Watching and Waiting

Our loons are still waiting for their eggs to hatch. They diligently take turns tending the eggs. This week the loons are spending more time together, one on the nest and one nearby in the cove. We will send out a short Newsletter when the first chick appears; hopefully later this week.

Getting ready to switch duties.

Taking a brief nap while on Cove guarding duty. The white patches above and below eye appear when their eyes close.

A group of 5 young loons, likely too young to have mates, have been on the lake recently. Their presence has put our loon pair on alert. Last night they were diving all around the cove looking for another loon. They found it, challenged it, and chased it out of the cove just as it was getting dark.

From 1 to 5 young loons have been on the lake and interacting with our pair.

With all the loon commotion we are seeing this posture more often. A good reminder to all of us. This is a tense loon. If you approach one with its head and body low to the water, make sure to stay away or back off.

We are checking several times a day hoping to see a chick or at least the eggs. The lakeshore woods is such a great place to spend some quiet time taking photographs while we wait. Jen has been focused on birds near the nest and Jon has been focused on wildflowers and pollinators in the surrounding woods.

This male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has been busy in the woods nearby.

We have a Tufted Titmouse nest in the cavity of a tree above our loon observation spot. We can’t see the chicks, but here is a parent bringing in a rather large moth.

This Pink Azalea always seems to have a clump of flowers in a sunbeam.

Focused on the Hawkweed flower, I did not see the Sweat Bee until looking at my photos later.