Posts Tagged: new hampshire wildlife

Update on the Loons and Some Cute Fox Kits

On May 31, 2025 - Foxes, Loons, Photography, Wildlife Photography

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.

After a quick search, I found the pair of loons just finishing up making little loons, then they headed out to settle in for a long nap.

While I waited for the loons to wake up, I checked around to see who else was about. There was a handful of spotted sandpipers out foraging in the marsh.

Loons usually take fairly brief – 15 or 20 minute naps. This morning they extended that to about 45 minutes, giving me time to get some shots through the fog. One has woken up and is flexing his? neck.

Eventually, they both woke up and one gave a nice wing stretch in the fog.

They set sail to explore the real estate options for their nest.

Mrs. made her case for reusing last year’s nest site again. Mr. tried to explain that it was under a couple inches of water and not really feasible.

She wasn’t buying that for a second. She continued to sit and they discussed it with low hoots.

Mr. Middleton ended the discussion by simply swimming away.

Mrs. abandoned her effort to convince him and swam off the nest site. As she passed my boat, she stretch her leg – giving me a good look at the bands she wears. The rightful Mrs. Middleton is back! This is the female that LPC banded last year. She must have chased the other female from the pond.

The Middletons are also at least a week behind previous years’ schedule for laying their eggs.

She gave a nice wing stretch before heading off.

All was not well, an intruder appeared on the pond. The Middletons went to face off with the intruder. They were still circling and diving aggressively some 45 minutes later.

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.

An immature bald eagle appeared low over the marsh – escorted by a small flock of grackles, kingbirds and red-winged blackbirds. The eagle perched in the tree with the smaller birds taking turns watching him. The grackles and kingbirds were mostly content to sit in the tree and call. The kingbirds favored more direct action, swooping in to try to hit the eagle in the back of the head. There remained a stalemate all morning with the eagle not retreating. The loon in the water may have been standing by to defend the nest.

A representative of the local beaver colony swam by to explain to me I wasn’t welcome.

I’d been waiting for the sun to get high enough to light the nest to get a photo. When it was lit, I got this shot and headed home.

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.

Monday I was able to sit in the blind for a time. The fox kits not only didn’t seem bothered that I was there – they’d sat and watched me walk in and hide – but seemed almost bored by me.

The den is on the edge of a planted field. Workers made a noise in the field that alerted this kit.

Soon enough, the kit relaxed and went back to practicing to be cute.

Tuesday I returned to watch the kits again.

The were snoozing near the den. Soon that became too strenuous and they retreated back in the den for a longer nap. I gave up before they reappeared. The highlight of my time was what was either a phoebe or a kingbird chased some insect into the blind, nabbed it and quickly departed.

Thursday I tried again with the kits.

This time, both kits were out and wrestling in front of the den.

I’d arrived just in time for the end of wrestling. The kits had a good look around outside the den before disappearing back inside.

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.

Only one kit was on duty Friday. She came out of the den to nap in the sunshine.

She finished her nap with a stretch and a big yawn.

She dug some improvements on the spot she likes to nap.

Before settling back in to test it out with another nap.

Fox kits are like cats in that you can tell the temperature from the length of a sleeping kit.

After a time, she got curious and explored in the brush near the den.

Then she settled back in before I had to head out.

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/.

birding, birds, new hampshire wildlife, vermont wildlife

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

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

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

An Update on the Loons’ Ponds

On June 10, 2024 - Loons, Moose, Wildlife Photography

The weather has kept me from getting out the last few days. The Westons should have chicks by now, the Middletons are due momentarily and the Eastons will be on their nest another couple weeks. Let’s see what else has been happening.

The Tenney Memorial Library will host me for my slideshow, An Uncommon Look at the Common Loon on Sunday, June 23, at 2:00 p.m. Free and open to the public.

Before we get to the ponds, take a look at what my game camera caught. This camera was set up in my blind watching one one of the fox dens. Guess I’m glad I took that morning off.

There’s less activity around the ponds. Most songbirds are on their nests or feeding chicks and not out and about to be photographed.

great blue heron perched on a tree — The great blue heron couple has returned to the Easton’s pond. This is the pair that is fairly skittish, but show up to give me two or three great photo ops for the year.

common loon sitting on nest — The Eastons have selected a new nest site – last year’s is just above water level this year. They’re in deep shadow all morning, guess I’ll have to get back a couple afternoons.

The resident osprey was interested in fishing in the relatively shallow water near the loons’ nest. The off-duty loon seemed to be moving out of the way for the osprey to dive. Professional courtesy or just not wanting to be nearby when the osprey dove? The osprey finally caught breakfast well down the pond.

