06/30/26

 While I was in Minnesota, I had the opportunity to see and photograph a Loon that was pretty close to me.  It was very cool to see and didn't seem very bothered by me as it stayed fairly close.  I was taking photos from my vehicle so that probably helped.  Loons have a very distinct call and it is cool to hear.  It is the state bird of Minnesota.

08/12/25

 In June I was able to see and capture a Loon again in Minnesota.  It was stretching as I was photographed it so I was able to get a bit of an action image.  Most times I only hear them but got lucky on this trip.

07/08/25

 While I was in Minnesota a few weeks ago I was able to see and capture one of my favorite birds that I only have seen up there, a Loon.  It was in a pond along a road I was taking to dinner the same evening that I saw the Wood Duck, it was a good day for bird photos.  It was actually there when we returned and was a bit closer and I was able to get this shot and others which made me quite happy.  They have a very interesting call as well.  Usually I hear them but don't see them.

6/25/22

 I was in Minnesota last weekend and I was able to get a couple of neat photo opportunities.  This is one of them.  There was a pair of Loons on one of the ponds near where we stay.  As I watched them, I realized there was a baby behind one of them.  As I watched, the baby got on mom's back to ride and I was able to get this photo.  I had seen pics of them doing this but this was the first time I was able to see and capture it.

7/6/21

 While in Minnesota I usually get to see some Loons.  I was almost dissapointed this time around because there were none at Tamarac Wildlife Refuge that I saw.  Going out for dinner one evening though, in the pond on the outskirts of the property where I was staying there was a lone Loon, the only one I saw the whole trip.  I heard them one evening, their call is very interesting.

3/9/21

 I was going through the archives recently and found this image that I took on one of my trips to Minnesota and never shared.  I was able to use some new processing techniques to it and came up with an image that I was really happy with of a pair of Loons.  These are elusive and lovely birds that I have been able to see a couple of times when I have visited Minnesota.

5/2/18

My image today is of a Loon on a lake in Minnesota that I was able to capture this past summer.  It was the closest I had ever been to one, and only the third time I had ever seen one in real life.  It swam around rather lazily and let me photograph it for a while one evening.

10/19/17

This is an image I took in Minnesota earlier this year.  It is a Loon on one of the many lakes there at sunset.  This image is a favorite of mine even though the Loon is not close.  The whole image just says peaceful or tranquil to me. 

9/5/17

This is another image I was able to get of a Loon in Minnesota this year.  I thought it looked so tranquil just floating on the pond that evening.  They are beautiful birds, I love their feather pattern.

6/28/17

Two weeks ago today I was in Minnesota and heading out to dinner in the early evening and captured this image of a Loon on one of the ponds.  I had 3 opportunities this trip to see and photograph Loons and it was quite exciting for me as even though they are the Minnesota State Bird I have not seen them very often and when I did they were quite far away and elusive.  This time they were all fairly close and quite content to have their photo taken.  I love their red eyes.

1/16/17

Well, that ice storm turned out to be a big nothing.  I didn't even get good photos out of it.  Didn't want the problems but some pics would have been good.  My photo for today is another one of the Loon family I was able to see in Tamarac Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota back in June.  The Bird Poker theme is Preening and this was one of the few I had of a bird preening and it was all of this Loon family, one or the other adults.  This is dad working on his feathers shortly after joining the rest of the family.

6/29/16

So we are a bit cooler and chances for rain so that is good.  That boiling heat was not good.  I had shared an image of the Loon family I was able to see at Tamarac Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota.  This image is from a bit earlier.  At first it was just mom and the 2 babies but then Dad came in to join them and this is a capture of that.  

6/18/16

On Thursday I was able to travel for an annual photo outing with my mom-in-law and her brother.  We visited Tamarac Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota once again and saw lots of great photo opportunities.  The highlight of the day was seeing this Loon family down on one of the lakes by the Visitor Center.  I had only seen a Loon twice before and able to get a photo once.  It was quite cool to see a whole family.  In this shot I was able to capture one of the young Loons in an adult pose.  Very cute.