Common Loon

Now they may be called Common Loons, and it is not like they are rare in these parts, but I rarely see them and when I do it is usually in the middle of a large pond or lake. I know they are divers, and I am guessing that they prefer deep waters.

 

When driving through Elk Island National Park, for much of the stretches of road there are trees bordering the Road and a view of some of the ponds are obstructed by those trees. Still while moving slowly you can still see past the trees in an obstructed sort of way. I often drive slowly in these parts hoping one day to perhaps fine a moose or Elk on the other side of a pond or better yet wading through a shallow part. That has not happened yet, but maybe some day I will get lucky. On this day I got lucky in that I spotted something on the water that looked a bit different. In coming to a stop and looking through my camera between trees I saw that it was a loon. I was thrilled. I took a couple of obstructed shots in case they that is was all I was going to get. I got out of the car made my way down through the ditch and the row of trees and brush to get this shot.

 

There were two of them and if they saw me they did not seem concerned. Still at quite a distance (this is a fair sized crop) but much closer than what I am used to getting. Also reflections were quite different than the few other shots I have of Loons so all in all I was thrilled with the opportunity.

 

 

Done