Common loon stretching on a foggy morning — A check on the Westons found one loon settled on the nest and the other just hanging around. The highlight of the morning was a couple nice wing stretches.

common grackle reflecting on a pond as it forages — It was such a beautiful spring morning, even the grackles looked good.

Common loon stretching wings — A visit to the Middletons found one loon on the nest, the other lazily cruising the pond, eventually giving a good wing stretch.

Common loon swimming on a pond — And a nice low-key shot as our loon cruised along the pond.

I’ll be out to check on the chicks as soon as the weather breaks. Check back soon to see how they’re doing.

common loon, loons, new hampshire wildlife, vermont wildlife, wildlife

Catching Up with the Usual Suspects

On May 6, 2024 - Loons, Wildlife Photography

I’ve been able to get out a few times to visit two of the loons’ ponds. The loons are out and about, along with the full cast of the usual suspects.

The Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee is hosting my exhibit of loon prints through the end of July. There will be a reception where I show my slideshow, An Uncommon Look at the Common Loon, on Saturday, May 11 at 3 p.m. There are more details at https://vinsweb.org/event/artist-exhibition-ian-clark/ and https://www.facebook.com/events/454025283855444.

And, I’ll be presenting An Uncommon Loon again at the Lakes Region Art Association Gallery in Laconia, NH at 6 p.m. on May 20. The talk hasn’t been posted on their site yet, but details about the Association are at https://lraanh.org/.

Do you have critters around? While I do a lot of scouting on my own, tips for finding critters are always appreciated. I’m always looking for mammals, if you’ve got bobcats, coyotes, fishers or bears that show up more than once, I’d love a chance to photograph them. I’m also looking for owls, woodpecker nests and scarlet tanagers along with rarer species that may not visit feeders regularly. Places where I can come and go early in the morning or late in the evening without disturbing you or the critters are best.

And now, the critters. Here’s a skunk that doesn’t seem to appreciate my trail camera.

Last Friday, I caught up with some volunteers from the Loon Preservation Committee (LPC)
as they deployed their loon nesting platform on Post Pond in Lyme, NH.

Nesting platforms have been a huge success in helping restore the loon population. The LPC put out their first platform in 1977. Since then LPC volunteers and staff have floated loon nesting rafts on New Hampshire lakes 1,685 times – not including this year. Nesting loon pairs have used these rafts 917 times, and hatched 976 chicks on the platforms – an incredible one in four chicks hatched in New Hampshire. You can learn more about LPC at www.loon.org – and check out their loon cam watching a nest in the Lakes Region at https://loon.org/looncam/. Sign up for their newsletter to keep up with New Hampshire’s loons. Vermonter’s loons get assistance from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies, check out their site, https://vtecostudies.org/

Volunteers Jim Mason (orange kayak), his wife Dayle Mason and Wayne Pushee (blue kayak) towing the loon nesting platform. Loons on Post Pond have used the platform for several years.

The platform ready for the loons to move in.

On April 23, I made it out to check in with the Westons. (For new readers, to give the loons some privacy, I named the loons on the pond to my east the Eastons. The loons to my west are the Westons, and the pond in the middle hosts the Middletons.)

Getting ready for the day, both loons did some quick preening, ending with a stretch and a shake of the head.

The Canada geese have – mostly – claimed their nesting sites and many of the females are sitting on their nests. This brings some peace and quiet to the pond. Here’s one of our geese heading out for the morning.

This pond hosts at least three pair of beaver. This fellow popped up in close to my boat.

He was too close for me to get a good photo of his tail slap.

But, I got a great look at his back feet as he dove. They’re HUGE!

The pond also hosts a variety of ducks. Here’s Mr. Mallard posing nicely.

Female red-winged blackbirds have returned. Males have returned about three weeks ago to stake out territories to be ready for the ladies. This was the first female I saw this year. Her appearance had the males singing and displaying with gusto. The females are perfectly colored to blend into the reeds while they sit on the nest, they don’t have to be flashy like the males.

On my way out, the loons were doing a thorough preening. They usually finish with a wing stretch. I waited a few minutes and was rewarded when they both stretched.

There was another mallard drake posing by the boat launch when I arrived. As I was putting my gear away, an immature eagle dove on him and his mate. The both dove and lived to quack another day.

Last Friday, I visited the Middletons. They were busy foraging, apparently having to work for dinner. They were making long dives and covering lots of territory underwater. I went to see who else might be around the pond.

There was a large number of painted turtles basking around the pond.

This painted turtle seems to be giving me some attitude…..

There was a small flock of warblers foraging for insects high in the trees. I tried to tell them that the black flies were available at my eye level, but they didn’t seem interested. This is a yellow-rumped warbler, known as a ‘butter butt’ to birders.

And this explains how they got their name.

There were several pine warblers in the flock. I’ve yet to get a good photo of one. They tend to forage deep in the brush, making it hard to get an unobstructed view of them. It turns out one of my skills is photographing branches on which pine warblers were very recently perched. (My other talent is stalking heron-shaped sticks.)

This time I got lucky enough to actually get the bird before it flew. Looks like I’ll have to keep trying…..

The Middletons finished dinner and cruised not far from the boat launch as I headed in. Once again, one beached and called – it looked like the female presenting, but the other loon did not respond. It is still a couple weeks early for them to be mating. I didn’t get a shot of her before she returned to the water, but here she is checking me out.

Saturday morning found me visiting the Westons once again. The weather went south rapidly and I left when it started raining.

The loons were busy preening when I caught up with them, both ended with a big stretch.

Eastern kingbirds were out in large numbers. They’re insect hunters – they love dragonflies in season. They perch just about eye level on the edge of the pond and dart out to nab insects passing by.

Another kingbird perched along the side of the pond.

One of the loons stretching a leg. This gives a great look at how far back their legs are and the size of the foot.

Of course, I was willing to pause in the rain to get one last nice wing stretch….

beaver, birding, birds, canada goose, loon, new hampshire wildlife, vermont wildlife

One Loon Chick Left

On September 17, 2023 - Loons, Wildlife Photography

Thursday morning, I headed up to check on the Eastons. When I las visited, the parents weren’t on the pond and the chicks were practicing takeoffs, but couldn’t quite get airborne.

The adults usually stick around this pond until the last week of September, with the chicks departing in the first week of October. Looks like the parents took an early leave this year, with one chick following.

The chick on the pond was foraging lazily when I arrived. I watched for a time before hearing a loon calling overhead. I was expecting one of our parents to drop in to check on things, but the loon appeared to fly over.

Our chick was foraging lazily and swimming, covering a good distance with each dive.

After a time, another loon was calling overhead – or maybe the same one that flew over before. Our chick tried to call. He’s first attempt sounded like someone stepped on a goose. But he quickly found his voice and yodeled.

That’s interesting for a couple reasons. First, only male loons yodel, so we know he’s a he. Second, that’s the response of an adult loon to an intruder. No longer is our chick hiding to protect himself.

The intruder landed at the far end of the pond. The exchanged wails and yodels for a time.

When the intruder came down the pond, our chick took to the air. He circled over the pond for about 20 minutes.

The intruder dove a few times, foraging. Then spent a couple minutes preening before stretching. Our chick continued to circle over head. Eventually the intruder took off and headed out.

Our chick landed and went about his business.

He found something to eat – probably insect larva – on this branch before getting to work diving for a proper meal.

Second breakfast completed, he settled in for a nap.

After a while, he woke up and swam over towards my boat. This may well be the last photo I get of him. With the rest of the family gone, I won’t be surprised if he follows. But, I’m hoping he sticks around to let me visit with him again.

bird lovers, birding, birds, common loons, loons, new hampshire wildlife, vermont wildlife

Battle for the Easton’s Pond

On July 24, 2023 - Loons, Wildlife Photography

Sunday morning, the sky looked like there was a chance of some sunshine. I headed out to visit the Eastons. There was a light fog with hints of blue sky above when I arrived at the pond. And, it was a very pleasant 55° when I launched. The fog rapidly lifted for a beautiful morning. Our loon family was all together and the parents were both feeding the chicks.

One chick had his fill and was settling in for a nap when both parents arrived bearing crayfish. He ignored them and went to sleep. His sibling got both crayfish.

The chick that was still awake got a very good feeding. Eventually, he too settled in for a nap. The parents headed out, presumably for their own breakfast.

One parent went north, one went south. It wasn’t long before the one to the south sounded an alert. The one to the north went steaming down the pond at a good clip.

There were two intruding loons on the pond. All four loons started on the circle dance – they swim around each other sizing up the opposition.

They try to convince the opposition that they’re just too big and tough to mess with.

The confrontation quickly escalated to wing rowing – the loons propel themselves along the surface of the water with their wingtips. Frequently with an opponent in hot pursuit. Chases while wing rowing can go on for many minutes, covering lots of territory.

After a chase, if no one concedes and leaves, they’ll regroup and start again.

If the circling and staring doesn’t work, they may try displaying by stretching their wings. They’ll come up higher out of the water than they usually do to make themselves look bigger.

The intruders weren’t scared away and the chase was on!

They’ll change direction by dipping a wingtip into the water, this loon is turning left.

