Looking for Loons

Hunting for a photo of a loon is like trying to photograph fairies-a difficult proposition because they both seem to be a figment of my imagination.  However, today I can attest to the reality of the former.  You have to be willing to rise early in the morning and walk to the shoreline with your camera and a steaming cup of coffee.  I stand, searching the mist that hugs the water at dawn until the first rays of sunlight from the rising sun clear the water to a glassy, mirror finish.  Eventually I see the birds gliding along the surface on the far shore, five of them and the lens of my camera can bring their shapes in close enough that I am certain I found them.  Their calls confirm my first impression and we watch as they zigzag across the lake toward our vantage point.  Avid fisherman with keen eyesight to see their prey under water, they feed easily in Trickey Lake reputed to be the cleanest lake in Maine.  I am overjoyed.  Though they only come half way across the lake toward Jim and me, we have seen one of our elusive Maine creatures.

Loons cruising on the far shore of the lake.

Later in the day the owner of Loon Haven tells us that a bear is in the neighborhood and he had to be chased away from our dumpster which the bear was discovered shaking!  It took a forest ranger to remove it with some kind of flashing buckshot shot he dispensed near the bear that encouraged it to move on.  They are protective of their wildlife in Maine and don’t harm then unless absolutely necessary.  It seems comical to imagine a bear shaking a huge dumpster to get a snack!

Others are on the hunt via kayak.

On the hunt for loons from our boat.

At the end of the day we are invited by Tom and his wife T.J. to explore the lake by boat in search of a closer shot of them with our cameras.  Our first boating experience in Maine is a pleasure whether or not we see the lovely birds in the warm evening as the sun begins to dip below the tree tops.  Our quest is rewarded as we see the loons at the south end of the lake.  They take to flying as we approach but one remains in the water long enough that as we approach we can see her well and capture several photographs.  Loons are protected here so we don’t venture too close letting our cameras do so instead.  She is beautiful with her white spots against her black body and we can clearly see her white “necklace” and her long, pointed, dagger-like beak.  It is believed they mate for life.  They are about the size of a goose with long bodies and a thin, short neck.  They prefer quiet lakes where they can fish for frogs, leeches, small shellfish (freshwater snails) and baby Bass fish found in this lake.  They build their nests on the edges of the shore (because the loon is strictly a water bird) usually in the open which makes the chicks vulnerable to eagles, osprey and snapping turtles.  A disaster leaves the adults crying a mournful call in search of their fallen chick.  Often the young chicks ride on the backs of their protective parents to shield them from their enemies while their parents watch above and below the surface of the water to shield them from danger.

You can clearly see her white necklace.

Sometimes only her head is in view.

She stretches her wings showing us her beautiful back.

She watches us carefully.