September molting; on Quillayute River, Washington
This ongoing journey shares my fascination with loons. I grew up listening to their calls in northern Minnesota, and am rekindling the joy of watching and listening to them. They are not an easy subject, as they prefer to keep some distance from shore, so I'm exploring new on-water methods to get a bit closer (without disturbing them).
On Willapa Bay and in the Pacific Northwest, we see them less in their familiar black-and-white pattern and collars, and more with the soft gray and white of their winter plumage. Usually they are in one and two's, or a few pairs in the bays throughout the winter. Yet, last spring I witnessed my first pre-migration "gathering" ; with new breeding plumage, over 30 loons were visible with a group of Mergansers in late April. I understand they also gather ahead of fall migration, and I look forward to seeing that.
These photos are from a variety of places; all are Common Loons, taken in the past few years. I hope soon to add images of other loon species.
This group of images covers several locations -- locally on Willapa and Baker Bays, on a trip to Homer, Alaska, and off the coast of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington.
Spring group with mergansers on Willapa Bay
Baker Bay
Morning on Willapa Bay
Kachamak Bay near Homer, Alaska
Head shaking, Quillayute River
Quillayute River
Quillayute River
This group of five images are from travels through British Columbia and Minnesota, including Silver Lake in western British Columbia, Premier and Beauvais Lakes in central and eastern British Columbia, and near my family home in Northern Minnesota.
Silver Lake, British Columbia
Northern Minnesota
Northern Minnesota
British Columbia
