The Loons are back

C Tucker · 04-17-2008, 07:37 PM

Tonight I saw and heard my first loons this year. What better sign that spring has finally come to Winnipesaukee. Ice-out can't be far away now.

arthurc · 04-17-2008, 07:44 PM

I saw one yesterday at the bridge on Long Island

Resident 2B · 04-17-2008, 08:07 PM

I heard one about an hour ago in the distance. I assume it was somewhere in the channel. Not completely sure though.

Wow, that was great!

Time for the ice to say good-bye until next Christmas/New Year's.

R2B

Pepper · 04-17-2008, 09:22 PM

Loons! woo hoo!!!! It sure can't be long now.

Thanks for sharing the great news!

NHKathy · 04-18-2008, 09:43 AM

Loons are back!
Time to take out the On Golden Pond DVD !

paddler · 04-18-2008, 10:09 AM

I caught a Loon on the Ossipee Lake Cam earlier this week.

Chickie · 04-18-2008, 10:34 AM

Welcome back to the loons, and the spring peepers can again be heard throughout the wetlands with their cheerful nightly choruses, heralding the return of spring, as well.

HomeWood · 04-20-2008, 11:19 PM

I took my boat out two weeks ago down here in NC on a local lake and saw a pair of loons. I couldn't believe it. I've never seen loons here before. I was so siked to see them. I slowed down and was able to get pretty close to them before they dove down. For a second I thought I was on Winni. I wish I had my camera. Do loons come this far south usually?

19MileBaylover · 04-21-2008, 08:10 AM

Arrived saturday at 19 mile bay; wind blowing east had pushed the very broken ice sheet almost to Farm Island and three loons settled into the open water -- singing away. What a treat.

rrr · 04-21-2008, 08:18 AM

Saw one in Wintor Harbor yesterday!

KBoater · 04-21-2008, 12:34 PM

Loons come all the way to FL but I think they are not from NH. Maybe NC.

I thought the NH loons go to open water along the coast and to NJ. Anyone know.

Resident 2B · 04-21-2008, 01:18 PM

Although I am not an expert on loons, I am very interested in them and have done a lot of reading about their habits.

As I understand it, the New England loons, for the most part, winter in the ocean mainly from about Portsmith, NH down to the coast of New Jersey as a southern limit. Most winter from the Ipswich River, MA to Block Island, RI.

The loons from the great lakes have a much longer migration. They tend to winter in the Gulf of Mexico or near the southeast US coast. There are some very interesting articles about how they seem to read the winds and get from their winter to their summer homes in a very short period of time.

With those migration patterns, I would guess that loons might rest in NC on their way to the great lakes. I do not think they would hang around that long.

Again, I am no expert in this, but I have done a lot of research on this great bird. I also observe them during the winter in the Ipswich River area. They are gray during winter and are not as good looking as they are in the summer.

R2B

KBoater · 04-22-2008, 02:35 PM

Res2b,
I seem to have heard the same thing as you. They go to open water. I have seem the Gulf loons many winters including this one. They are not very pretty but definite loons. I will check with my Midwest friend who is a bird watcher and see what she says.

TimmyG · 04-22-2008, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HomeWood

I took my boat out two weeks ago down here in NC on a local lake and saw a pair of loons. I couldn't believe it. I've never seen loons here before. I was so siked to see them. I slowed down and was able to get pretty close to them before they dove down. For a second I thought I was on Winni. I wish I had my camera. Do loons come this far south usually?

I used to boat on Jordan lake a few summers ago. Hows the water level down there after your recent drought?

TG

HomeWood · 04-22-2008, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimmyG

I used to boat on Jordan lake a few summers ago. Hows the water level down there after your recent drought?

TG

I've been to Jordan a few times. Good fishing there. It has landlocked Stripers. The lakes are all full now. Thank goodness!!! Jordan is actually above full.

CanisLupusArctos · 04-22-2008, 09:13 PM

Early this evening I heard two of them from Black Cat. They were at a good distance to the east, perhaps in Moultonborough Bay. These are the first loons I've heard this season - good to have them back.

I've been amazed at how quickly the songs of all of nature came back this year. Within the last seven days alone we've gone from "a few peepers" to a full chorus of peepers and grunting frogs. There have been Canada Geese swimming around in the ice floes and honking at each other. The ducks are out there every night quacking nonstop and chasing each other around. The mergansers have become lost in the shuffle but still hanging out. Seagulls have taken up residence on the icebergs and what's still exposed on the reef. This afternoon I saw "Baldy" (Bald eagle) fly over the shoals and scatter the seagulls. That seems to be his favorite game. He throws them into a tizzy so often for no apparent reason, I think he enjoys watching them scatter and scream in a cloud full of their own feathers.

The lake may be full of gray icebergs but it is already filled up with more species than I ever usually see in a 1-day period during the summer. Their songs are incredible.

Pepper · 04-23-2008, 12:03 AM

CLA - not only do you provide us with the greatest weather information, in a format we can all digest, you also provide the most descriptive accounts of nature's wonder. I felt as though I was sitting on the banks of Black Cat Island as I read your post above.

Truly, you are a wonderful contributor to this forum. Thank you!

04-17-2008, 07:37 PM	#1
C Tucker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Black Cat Island and Epsom, NH Posts: 64 Thanks: 14 Thanked 17 Times in 15 Posts	The Loons are back Tonight I saw and heard my first loons this year. What better sign that spring has finally come to Winnipesaukee. Ice-out can't be far away now.

