My husband and I were doing some work on my brother-in-law's dock this afternoon when quite unexpectedly this loon popped up out of the water close to the dock. Fortunately, I was able to run back to the cottage for my camera and get several shots before the loon moved across the lake. I've been curious about loons since we arrived at Lake Kashagawigamog and I've been hearing their eerie calls every night. I've only seen two since I've been here so I was quite excited to be so close to this one and actually get some photos.
What a haunting call and so interesting to see the bird as it is not what I would have expected. It is like a cross between an owl and a mammal calling. I never heard of a loon. I like your capture of the angular aspects of this bird. Great shapes and patterns.
A beautiful bird with such unusual eyes, and it seems so low in the water -- I don't remember ever seeing one, I remember hearing some many years ago when staying in a cabin on a lake in Maine, and I couldn't figure out what it was. Thanks for sharing the call! Great capture!
@tunia I'm quite amazed at how once they dive into the water they can be under for quite a while and then, as you commented, you never know where they'll come up. That's why I was surprised and excited that this one stayed in the general area of the dock long enough for me to get some shots. I was disappointed when it eventually came up way across the lake after a dive. I waited a while to see if it would return but it never did. My loon photos were over for the day. :-)
@milaniet I was incredibly excited when he popped up out of the water so close, Milanie! I literally ran to the cottage for my camera so I wouldn't miss out on the photo opportunity and then had to be very careful making my way back to the dock because I'm using my brother-in-law's 600mm lens this week and I didn't want to risk dropping my camera/his lens in my rush to get back and get the loon shots. :-)
Wonderful capture. Love the detail you have caught down to the water drop on the bottom beak. They have such an eerie call. I would not have thought that was a bird if I heard it.
@radiogirl Thank you so much for commenting, Kathy! I thoroughly enjoyed viewing all your wonderful loon photos in the "loon" tag section...all the way back to 2014, that's amazing! :-)
