The Loons are back

[C Tucker]

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.:coolsm:

[arthurc]

I saw one yesterday at the bridge on Long Island

[Resident 2B]

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]

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

Thanks for sharing the great news!

[NHKathy]

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

[paddler]

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

http://www.slednh.com/forums/uploads/monthly_04_2008/post-2-1208386342_thumb.jpg

[Chickie]

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]

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]

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]

Saw one in Wintor Harbor yesterday!

[KBoater]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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! :)