04-17-2008, 07:44 PM	#2
arthurc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 82 Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	The Loons are back I saw one yesterday at the bridge on Long Island

04-17-2008, 08:07 PM	#3
Resident 2B Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Shore, MA Posts: 1,352 Thanks: 987 Thanked 310 Times in 161 Posts	Heard a Loon Tonight I heard one about an hour ago in the distance. I assume it was somewhere in the channel. Not completely sure though. Wow, that was great! Time for the ice to say good-bye until next Christmas/New Year's. R2B

04-17-2008, 09:22 PM	#4
Pepper Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Laconia, NH Posts: 1,284 Thanks: 409 Thanked 155 Times in 40 Posts	Loons! woo hoo!!!! It sure can't be long now. Thanks for sharing the great news! __________________ Never waste time lamenting what was. Simply celebrate what is!

04-18-2008, 09:43 AM	#5
NHKathy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moultonborough when I can / RI Posts: 699 Thanks: 180 Thanked 38 Times in 22 Posts	Spring is Here! Loons are back! Time to take out the On Golden Pond DVD ! Last edited by NHKathy; 04-18-2008 at 11:33 AM.

04-18-2008, 10:09 AM	#6
paddler Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 24 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 3 Posts	I caught a Loon on the Ossipee Lake Cam earlier this week.

04-18-2008, 10:34 AM	#7
Chickie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 367 Thanks: 0 Thanked 67 Times in 38 Posts	Signs of Spring Welcome back to the loons, and the spring peepers can again be heard throughout the wetlands with their cheerful nightly choruses, heralding the return of spring, as well.

04-20-2008, 11:19 PM	#8
HomeWood Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Clayton,NC / Sanbornton,NH Posts: 610 Thanks: 125 Thanked 136 Times in 74 Posts	I took my boat out two weeks ago down here in NC on a local lake and saw a pair of loons. I couldn't believe it. I've never seen loons here before. I was so siked to see them. I slowed down and was able to get pretty close to them before they dove down. For a second I thought I was on Winni. I wish I had my camera. Do loons come this far south usually?

04-21-2008, 08:10 AM	#9
19MileBaylover Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 39 Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 2 Posts	Arrived saturday at 19 mile bay; wind blowing east had pushed the very broken ice sheet almost to Farm Island and three loons settled into the open water -- singing away. What a treat.

04-21-2008, 08:18 AM	#10
rrr Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Winter Harbor Posts: 214 Thanks: 75 Thanked 37 Times in 14 Posts	Winter Harbor Saw one in Wintor Harbor yesterday!

04-21-2008, 12:34 PM	#11
KBoater Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 521 Thanks: 10 Thanked 29 Times in 15 Posts	Far South Loons come all the way to FL but I think they are not from NH. Maybe NC. I thought the NH loons go to open water along the coast and to NJ. Anyone know. __________________ Home Permanently in NH

04-21-2008, 01:18 PM	#12
Resident 2B Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Shore, MA Posts: 1,352 Thanks: 987 Thanked 310 Times in 161 Posts	Although I am not an expert on loons, I am very interested in them and have done a lot of reading about their habits. As I understand it, the New England loons, for the most part, winter in the ocean mainly from about Portsmith, NH down to the coast of New Jersey as a southern limit. Most winter from the Ipswich River, MA to Block Island, RI. The loons from the great lakes have a much longer migration. They tend to winter in the Gulf of Mexico or near the southeast US coast. There are some very interesting articles about how they seem to read the winds and get from their winter to their summer homes in a very short period of time. With those migration patterns, I would guess that loons might rest in NC on their way to the great lakes. I do not think they would hang around that long. Again, I am no expert in this, but I have done a lot of research on this great bird. I also observe them during the winter in the Ipswich River area. They are gray during winter and are not as good looking as they are in the summer. R2B

04-22-2008, 02:35 PM	#13
KBoater Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Wolfeboro Posts: 521 Thanks: 10 Thanked 29 Times in 15 Posts	Loons winter Res2b, I seem to have heard the same thing as you. They go to open water. I have seem the Gulf loons many winters including this one. They are not very pretty but definite loons. I will check with my Midwest friend who is a bird watcher and see what she says. __________________ Home Permanently in NH

04-22-2008, 09:13 PM	#16
CanisLupusArctos Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Center Harbor Posts: 1,049 Thanks: 15 Thanked 472 Times in 107 Posts	Loons back at Black Cat Early this evening I heard two of them from Black Cat. They were at a good distance to the east, perhaps in Moultonborough Bay. These are the first loons I've heard this season - good to have them back. I've been amazed at how quickly the songs of all of nature came back this year. Within the last seven days alone we've gone from "a few peepers" to a full chorus of peepers and grunting frogs. There have been Canada Geese swimming around in the ice floes and honking at each other. The ducks are out there every night quacking nonstop and chasing each other around. The mergansers have become lost in the shuffle but still hanging out. Seagulls have taken up residence on the icebergs and what's still exposed on the reef. This afternoon I saw "Baldy" (Bald eagle) fly over the shoals and scatter the seagulls. That seems to be his favorite game. He throws them into a tizzy so often for no apparent reason, I think he enjoys watching them scatter and scream in a cloud full of their own feathers. The lake may be full of gray icebergs but it is already filled up with more species than I ever usually see in a 1-day period during the summer. Their songs are incredible.

04-23-2008, 12:03 AM	#17
Pepper Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Laconia, NH Posts: 1,284 Thanks: 409 Thanked 155 Times in 40 Posts	CLA - not only do you provide us with the greatest weather information, in a format we can all digest, you also provide the most descriptive accounts of nature's wonder. I felt as though I was sitting on the banks of Black Cat Island as I read your post above. Truly, you are a wonderful contributor to this forum. Thank you! __________________ Never waste time lamenting what was. Simply celebrate what is!