Going loonie during social hour - common loon rowing
Common loon adults will often gather in the middle of the lake at various times of the day to socialize. Usually the most territorial of birds, they somehow suspend their attitude long enough to get together, in groups ranging from 3 to as large as 8 or nine (in my experience) The interaction involves lots of swimming in circles, head dipping, and other ritualistic behaviour. Towards the end of the party, sometimes one or more will dive suddenly and then pop up and start rowing with their wings around the lake at a remarkable clip. This may go on for several minutes and cover considerable distances. Eventually the party breaks up, and the non resident loons leave the lake. This activity is great fun to witness, and can be a real challenge photographically because the birds can shoot off in any direction. It is also hard to predict which bird will do this behaviour, so as luck will have it you are often focused on the wrong one, and the action happens so fast that to switch to the correct bird isn't easy.
D4 600VR f/5.6 ISO 640 1/2000s, shot from my boat.
Post: CS5 selective sharpening, significant crop from bottom and right with minor BG cleanup. I did tone down the large reflection in the eye.
I left the background bird in to help tell the story of the social gathering/group situation
You have captured very interesting behavior here. Thanks for sharing the information. Like sharpness, light, open beak, pose and low angle. I also liked the inclusion of OOF bird.
Excellent shot. I really like fhe pose, and the oof bird works for me. Excellent low angle and great background.
Thanks for the info as well.
Well done.
Hi Randy, your introduction shows off the behavioural action nicely, and I do like the pano crop. The Loon is nice and sharp, hint of the visible tongue adds, as does the rear splash. I like the colour of the water, and two tone BG. Well captured.
A different crop that works well I think, loving the low angle too and tack sharp especially the water droplets......myself I find the oof bird a bit of a shame, but the rest is brilliant
Excellent image Randy! I like the pano crop, action, open beak, BG and IQ. OOF loon is part of the story so I don't mind it being there. Thanks for the information on loon behavior.
Great capture of this behaviour. Like a lot about this image and technically it is great. For me the inclusion of the second bird detracts from the image because it is so out of focus. I feel it would be hard to remove though, do to the splashes.
I knew that the second bird would cause mixed reactions. If it wasn't for the story telling aspect, I would have removed it, but this behaviour only happens in a group situation, so thought it worth including.
Hi Randy,
This is a new one for me- a loon doing the crawl!
I like the action and the story very much so thanks for the info.
I sit in the camp of cloning OOF loon out but still like it as presented and fully understand why you included the OOF loon.
I guess if this was a picture for the wall I would leave the OOF loon out of image but if it was for a nature magazine I would leave it in.
Love the tongue and the rear spalsh,
Gail
I think the wide format framing is well suited to this scene or perhaps the scene is more suited to the frame.
With the story included I'm happy to see the distant Loon. Actually I would have like another.
Hey Randy, the pano crop works quite well, and the OOF bird is OK by me, but I can understand the mixed reviews about it. Perhaps if the very bright belly was toned down a bit? Good stuff anyhow, love the behaviour...I've seen it a few times from a far at my folks' cottage (too bad they are not as approachable!!)
Going loonie during social hour - common loon rowing
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