The Loons of Winter – Day 96

I am going to miss our Common Loons when they leave us soon.


These loons in our harbors, became my friends during hunting season.

Like this one I often visit with at Wychmere Harbor, whose plumage is really starting to change as the time for making new loon families draws near.


Like great, wide, slow-moving barges, these birds paddle, submerge and…

Yes, I have even caught them napping, every now and again.


If I do not see you again before you leave, Dear Loon, be well, be safe.

‘Til we meet again. ❤

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Goodnight, Dear Loon – Day 90

Anyone who knows me, knows I’m over the moon for LOONS.


Our Common Loons are having a tough time right now with a high incidence of lead poisoning; some from gun shot during the hunting season but even more from ingested lead fishing tackle.

The other night I turned in at Snow Inn Road, hoping I might see a loon fishing along the Wychmere Harbor shoreline.

And sure enough, there he was!


Upon closer look, I noticed that his eyes were closed.


He looked so sleepy; I suspect, tuckered out from a full afternoon of diving for shellfish.

It was comical to watch him because, try as he might to keep those little red eyes of his open…


The lids just kept on a-closing, closing as he slowly, slowly swam along at the water’s edge.


It was, in a word, mesmerizing.

At times, I felt like he knew I was there as I kept hopping back and forth in my car; driving a short ways up Snow Inn, then hopping out again to photograph him.

A Loon Paparazzi, for sure, that’s me!   😉

And yet, he didn’t seem to mind.

No, not one little bit.


Paddling, paddling, paddling he went, past empty summer houses, as I followed along up the road, behind.

He swam past my favorite old black King Post…


And all the while I could see those eyes, drooping, drooping as he swam in and out of the waning sunlight.


At last I decided to head on home and leave him in peace for his evening nap.


But not without getting one more look at what I would have to say was the dearest image I have ever seen of a loon, in my life.


Goodnight dear Loon, sleep well…

And please, please, please, be well.  ❤

The Return of the Laughing Gulls – Day 86

I saw my very first Laughing Gull of the season yesterday at Wychmere Harbor.


We hung out together for a while; me in my car, him on a piling, waiting and hoping to see an Osprey return to one of the harbor nests.


I LOVE the black masks of these gulls, the red bills, and those white markings above and below the eye that make them look even more expressive than they already do.


And like I said, we were waiting for a glimpse of our first Osprey of the season.

We waited…

And we waited.

Until…

Someone got tired. 😉


Then again, being a new arrival himself, he deserves some rest!  😉

Longing for Ospreys – Day 75

For some reason this year I am pining for the return of the ospreys, more than ever before.

I cannot WAIT to hear their cries fill our salty skies once again, watch them as they raise their families against all odds.

It won’t be long now, and THIS little guy…


Will be getting an eviction notice on his winter rental…


From the summer osprey occupants, upon their return back to the Wychmere South nest!  😉