There’s great news from the Eastons! I’ve been up to visit them a couple times this past week. They’ve been sitting on their second clutch of eggs. They lost the first clutch, I suspect the nest was flooded, but we’ll never know. Let’s see how their doing. (The Eastons are the easternmost of the loon families I follow. My blog has gotten popular enough that I need to protect the loons’ privacy.)
The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair kicks off Saturday August 3 and runs through Sunday August 11 at the Mount Sunapee Resort in Sunapee, NH. I’ll have lots of new images, from note cards to 20×30″ wall art. Stop by booth 718 to have a look. All the details about the Fair are on the League’s site, www.NHCrafts.org
When I visited the Eastons on July 21, they had a chick and were still sitting on an egg. I returned on July 22 well before dawn and found the same situation.
Dad was on the nest and snuggling with the chick.
Mom soon appeared and checked in for shift change. I was watching eagerly when they swapped, but couldn’t see what was going on with the second egg. Dad returned, bringing a fish for the chick. The chick was eager for breakfast and headed out to meet dad. Watch that first step! Still seeing only the one chick. Dad delivering breakfast while mom looks on. I’m really happy with this image. Does it have sort of a Normal Rockwell feel?Mom stood – to turn the egg. You can see it in front of her left leg. Dad took the chick about 100 feet from the nest to feed it while mom watched from the nest.
Every time dad would dive, mom would sit up and hoot. After a couple dives, she started wailing at dad when he surfaced. Dad dove a few more times, feeding the chick. Each time mom got louder and more strident. Dad started answering back, each wail louder and longer than the last. You didn’t need to speak loon to understand they were squabbling. Dad returned the chick to the nest and everyone quieted down.
I had to head out, hoping the second egg would hatch.
This morning, I headed back, again before dawn.
While scanning the lake for the family, mom gave a wing stretch, letting me know where they were.
Dad was cruising peacefully, with only one chick showing on his back.For the better part of half an hour, dad kept cruising slowly as mom started feeding the chick. Only when dad stood to stretch did I see a second chick. Yeah! Both chicks appear healthy – they’re active, feed eagerly and have already grown noticeably. Both parents then got to work bringing food. Here’s dad with a small morsel. And mom trying to deliver a crayfish bigger than the chick’s head. She offered the crayfish to both chicks several times. Eventually, one of the chicks decided to give it a try.
The chick dropped the crayfish several times, with mom retrieving it each time. Here mom has to wait to retrieve it as dad sails by with a fish for the other chick. Crayfish retrieved, the chick gives it another go….It took some work, but our chick is up to the challenge!Success! What’s next mom? Dad headed off down the lake for his breakfast while mom baby sat. The chicks settled in for a nap on mom’s back. All this eating really tires a chick out, they’re down for a good snooze. After about 20 minutes, the chicks began to stir. And a good stretch to get going again. Dad returned and got to work providing more food. Mom joined in, both parents were repeatedly diving and delivering food. Both chicks waiting for the next serving. Dad is back with another fish. After many minutes of feeding, mom stopped to stretch.
That was a good time for me to head home. The League Fair will keep me busy the next couple weeks, it may be a time before I can check up on them again.
Ian, your connection with these wild creatures is such a gift and so are the fruits of that connection. I’ve so enjoyed having your photographs at VINS these past weeks. Thank you!
This is so exciting for the Eastons!!
Thank you for the update!
Thrilled with the news of the 2nd chick hatching!! The Middletons are doing great!
Great!
So happy to see both chicks enjoying a meal.๐
Ian, your connection with these wild creatures is such a gift and so are the fruits of that connection. I’ve so enjoyed having your photographs at VINS these past weeks. Thank you!
Thanks. The loon exhibit at VINS came down yesterday, I’m working on a great blue heron exhibit and a fox exhibit. Stay tuned!
Looking forward to seeing how much they’ve grown when you get back. Thank you for a great start to the morning.
Outstanding photography.
Curious as to what you use for a camera and lens on these shots.
Thanks
Wayne Adams
Salem
Thanks. I’m using Canon gear. These were shot with either an EOS7DII or an R7. Lenses range from 24-70 to 600 F4.
Beautiful pictures. You made my day!
Thanks!
beautiful camera work! So much detail:-) Glad there are 2 chicks:-) Loons are very special~~
Oh such wonderful photos!
Let me join the chorus: You are teaching us so much about the loon families, and giving us remarkable images. Thanks, neighbor!
Thanks!