There are times in life that are truly special for the outdoor photographer. Yesterday morning was one of those moments for me shortly after dawn. While checking out various remote lakes in the northern Minnesota wilderness, I had the opportunity to watch a common loon family for over 1.5 hours from less than 10 to 20 yards away! Over the past few days I had gained this loon family’s trust, and this morning they let me get extremely close to their family. The ultimate vote of confidence was when both parents dove in search of fish for their young … leaving me on the surface within ten yards of their two chicks! I was truly blessed. In total, I took over 500 photographs. I’m slowly working through all the pictures. These are some of my favorites of what I have reviewed.

• View this project’s Flickr photo stream. (click upon images to view at full size)

Photos #1 to #7: Common Loon Family Breakfast

1. Dad Loon #1 approaches with small fish. Chick #1 prepares to dive off Mom Loon’s back
2. Chick #1 diving off Mom Loon’s back
3. Chick #2 tries to dive off Mom Loon’s back
4. Mom Loon says “no way”! Starts to block Chick #2 with wing feathers
5. Chick #2 now restrained on Mom Loon’s Back
6. Chick #1 plays with breakfast
7. Chick #1 continuing to play with the small fish (Dad loon eventually tore up the fish into small bites and fed Chick #1)

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Start of the parent’s next fishing expedition

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Piggyback Common Loon family and chick photos

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Yodeling with the chicks aboard

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Shaking water off the wings after fishing for breakfast

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Common Loon family portrait!

The early bird gets the loon photos! (and watches the otters and eagles)! realizing that all the birds and animals did not enjoy the evening activity on the lake, I took to the lake in my kayak shortly after sunrise. By 5:45 am I photographed this loon yodeling … apparently sending out a call for the morning wolfpack fishing group to convene. Over the next 15 to 20 minutes my initial pair of loons became four, then five, then finally seven and more loons swam from their night time locations to join in the morning fish.

Morning Loon Yodeling

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Preening … Initial Pair of Common Loons

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Loons Times Four

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Loons Times Six

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Wolfpack Loon Fishing

Almost sounds like the title / movie … The Bridges of Madison County!

Apparently the loons of NorthStar don’t like the extra 4th of July traffic on the late. For three hours two loons his in the reeds near our dock, away from all the water skiers and fishermen. By kayaking down to a section of the lake w/o a single cabin, I still managed to get a few photos. I doubt the loons will like the fireworks going off tomorrow night .

Common Loons on NorthStar Lake