Making another circuit and gaining a few feet on the pursuer.

The one being chased ran out of pond and had to turn 180° to keep going.

Coming around again. Shortly after this round, one of the loons flew off. Followed soon after by a second loon. And, to my surprise, the loon I thought was the home team female left too.

Dad headed back up the pond to find the chicks. They’d been hiding deep in the brush near where they’d had breakfast. They promptly came out to join dad. Adolescent chicks will nibble at the parent’s neck and face when they want to be fed. Our chicks have learned how to nibble.

The chicks are persistent, they’ll pester the parents until the parents swim off. Usually the parents take the hint and go find some food for them. I think this is the reason that the parents leave for the season before the chicks, they just want a break.

After a time, what I think was mom arrived back on the pond.

Followed closely by one of the intruders. Dad stayed with the chicks while mom dealt with the intruder. There was a brief skirmish including wing rowing and the intruder left again.

This morning, I went back up to the pond to see how the home team was making out.

Crayfish were again on the menu. Once again, both parents were foraging to feed both chicks.

I’m not sure if our chick is yawning or burping. Either way, that’s a scary view if you’re a fish.

Our chicks are diving in deep water now. I watched this one make several dives that I counted out to be about 25 seconds. After surfacing, he gave a good stretch. You can see his flight feathers growing in along the bottom of his wings.

After feeding the chicks, dad headed up the pond out of sight. Shortly, I could hear yodeling. Soon, a pair of loons showed up – a wing rowing chase. They covered a lot of ground, but didn’t get close enough for photos. Some time after that, a loon flew overhead coming from that end of the pond. A second loon swam down the pond and rejoined mom who was tending the chicks.

The home team held the pond this time. But the fight probably isn’t over. One or both of the intruders are likely to return for several days or even a couple of weeks. Loons pay attention to how well a territory produces chicks. This pond has successfully raised two chicks a season for at least the last three years running. It would be a good territory to take over if the intruder can.

I’m on the road starting Thursday, I probably won’t have time to visit to see how the battle goes. I’ll get back up there to check as soon as I get back.

PS, we’re not supposed to interfere with nature. Don’t tell anyone I’m rooting for the home team.

bird lovers, birding, birds, common loons, loon, new hampshire wildlife, vermont wildlife

Loon Chicks at Five Weeks

On July 21, 2023 - Loons, Wildlife Photography

The rain let up enough for me to get out to check on all three loon families this week. And, I only got caught in a shower once.

The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair is coming right up, August 5th through the 12th. I’ll be down there with lots of wildlife and other photos. Stop by booth 726 and say hello. All the details for the fair are here.

I visited the Middletons last night. They’re the ones that lost their chick. On the last visit, they showed signs they might be courting again. That was before the heavy rains and flooding. We were spared the worst of the flooding, but did get significant rain. A friend on the pond has kept me updated. She says the loons have had one or two intruders on the pond regularly. When I visited, the hummock where they’ve nested the last several years has been washed away, with no sign of another nesting spot. There was an intruder on the pond, with some circling and posturing but no outright fights.

This morning, the forecast was for rain and thundershowers. When I got up, there were stars visible. I headed out to check on the Westons. One of the adults and two chicks were foraging not far from the boat launch. The other adult soon came down the pond to join them. They were in shadows, I headed up the pond to see who else might be about. The rain held off until I got to the other end of the pond. I had a soggy retreat.

On Wednesday morning, the forecast was mixed and there were a couple stars between clouds when I got up. I took a chance and headed east to visit the Eastons.

Mom was foraging on her own. She paused to have a look at me on her way by.

As I continued down the pond, I found our heron posing nicely again.

He as wading and looking over his domain.

The area he was foraging in has several piles of rocks just below the surface, separated by a few feet of deeper water. As he moved between a couple of rock piles, he appeared to swim for a short distance. I’ve never seen a heron do this and couldn’t decide if he was actually swimming or just wading through water that didn’t vary in depth.

Eventually I found dad and the chicks. They were resting peacefully. For a little while. Then the chicks woke up and wanted breakfast.

Mom caught up with the family and helped deliver breakfast.

Breakfast started with a few fish. Loons swallow fish head first to deal with the spines in the fish’s fins. Our chicks have gotten good at flipping them around to line them up.

The parents soon switched over to delivering crayfish. The chicks flip them around to swallow tail first.

Dad inbound with another crayfish. This is the pair where dad is banded, letting me tell the parents apart.

And a little fish to cleanse the pallet.

And a final crayfish before I had to head out.

baby loons, common loon, loon, loon chicks, new hampshire wildlife, vermont wildlife

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