Showing posts with label Loons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Loons. Show all posts

Saturday, July 17, 2021

Kayaking on Audie Lake

 Finally I was able to go kayaking on my favorite lake, Audie Lake, in the Blue Hills (Wisconsin). The first trip was partly cloudy/sunny which created a more dramatic mood and the dominant colors were blue and white and green. (see first 3 photos).

For the second trip I left earlier so I could be on the lake by sunrise. The fog was gliding across the calm water of the lake and it seemed like the world was standing still. I watched a pair of loons with their baby chick from a distance as they were floating through the golden mist. One of the loons (I assume the male) swam towards me to check me out and to guard his family. Close to the loons were three otters doing their thing, catching and munching on their breakfast. It was fun to watch them and their sleek bodies were shining in the golden sunlight. I was too far away to get any good photos.

I had some issues with my camera, something was different but I wasn't able to figure it out. I kept taking photos and was hoping for the best. When I downloaded the photos on my computer I noticed that the files were very low resolution. I had taken all the photos in video mode (!!) - who knew that you could take still photos in video setting! It was a beautiful morning but the photographer in me was not happy !!!

So a few days later I went out again and I am so glad I did. This time I made sure all the camera settings were correct. And I experienced another magical golden morning with fog lingering on the lake. 

I met the loon family and the otters at exactly the same location again! Maybe they are creatures of habit and they have their morning routines - just like us humans!

Sometimes I am left speechless when out in nature and words fail to describe the beauty I see and experience. Here is a quote from Rumi:

Silence is the language of God

all else is poor translation.

The inspiration you seek is already within you.

Be silent and listen.    (Rumi)


Enjoy my little kayaking adventures and thanks for viewing.

Susanne

Click on the photos for a larger view.






The only photo from my 2nd trip

This view left me speechless - on my 3rd trip

The lake looks like it's on fire



one of the otters when he/she discovered me

a pair of loons

The loon family in the golden morning fog


The guardian - the other loon and baby chick are barely visible in the distance


One of the floating bogs - perfect reflections with the sun

 
One of the floating bogs - perfect reflections

One of the floating bogs - perfect reflections


One of the floating bogs - perfect reflections












Thursday, July 9, 2020

Loon watching at Audie Lake

My first kayak trip to Audie Lake (in the Blue Hills, northern Wisconsin) this summer was magical. I know I have used this word several times in some of my previous blogs but it has been a very special year for me in spite of all what's going on in the world right now. 
It was a very quiet and calm evening and the lake was like a mirror or glass. For the first time I brought my good camera and long lens with me in the hopes of seeing some loons. 

I started out exploring the south west part of the lake and saw two immature Green-backed Herons in a tree which didn't seem to mind my presence. But no loons. As I was heading back towards the campground I saw one loon and got very excited. I watched him or her for quite some time and took several photos but I was too far away (or my lens wasn't long enough!?!? The longest zoom lens I own is 70-200mm, not long enough to get good wildlife photos.) Then the loon disappeared and I was paddling towards another area of the lake and all of a sudden I saw the loon again and a second one was swimming towards him/her. 
They came closer and closer towards me and I just watched. It was the sweetest thing to see how the two met up, greeted each other and spent time together. I assumed it was a pair (unfortunately no chicks in sight). Male and female loons have identical plumage, which makes them nearly impossible to tell apart by sight alone. 
I included the whole series of photos I took of the two as it tells a story. The loons were in the shade so the red eyes don't show but the background was in sunlight and very colorful.  

I found a very good website about loons with sound recordings of their different calls. Check it out: https://loon.org/about-the-common-loon/
Now of course I am dreaming about getting a longer lens, though I am not really a wildlife photographer. 

As always, thanks for viewing and Enjoy! Susanne

Click on the photos for a larger view. Interested in purchasing a print? go to my website: www.soulcenteredphotography.net
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Cell phone photo - perfect reflections

Audie Lake like a mirror 

Immature Green-backed Heron in tree

Beaver house in a floating bog

First loon sighting

The two loons meet

I cropped this image as I was so touched by the way these two looked at each other



Getting closer together

So sweet!!


Magical evening light 1

Magical evening light 2

Magical evening light 3