Loons with chick
Jul 26, 2017 20:21:43 #
Just before the rain started I looked out on the lake and two loons were out there with a lone chick. I was thrilled. It has been well over a decade since I have seen a loon family with a chick here. I used to see them all the time with two or three chicks in tow but they have been in decline here for years. I love the loons and seeing this today was a real treat. It was dull and overcast so I was fighting noise due to cranked up ISO and EV to try to get some detail in the adults head. So some of the shots may be a little soft due to NR. The lake was calm and no boats because of the coming rain. They were nice enough to stay around long enough for me to slap on the Sigma 150-600. Regardless of the noise, I had to take the shots.
One adult stayed by the chick on guard while the other fished. I only saw one fish brought to the chick and he was not that interested in eating, either he was full or the fish was a little big for him.
One adult stayed by the chick on guard while the other fished. I only saw one fish brought to the chick and he was not that interested in eating, either he was full or the fish was a little big for him.
Jul 26, 2017 20:39:13 #
There might be a more beautiful sound just before dawn than the call of a loon, but I've never heard one.
Despite the adverse conditions, I like your shots.
Despite the adverse conditions, I like your shots.
Jul 26, 2017 21:40:59 #
A loon's yodel is one of the loneliest calls I have ever heard. I think it beats a wolf's or a coyote's howl.
Good shots. In wild life shots if you are going to fiddle with this button or that wheel you probably are going to miss the shot. So you take what you can get and fix it up. You're shots are a little noisy but that is easy to fix. Loons and horses can't go wrong with them
Good shots. In wild life shots if you are going to fiddle with this button or that wheel you probably are going to miss the shot. So you take what you can get and fix it up. You're shots are a little noisy but that is easy to fix. Loons and horses can't go wrong with them
Jul 26, 2017 22:12:49 #
BassmanBruce wrote:
There might be a more beautiful sound just before dawn than the call of a loon, but I've never heard one.
Despite the adverse conditions, I like your shots.
Despite the adverse conditions, I like your shots.
Thanks, it is a beautiful lonely sound and when they start calling to each other from different parts of the lake in the still of the night it is a real joy
Jul 26, 2017 22:17:45 #
tramsey wrote:
A loon's yodel is one of the loneliest calls I have ever heard. I think it beats a wolf's or a coyote's howl.
Good shots. In wild life shots if you are going to fiddle with this button or that wheel you probably are going to miss the shot. So you take what you can get and fix it up. You're shots are a little noisy but that is easy to fix. Loons and horses can't go wrong with them
Good shots. In wild life shots if you are going to fiddle with this button or that wheel you probably are going to miss the shot. So you take what you can get and fix it up. You're shots are a little noisy but that is easy to fix. Loons and horses can't go wrong with them
I love the call of a loon in the still of the night. I removed as much noise as I thought appropriate before the images got too soft. I agree we take what we can get in situations like this. I was shooting at 1/1000 or over. The adult went up for some wing flaps a few times so I was glad I did not try to lower the speed and aperture to try a lower ISO. I just cranked the EV up a bit and shot away. I am glad I did
Jul 27, 2017 07:05:47 #
Really nice. Used to hear the local loons a lot when I lived on the bay in Maine.
Power boats have been disastrous to the loon population - they cannot walk any distance due to their rear-oriented legs, so they built their nests right at the water's edge. A wake from a passing boat quickly drowns any chicks in the nest.
Power boats have been disastrous to the loon population - they cannot walk any distance due to their rear-oriented legs, so they built their nests right at the water's edge. A wake from a passing boat quickly drowns any chicks in the nest.
Jul 27, 2017 09:10:42 #
Woodsman wrote:
Just before the rain started I looked out on the l... (show quote)
Nice Loon series Woodsman
Jul 27, 2017 10:30:28 #
Woodsman wrote:
Just before the rain started I looked out on the l... (show quote)
I like the last two.
Jul 27, 2017 11:25:53 #
sb wrote:
Really nice. Used to hear the local loons a lot when I lived on the bay in Maine.
Power boats have been disastrous to the loon population - they cannot walk any distance due to their rear-oriented legs, so they built their nests right at the water's edge. A wake from a passing boat quickly drowns any chicks in the nest.
Power boats have been disastrous to the loon population - they cannot walk any distance due to their rear-oriented legs, so they built their nests right at the water's edge. A wake from a passing boat quickly drowns any chicks in the nest.
Same here and this year with all the rain the lake levels have been way above the normal levels, add the boat wash to the high water and the poor loons are hit with a double whammy
Jul 27, 2017 11:26:20 #
Carolina Wings wrote:
Nice Loon series Woodsman
Thank you
Jul 27, 2017 11:27:05 #
photophile wrote:
I like the last two.
Glad you liked them
Jul 27, 2017 23:06:16 #
What a treat for you, Woodsman...and for me, to see these photos! The baby's sooo cute! Maybe you'll see more! Hope so!
Jul 28, 2017 17:24:25 #
sailorsmom wrote:
What a treat for you, Woodsman...and for me, to see these photos! The baby's sooo cute! Maybe you'll see more! Hope so!
Yes it was a treat, I was on cloud nine. I have not seen them again but today I was talking to a neighbor who took their kayak behind a large island across the lake and they saw a loon with two young. So good to hear
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