Yesterday morning I didn’t go out looking for Common Loons. But I found two and they were fighting, calling, preening and getting up close and personal with me. I saw the first loon and as I photographed it I realized it had a fishing lure stuck in its bill. I took photos of it and then moved my eye away from my viewfinder. My jaw dropped, then I danced around a bit because I spotted a second loon moving closer to the first one that I found.
Two adult Commons Loons during spring migration
I messaged Shane, who had shared a loon sighting with me last week, and told him that I found two new loons. Then I called April, in between photographing the fighting loons, and told her about the lure and loons. While I waited for April to join me, I took photo after photo of the loons. Sometimes I would only see one, sometimes one on both ends of the pond, and sometimes both of them together.
I know that neither of these loons were the loon I photographed last week because both of these loons were in full breeding plumage. The one last week hadn’t completed that transition. Male and female Common Loons look alike, so I would not call either of these a she or a he. I would call them striking, beautiful, handsome, gorgeous black and white waterbirds with enormous appeal.
The action was crazy fast and I was mesmerized. Until yesterday I had never hear a loon call outside of their breeding grounds. Listening to them was… well you could have knocked me over with a feather because I was over the moon over the loons. I was dancing next to my tripod so much it was hard to focus at times.
I have only gone through about half my photos. These images were selected because of the action, poses, postures, and by how they appealed to me. Please click the first image in the gallery below to view them larger and you can scroll through them from there.
Before I left to head home I called Ron and told him where to find the loons. He pulled into the parking lot just as I was ready to leave.
Portrait of a Common Loon in breeding plumage
I enjoyed every minute I had with the loons. Two loons were harder to keep up with than a single loon. I made the best of the opportunity I had. If I have learned anything in all the years I have been photographing birds that is to take as many photos of uncommon or rare birds as I can because they might be one day wonders. Here today and gone tomorrow.
My theory about why so many Common Loons are being found in the valleys is that many of the higher elevation ponds and lakes are still frozen over and covered with snow. So if you are searching for these loons in northern Utah, find a pond or a lake close to home and go look for them now!
I would have been happy with just the simple portrait of the Common Loon photo above. I’m overjoyed with all of the images I took. Yeah, I am crazy about loons.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Common Loon photos plus facts and information about this species.
*All of the photos were taken using my Nikon D500 with a Nikkor 500mm VR lens and a 1.4x teleconverter attached. All were taken using my tripod as well. My ISO was 500 and 640, the aperture, exposure compensation and shutter speed varied.
Wow!!!
Oh what a wonderful morning, oh what a wonderful day…
With the exception of the fishing lure. How I hate that our discards catch so many birds and animals. Grrr.
just amazing, I had no idea we had common loons here.
I love the mental image of you dancing next to your tripod 😁. Can feel your excitement!! Great images 😉
What a story! What pictures! Thanks so much!
Any word on the loon with the hook and lure?
Nina, I checked the pond this morning and the loon with the fishing lure was gone.
Wow!!!!!