I made it up to visit the Eastons Tuesday morning and met their chick. Wednesday found me back visiting them and yesterday I dropped in on the Middletons.
The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair is coming up quickly. We’ll be at the Mount Sunapee Resort in Newbury, NH from Saturday August 2 to Sunday August 10. I’m in tent seven with note cards, my 2026 calendar and lots of prints. I’m busy printing new images including loons, herons, owls, a lighthouse and more. Stop by and have a look.
Owl Be Looking at You – one of the new images I’ll be exhibiting at the Fair.
The Eastons got off to a late start this spring. The Middletons did too. I wonder if all the rain delayed their plans? The Eastons hatched their chicks the third weekend in June for several years. Last year, they lost their first clutch of eggs, the second clutch didn’t hatch until the third week of July. This year they laid two eggs, one didn’t hatch.
When I arrived, mom was foraging near the boat launch. She disappeared while I was unloading the boat.
Paddling down the pond, I found mom had retreated to the far end. Dad was floating nearby. Mom greeted me with a stretch. I couldn’t see any sign of chicks.
Mom spent some time preening before stretching again. Shortly after that, she went over to join dad. And a chick appeared on dad’s back. If I named baby Middleton ‘Littleton,’ should baby Easton be ‘Leaston?’ Yes, my mind does wander when I’m sitting in the boat. Mom dove to find breakfast, Leaston settled in to wait. The male in this pair is banded and has a growth under his bill allowing me to tell them apart.
Ah fish! What a great breakfast.
Just a reminder, I’m using a 600mm lens and sitting well back to avoid bothering the loons. This image is heavily cropped. After a couple helpings, Leaston settled in for a nap. But, more breakfast is always a reason to get back up. This serving looks like a giant water bug, aka ‘toe-biter.’ Dad wanted his own breakfast and turned Leaston over to mom and headed out. Dad took time for a quick stretch before heading off. Leaston climbed aboard mom and tucked in. Dad had a quick breakfast and came back to reclaim Leaston. With this pair of loons, dad is the more attentive parent. If there’s only one parent with the chick(s) when I arrive on the pond, it is almost always dad. If they’re both feeding the chicks, mom will often scoot before the chicks are full and dad finishes the meal.
Leaston was keeping an eye on things. Probably trying to figure out what role I played in this adventure.
Even at a just a couple days old, the chicks are on the lookout from threats in any direction – including overhead. And another shot of the chick riding just because he’s so darned cute. The wind picked up and I had things to get done so I headed in for the day. Wednesday morning I headed back up to the pond. I hadn’t seen the great blue herons that usually summer on the pond yet this season. It was a nice surprise to find Hank out in the fog. The herons are smart enough to know where the sun will first hit the pond. Overnight the temperature dropped to a very pleasant low-60s. Hank was stationed to warm in the first sunlight. I wanted another angle for my photo and tried to maneuver to the right. Along the shore, a beaver and I were both startled to find each other so close. The beaver set to an impressive bout of tail slapping and Hank disappeared down the pond. In low light with a little fog and the breeze ruffling the water, loons floating quietly can be hard to spot at a distance. Mom let me know where she was when she stretched. Mom was tending the chick. The chick wanted to come aboard and gave a mighty flap of his? wings. It took swimming around to mom’s port side to find the handle to climb aboard. Once aboard, he made himself comfortable.
Dad was staying away longer than usual, he was back up the pond somewhere near the boat launch. I figured I’d see him on my way out.
As headed in, I saw what I thought was dad at a distance. He was low in the water – stalking something. I had only a brief glimpse before he dove. A few seconds later, there was a loon in another direction. It seemed like he’d moved very quickly – likely too quickly. I looked around where I’d seen the low riding loon. While I was looking behind me, a ruckus broke out in front of me! Dad was up out of the water doing the penguin dance in front of an intruder! The intruder went wing rowing away. They repeated that a couple of times. The intruder eventually made a wing rowing run that brought him close to the boat and I was able to get a series of photos. I love the patterns in the water coming off his right wing. Another shot of the intruder wing rowing past my boat.
