First Loon Spotted

DRH · 04-15-2004, 07:44 AM

We spotted the first loon of the season in our area this morning. It flew in and landed in an area of open water on the southeast side of Treasure Island, which is near Minge Cove.

Rattlesnake Gal · 04-15-2004, 09:32 AM

Is the loon back to it's summer black color or is it in transition?

DRH · 04-15-2004, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rattlesnake Gal

Is the loon back to it's summer black color or is it in transition?

The loon we saw this morning was black and white, and had lost its gray winter feathers.

madrasahs · 04-15-2004, 07:48 PM

Near Cow Island yesterday, I saw a tight gathering of three loons in summer colors, and an apparently-mated pair of mergansers. This afternoon, a large hawk -- possibly a Broad Wing -- flew into the wind towards Mt. Shaw. Chickadees, Downies, Robins, Nuthatches, and Tufted Titmice are everywhere (as though they knew it's a good time to arrive).

Friday update: Four Wood Ducks landed in open water about 6AM, and a song sparrow "opened-up" in song shortly afterwards. A Phoebe pair checked my porch beams for a nesting site, as they have for several decades. (They will not be deterred -- I've tried -- for decades). :rolleyes:

Saturday update: At daybreak, a large flock of crows gathered on the ice off shore. They were just walking around, giving soft squawks and gawking -- as though to "size-up" one another. Is this the bird equivalent of "rafting"?

A Great Blue Heron flew overhead, heading north, about an hour before sundown. If this is the same "guy" as in previous years, he will repeat this flight every evening, all season long.

Thursday, the 22nd, a pair of Goldeneyes swam by. They could have been Buffleheads (same courting behavior -- all I could see at the distance). Several hours later, they appeared again about 2½ miles south of Cow Island. This evening a pair (one very distant, answering) of Barred Owls started up about 10PM. It was just a "one-note" owl, and I took it to be a loon "warming-up".

The woods have been strangely quiet this past week -- possibly due to the recent heavy-construction truck traffic.

04-15-2004, 07:44 AM	#1
DRH Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Meredith, NH Posts: 1,686 Thanks: 1,201 Thanked 675 Times in 178 Posts	First Loon Spotted We spotted the first loon of the season in our area this morning. It flew in and landed in an area of open water on the southeast side of Treasure Island, which is near Minge Cove.

04-15-2004, 07:48 PM	#4
madrasahs Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 381 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Three Loons! Near Cow Island yesterday, I saw a tight gathering of three loons in summer colors, and an apparently-mated pair of mergansers. This afternoon, a large hawk -- possibly a Broad Wing -- flew into the wind towards Mt. Shaw. Chickadees, Downies, Robins, Nuthatches, and Tufted Titmice are everywhere (as though they knew it's a good time to arrive). Friday update: Four Wood Ducks landed in open water about 6AM, and a song sparrow "opened-up" in song shortly afterwards. A Phoebe pair checked my porch beams for a nesting site, as they have for several decades. (They will not be deterred -- I've tried -- for decades). :rolleyes: Saturday update: At daybreak, a large flock of crows gathered on the ice off shore. They were just walking around, giving soft squawks and gawking -- as though to "size-up" one another. Is this the bird equivalent of "rafting"? A Great Blue Heron flew overhead, heading north, about an hour before sundown. If this is the same "guy" as in previous years, he will repeat this flight every evening, all season long. Thursday, the 22nd, a pair of Goldeneyes swam by. They could have been Buffleheads (same courting behavior -- all I could see at the distance). Several hours later, they appeared again about 2½ miles south of Cow Island. This evening a pair (one very distant, answering) of Barred Owls started up about 10PM. It was just a "one-note" owl, and I took it to be a loon "warming-up". The woods have been strangely quiet this past week -- possibly due to the recent heavy-construction truck traffic. Last edited by madrasahs; 04-23-2004 at 08:32 AM.

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04-15-2004, 09:32 AM	#2
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,451 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	Is the loon back to it's summer black color or is it in transition?