p.4 #3 · Common Loon with Chicks in Minnesota on June 13, 2018
In addition to many awesome photos is the back story. I love reading how things came together especially since this has taken 5 years to accomplish. Fabulous photos which are quite deserving of thread of the week and then some.
Eric
p.4 #17 · Common Loon with Chicks in Minnesota on June 13, 2018
mikedec wrote:
Common Loon with Chicks in Minnesota on June 13, 2018
Canon 7d II w/ Canon 500mm II & Canon 1.4x III
Sometimes things come together. I’ve spent the last 5 years hoping to capture a shot like this.
I’ve seen more than my share of cloudy days, high winds, reckless boaters, sudden rain squalls, and uncooperative subjects.
One day in June, everything came together at once. These loon chicks were born the day before and it was their first time off the nest. I had noticed the nest a couple weeks before and kept my distance. In past years, the loon pair on this lake would normally fledge chicks around Memorial Day.
The late season meant that they were a couple weeks behind. I kept an eye on the weather forecast and found what looked like the one clear morning in all of June. Would June 13th be lucky?
I kayaked out on the lake just before sunrise, around 5:15am. I made way across the lake, at first not seeing anything in the pre-dawn light. The rudder got stuck on the kayak, so I made my way by going around in a circle a few times before getting it straightened out and moving forward.
Then in the distance, I saw something that looked black and white. Was it a loon or one of the many geese on the lake? I heard the call and knew immediately they were loons.
As I got closer, there was no mistaking it. A loon pair with chicks. I stopped the kayak and with the large telephoto lens started taking photos. It is not easy lying down on the kayak and balancing the camera at water level, but I was so excited I didn’t notice.
Then something interesting happened. They started the tremolo call and it made me worry that I was too close. But, if that was the case, why were they swimming right toward me with the chicks on the back. I looked around to see if another boat was near but couldn’t see anything.
Then I saw them, a pair of Eagles off in the distance approaching. I don’t know for sure, but I think they came in by me as a deterrent to the Eagles. Maybe they thought I looked like a better choice for a meal. Their keen eyesight spotted them long before I could.
The golden light slowly turned harsh as the morning passed by. All in all, I only spent one magical hour with this family. I haven’t been able to check on them since this day, but I am hoping they are safe, so we can all come together again this summer.
Superb Common Loon images! The one with the chick's bill open is my favorite. Very interesting text too.
Yes, I see the tremolo probably came in that second image because the bill is open when they tremolo and when wailing it is closed with just a slit opening in the side.