A closer shot – check out the patterns in the water again.
And putting on the brakes… the intruder has dipped both wings deeper into the water to slow down.
The intruder hid behind my boat for a few moments before diving. Dad dove too and I lost track of both of them. Over the next half hour, I got brief glimpses of both surfacing – staying low – stalking each other. They hadn’t come to any conclusion by the time I had to leave.
Yesterday’s forecast was for thunderstorms at dawn. When I got up and looked out, we had clear skies with some fog down in the valley. I headed out to call on the Middletons. I found the family foraging in their favorite breakfast cove well before sunup.
Mom dove. I thought she was just foraging. She popped up outside the cove. That was a bit unusual.
Shortly after, Littleton flattened out – a chick’s defense against threats.
Looking up, I saw an intruder coming in for a landing. Mom and dad went out to challenge her. I’m assuming this is the same female that was keeping company with Mr. Middleton early in the season. Assuming it is her, she has come in to challenge for the territory each time I’ve visited. The Middletons – the two on the right – circled her and stared her down. The intruder retreated, wing rowing away down the pond. The Middletons followed, swimming after her. Before the Middletons caught up with her, she departed. Dad took time for a celebratory stretch as the intruder circled the pond one last time calling as she went. Both of the resident loons are banded, allowing me to tell who is who. Both Middletons headed back to catch up with Littleton, who swam out of the cove to greet them. Dad decided first breakfast was over and it was time for a nap. Littleton went along with the plan. But, Littleton soon decided he had other priorities. He gently nudged dad to remind him it was time for second breakfast. A gentle nudge wasn’t sufficient to get dad moving. Littleton upped his game and nipped dad’s neck. Dad woke up and explained that he’d provide breakfast when he was good and ready. Then tucked back in to nap. But Littleton was insistent, as loon chicks are. He nudged and pushed dad for a bit. Dad stayed tucked in, and Littleton pushed him in circles for a bit. Littleton circled around to see if pushing on dad’s other side would get some action. Littleton eventually took the hint and wanted to climb aboard. He’s too big these days, he only got his head under dad’s wing. Dad eventually gave in and headed off to round up mom to get more breakfast. Littleton tucked his head under dad’s other wing and let dad tow him along. Mom stretched as they approached. The parents set to rounding up some breakfast.
The clouds were moving in and the wind came up. I headed home to get to work.
The photo towards the end showing Littleton-the-Chick’s head (only) stretched out and tucked under dad’s wing is priceless!!! Too big to climb aboard but obviously wants to. Fabulous shot!
Absolutely Love these pics and the stories that go with them. Yes, Leaston is a Great name for the lil one. Looking forward to more adventures with the Easton and Middleton families, along with Mr. Hank the heron. Thank you for sharing these wonderful adventures.
Love, Love these pics and the stories that go with them.Yes Leaston is a Great name for the Lil One. Thank you for sharing all your wonderful adventures with the wildlife.
Looking forward to seeing more adventures with the Easton and Middleton families along with Mr. Hank the heron…
Absolutely the cutest photos and captions, and ‘Leaston’ is the perfect name! Gotta love loons!
Thanks for sharing…
The photo towards the end showing Littleton-the-Chick’s head (only) stretched out and tucked under dad’s wing is priceless!!! Too big to climb aboard but obviously wants to. Fabulous shot!
Some days you just don’t want to grow up….. Thanks
Absolutely Love these pics and the stories that go with them. Yes, Leaston is a Great name for the lil one. Looking forward to more adventures with the Easton and Middleton families, along with Mr. Hank the heron. Thank you for sharing these wonderful adventures.
Thanks, glad you’re enjoying them.
Love, Love these pics and the stories that go with them.Yes Leaston is a Great name for the Lil One. Thank you for sharing all your wonderful adventures with the wildlife.
Looking forward to seeing more adventures with the Easton and Middleton families along with Mr. Hank the heron…
Thank you for another great read, with accompanying magical photos.
Marvelous photographs