Common Loon Pair 1

Image # 1D2_06927

Raymond Pond, ME (Sebago Lake region)

Canon 100-400L/f4.5-5.6 IS @ 400mm

ISO 400, f/8, 1/1600 second

Manual Exposure

Handheld

In hopes of seeing and shooting Common Loons, we rented a cabin on Raymond Pond, in the Sebago Lakes area of Maine.  We did see 3 loons, but they were quite a distance away, and even with the 600mm lens, shooting wasn't possible.  The cabin did have a couple of kayaks, so we headed out one afternoon to have a look around.  Because of the potential for the gear getting wet, I left my camera in the cabin, and planned on just exploring and enjoying the experience.  We did come across the loons we had previously seen, and I was pleasantly surprised they allowed us to get pretty darn close!  Excited at the prospect of getting some decent shots, I paddled back to shore, grabbed my camera with the 100-400 mounted, put this in a zip-lock bag, and headed back out, hoping to find them.  After a while I found a pair, and then thoroughly enjoyed the next half-hour, as they tolerated my presence, and I quickly accumulated several hundred frames.  In this one, I love how the smaller bird is just 'peeking' out from behind the other.