Common Loon: Mainer's Obsession

Common Loon Gavia immer is called the Great Northern Diver in Europe.

I'm visiting my brother and his family in Maine, and he asked if on our boat ride today I could try for a good photo of a "loon." This photo is the best I could get, though not one I'm really excited about. If I get a better one this trip I'll post it later.

Here is one more in a funny position.

The Common Loon is a icon in Maine, as nearly every lake with clean water and reasonable habit for nesting has at least one pair nesting. Common Loons have an loud haunting song and call, which they do a lot on the nesting grounds. They yodel at night in their song, and call intermittently throughout the day. They are big, dramatic birds and most lakes in Maine have a group of people who keep track of them. One day in mid-summer throughout the state the local volunteers do a census of the loons on their lake, record breeding success, and are overall proud protectors of their loons.
I live in the Puget Sound area of Washington State, U.S.A. and we don't have breeding loons, but have good numbers of overwintering loons on our salt water. Loons look completely different in winter, losing their checkerboard back, neck ring and black head, and are fairly drab looking relatively.
Loons molt in protected salt water areas losing all of their flight feathers at the same time, and are flightless while they regrow new feathers. Fortunately they can protect themselves and feed by diving underwater. It is fun when I visit to listen to the loons calling as I go to sleep and wake up each day.
Until next time, good birding. Steem on!