond in Moultonborough, NH, in 2015. The weren’t able to determine the sex while banding (I’m betting this is mom – the other loon is clueless about dealing with the chicks). It was spotted on Lake Tarleton in 2015 and on the current pond since 2018.

UPDATE: I guessed wrong. Eventually I was able to catch this bird yodeling, which only males do. He’s a much more attentive parent than mom.

This pair of adults seems particularly fond of crayfish for feeding the chicks. They delivered several large crayfish early in the morning.

This chick has learned to toss the crayfish up to grab it tail first for easier swallowing.

After the first feeding, there was a break while the parents preened and the chicks napped. One of the adults swam close to my boat to preen. I got great views as it cleaned and oiled its feathers. (And, ‘close’ is a relative term, these were with an 800mm lens and cropped.)

Feathers adjusted, time to give them a fluff and check to see if they’re repelling water.

The family spent most of the morning in shallow water, with the chicks practicing diving and foraging. It will be a while before they can feed themselves, but they’ve started learning. This guy made a successful dive and managed to catch a stick. Sticks apparently do not make good snacks.

The parents eventually got serious about feeding the chicks and started bringing in fish.

Adult loons seem unfamiliar with the concept of volume. They brought in fish that appeared way too big for a chick to swallow. This little guy was up to the challenge, but had to work at it.

The other chick got a shot at the next fish that was delivered.

The adult recovered it, and handed (billed?) it back over.

This fish proved to be too big, one of the adults ended up eating it.

And a last shot of one of the chicks stretching.

Another Morning With The Loons

On July 8, 2021 - Loons, Wildlife Photography

Tuesday morning found me back out with our loon family. We had a dark, cloudy start to the morning, but the sun broke through by the time the loons got going with their day.

One of our parents taking a break during preening to have a look around.

Both chicks appear to be doing well, they’re growing quickly. Both were active and eager to feed. I parked my kayak near the shallow water where they’ve been feeding. It didn’t take long before they came over and started scrounging up breakfast. This little guy seemed curious about me.

The parents made many forays for food for the chicks. Here’s one with a horned pout for the chicks. This is the first time I’ve seen a parent kill (or at least seriously wound) food for the chicks. Usually they deliver it alive, often dropping it in the water in front of the chick to let the chick practice hunting.

This parent is trying to deliver what appears to be a pickerel to the chicks, but let it slip. It had to be relocated and grabbed again.

The parent drops the fish back in the water and the chick looks for it.

The chick has caught the fish and is working to get it down.

Here’s another delivery, this time a small enough fish to swallow easily.

One chick managed to hunt down a leaf all on his own.

The leaf received a good thrashing, but still turned out not to be tasty.

The chicks are both preening and cleaning feathers regularly.

Here’s a chick reaching back to rub his uropygial gland.

But, mostly, the chicks spent the morning just being cute.

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