Hello All,
I was happy to discover on July 3rd that the common loon chick had successfully hatched. The new family was very receptive to me spending time with them, often swimming and feeding less than twenty feet from the boat.
It has been a goal of mine to capture on film a chick hitching a ride atop its mother’s back. I had many opportunities on this day and I am very pleased with the way the images turned out.
It will be fun to follow this family over the next few months, to watch the chick age, change colour, and become an adult itself. I hope to share those adventures with you all.
In all of these images the chick is 5/6 days old.
I was also able to shoot this short video while out on the water, showcasing the interactions between mother and chick.
Some of these images are available for purchase as photographic prints. Please click on tab at the top of the page for more information.
Yours in the Outdoors,
Justin
(click on images to view in full size)
Beautiful shots Justin. Thank you.
We love the Loons, but unfortunately on our stretch of the Rideau, 4 km upstream of Merrickville, the Snapping Turtles are decimating the Loon population. Here’s a shot of a large one I found on my cottage driveway one morning a few days ago. It’s shell was about 28″ in length, 26″ width, the head the size of a pointed softball. There are dozens of large Snapping Turtles in our area. They feed on baby Loons as you probably know.
Thank you for the beautiful photos. Regards Bernie Scobie
Absolutely wonderful. What a great view perched up on mama. I sure hope to see that live some day.
These are such wonderful shots Justin! Mama looks very alert and I hope she can keep that little one safe. I loved seeing the chick paddling furiously next to her.
How fun! Love the mother’s hyper vigilance — good parenting, with all the risks to such a small chick, both from above and from below. Thanks for a glimpse into this very special time in the life of a Common Loon.
M.
Amazing…. I’m speechless!