Two summers ago, the teenager and dh went to Minnesota and canoed and camped along the Canadian border with several other scouts for a week on a high adventure trip. When they returned and began recounting the stories and experiences, one of the things that made a significant impression on the teenager was the loons. He described their haunting calls and how that was the background chorus to their waking and sleeping each day and what an impression that made on him. He described their striking coloring, and the way they carry their babies on their backs, and even mentioned that he noticed how they seemed to swim lower in the water than other ducks. Well, when he went to those lengths to describe a waterfowl, something he has very little interest in, I knew there had to be something special about those guys. So I went to my Audubon bird app and found them and played their voices for him, and let me tell you, the look that came over the teenager's face, the wistfulness, the peace, the longing ... wow, it still brings tears to my eyes!
Needless to say, the loons became a quest for me! Anything that affects my child like that is a must-do! I found out that they migrate to our area in the winter, but they're not really recognizable in their non-breeding plumage. Didn't find any that winter, and didn't find any last winter either. THIS winter, however, I've figured them out! Now I know how they behave and how to spot them and recognize them as loons! I realize that I have indeed seen them in the past, just didn't recognize them.
So yesterday's sunrise adventures took us to Ocean City for our second stop of the morning. Walking along the inlet, I spotted that flash of white that I thought I recognized, and sure enough, it was a loon! Turns out there were quite a few of them. I got the opportunity to really watch how they move and hide and dive and relocate. Two of them eventually swam into an area where I had half a chance to actually get a decent shot of them. I propped my camera on one of the pilings and shot away. But me and my d@#$ adrenaline rushes! I had a freakin DEATH grip on that camera! ESPECIALLY after one of those babies SANG for us!!!! FINALLY!!! FINALLY!!!! I FINALLY got to hear the fullness, the 3D-ness, of their voices live!!! WHAT an experience!! (Yes, it's the little things in life!)
SO! Here are the two that swam in within a hundred feet or so, or more, who knows, I'm not good with distance. This was the clearest death-grip shot I got. If it was sunny today rather than this heavy overcast, I would head back over to Ocean City to try again. Alas, we'll have to settle for this for now. What's good about this shot to me is that 1) the eye is showing some red, and 2) I can imagine that I can see some of their spotted summer breeding plumage just beginning to show on the front one's hind quarters.
The teenager has requested a family trip to Maine this year for a week of hiking and biking for our vacation. Guess what you can find in Maine in full black and white summer breeding plumage ... LOONS!!!!!!
Hi Ashley! As your Get Pushed partner this week, I have gone through your albums and I see you are a nature buff, much like myself. Boy, do you do it well though. I immensely enjoyed your sunsets and your grandkids are the cutest!! My challenge to you this week is something different from your usual.. Take a photo of metal - it could be glossy aluminium, or cold steel, or rust, anything that you please but metallic! Hope you have fun and I can't wait to see the results.
