RTY Photography Blog

Unfortunately, the single common loon chick from this nest did not make it. No one is sure what happened. Last year’s nest was under water this year. They decided to make a nest on the bank up the pond. It was a very flimsy nest, if any nest at all. Seems like she just laid the egg on the bank and started sitting on it, as you see in the first two photos.  Let’s hope they try again soon. Last year they had two successful chicks that fledged in the Fall. These loons share the pond with a family of Common Mergansers. The mergansers need to be aware of the loons whereabouts at all times because the adult loons will attack the mergansers. I have witnessed this a few times, the mergansers climbed on the rocks to avoid the loon’s submarine type attacks.

The loon on the right is on the egg.

Not an impressive nest.

Merganser Family

Last year, it took this pair of Loons three attempts to finally successfully hatch two chicks. It was getting close to the lake freezing, but the chicks fledged in time. This year they are on their second nest. Not sure what happened with the first. Something may have gotten to the eggs, if there were any. Well, there is at least one egg that I could see on the new nest. The adults take turns sitting on the eggs. Hopefully in 28 days, a baby or two will appear. I am following several loon nests in the Acadia area. Updates on the others in the future.

1st nest behind the rocks

2nd nest a few yards away

Just before the switch

After the switch

Dad’s turn

My third encounter with the Barred Owl family this summer. On this day I only spotted one of the adults. I’m pretty sure the other adult with the three owlets were somewhere in the area, but I didn’t see them. I hope to folow them through the Fall.

I will visit Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse many times over the next several months. Such an iconic location. Always a challenge to find an open spot between all the photographers. The best time is after everyone has left. The last two images were shot in Acadia Park off the Loop Road near Otter Cliffs.

Friend, Harry Collins, caught me in action.

Near Otter Cliffs

Harry just after sunset.

Headed back to one of my favorite places, Machias Seal Island, the breeding home for Atlantic Puffins, Razorbills, and other seabirds. My friend, Harry Collins, and I left Bar Harbor at sunrise for the two hour car ride to Cutler in northern Maine. Then we took a lobster boat for the one hour boat trip to the island. Machias Seal Island is protected, only fifteen people are allowed on the island at once. We spent the next hour in a blind. The puffins are not afraid of humans and will come right up to the blind and sometimes seem to look in the window. There is no need for a telephoto lens. It turned out to be a gorgeous day and smooth boat ride. We where happy to see the adults bringing back lots of fish for the chicks. That was not the case last year when only 15% of the chicks survived. The puffins put on quite the show.

Razorbill

Gannets

My friend and photographer, Harry Collins, came up to Mount Desert Island for a week. This gave me the incentive to get out and shoot the stars. The moon was dark and the skies were clear for several nights. The two of us spent many hours chasing the Milky Way around Acadia National Park. We had a great week including a trip to Machias Seal Island to photograph the puffins. Those photos will follow in the next post.

Sand Beach

Otter Cliffs

Jordan Pond

Boulder Beach

Thunder Hole

Sand Beach