Juvenile Common Loon preening

[Cheryl Ertelt]

Common Loon
Gavia immer
age 10 weeks

I just got home from a weekend of photographing the loon chicks I first shot in June. They are now 10 weeks old and about the size of the adults. They attempt to fly but manage only starting runs with no take-offs. The chicks are able to feed themselves but continue to beg and take food from the parents. The chicks also swim off on their own for extended periods of time.

Canon 1DMIIN with 500f/4 and 1.4TC, ISO 400, 1/400 @f/8 on Skimmer with Wimberely head, lying prone on a pontoon boat.

[Maxis Gamez]

Hi Cheryl,

What a lovely low angle, light and vivid colors. The pose is fantastic IMHO.

Excellent work!

[Jim Neiger]

Very nice, Cheryl. I lik ethe pose and comp a lot. Sweet light and bg too.

[Fabs Forns]

Very high impact with terrific colors!

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Great pose, light, angle and composition. I would be tempted to tone down the highlights a bit. Thanks for sharing!

[Alfred Forns]

Hi Cheryl !!!

Love the pose and captured feel One tough bird to expose and you looks very good !!! Must join you guys for loons some time !!!! Big Congrats !!!!

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Wonderful image Cheryl. The lighting and pose are beautiful as well as a killer BG. Love it !!!

[Wally Nussbaumer]

Great capture, but I would tone down the whites a bit. Unfortunate the eye wasn't open more.

[Vincent Grafhorst]

Very pleasing image Cheryl. I too wish the eye were open. Further I would clone out the whitish spot on the top edge of the frame.

[Bob Malbon]

Cheryl, That is one super Loon capture - I feel that everything is perfect! Bob

[Grady Weed]

Well, you certainly got a very sweet image of the sub adult and in great light. Love the bowed head and the perfect breast exposure. Just a little CCW rotation and hang it on the wall.

[Gus Cobos]

Nicely done, Love the colors, the details and the soft light. The pose and head position says it all...congrats...:cool: