Update on the Loons and Some Cute Fox Kits
Memorial Day, May 26, looked promising when I got up to check the weather at 3:30. The dogs weren’t convinced and slept in. Lee & I set out to see if the road to the Easton’s pond was passable. This was my first visit to see them this year.
The road was passable, but the fog had settled over the pond and there was a chilly breeze. There was a pair of loons traveling together on the pond. Mr. Easton is banded, I couldn’t get a good look to see if he’s returned. A quick check of the nest site from the last several years found no sign of activity. Fortunately, it remains well above high water level. We headed out early without any photos.
By this time last few years, the Eastons had been sitting on the nest by now. Assuming they don’t have a nest I didn’t find, they’re at least a week behind the previous years’ schedule.
Tuesday morning I visited the Middletons. The pair of loons on the pond were banded last summer by the Loon Preservation Committee. On my earlier visits this year, Mr. Middleton was traveling with an unbanded loon.
The Middletons are also at least a week behind previous years’ schedule for laying their eggs.
Wednesday morning found me visiting the Westons. When I arrived, I found one loon sitting on the nest – well above water – and one resting nearby. At first I assumed the loon in the water had shown up to take a turn on the nest.
Friends in Newbury called to tell me they have fox kits and were kind enough to let me set up my blind to watch. While setting up the blind, I was watched by two kits sitting near their den.
Tuesday I returned to watch the kits again.
Thursday I tried again with the kits.
Friday morning’s forecast didn’t look promising when I went to bed. When I got up, the forecast had improved to showing a couple hours of ‘mostly cloudy.’ I decided to give the kits another try. Which was the correct choice as the low clouds cleared and it was soon sunny enough to heat the blind enough to slowly roast me. An added benefit was what seemed like the entire population of mosquitoes and ticks had taken shelter in there with me. The phoebe or kingbird made a reappearance, zooming into the blind, around my head and back out in less time than it takes to write about it. No idea if he’d nabbed a meal.
The cameras in our bluebird boxes are working again, albeit with some kinks. Bluebirds explored the south box for a time and gave up. A few days later I noticed them around the north box and fiddled with the camera to get up and running. They seemed to have claimed the box. There’s third box nearby that has been claimed by wrens. The wrens were successful at driving the bluebirds out. A pair of tree swallows has now claimed the bluebird box and are being very vigilant about the wrens. The wrens seem much less aggressive towards the swallows. Bluebirds would be a direct competitor for food, both bluebirds and wrens foraging along the grass. Swallows hunt in the air. Is that enough of a difference for the wrens to accept swallows as neighbors?
I’ll get around to editing some of the footage of the story so far and start to follow the swallows’ progress with some posts soon.
Want to learn to take your own wildlife photos? I’ll be speaking to the Upper Valley Camera Club at the AVA Gallery, 11 Bank Street, Lebanon, NH next Tuesday, June 10 at 6:30 pm. The talk is aimed at folks with a 35mm camera with interchangeable lenses. Hopefully, I’ll have lots of useful tips. Free and everyone welcome, but they request you register beforehand at
https://avagallery.org/event/june-monthly-meeting/.
Thank you for the updates. Wonderful photographs.
Thanks!
Ian, Thank you for your beautiful photographs
documenting these lovely creatures. I send
your post to my grandson and we read them
Together over the phone.
Beth, that makes me so happy! I started the blog years ago to amuse friends and family with younger children. They’ve all outgrown it now but people tell me they like the I’ve been writing so on it goes. Glad to hear it is still reaching the intended audience.
l love animals and just love seeing your pictures, so keep them coming. thank you for doing this.
Thanks! I’m glad I’ve found a way to share the photos, I never thought the loons would gain the following they have.
Magnificent! Especially the loon stretching wings, the beaver tail and, of course, the fox kit series!
Thank you for your soul-satisfying photos.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed them!
Thankyou for the information about bluebirds and wrens. The first year I had a bluebird box the wrens stuffed it with sticks to deter the bluebirds. The last two years the blue have won and been successful, such fun to watch.
That’s great news. I don’t hold a grudge against the wrens, but they’re not as pretty as the bluebirds.
I am in love with the fox kits. Thank you!
GREAT PHOTOS 🙂 I loved the kits. You must’ve had fun taking their pictures. And it didn’t seem to bother them.
Good job
Thanks. Hiding in a blind is the key to watching foxes without disturbing them.
Wow. Made my day. Gus Speth
Thanks!
Great photos Ian! Those fox kits are adorable.
Thanks!