A common loon (Gavia immer) sits on its nest in Labrador Lake, July 20, 2010. © BCP 2010
Having a super-long lens for my old Canon digital SLR paid off for me recently when I heard from friends who fish that there was a loon nesting on Labrador Lake — a body of water more pond than lake — near where I was visiting in the Ottawa Valley.
Tiny Labrador Lake holds no interest for jet-skiers, waterskiers, wake-boarders, or motorboaters. But it’s just the right size for the few fishermen who find it a perfect spot to catch their limit of bass and perch. And it’s just right, apparently, for a pair of common loons (Gavia immer) that don’t like to be disturbed much when they’re nesting.
On Tuesday, when I ventured to Labrador Lake, the conditions for taking a good picture were hardly ideal. My own fault. I didn’t get up early enough to catch the gentle, low-angled early morning light that results in far superior images. My desire for additional shut-eye meant the sun was already getting high in the sky by the time I got myself near enough to this loon to take its picture. The resulting shadows were very harsh and by mid-morning it was as already as hot as Hades out on the open water.
But Mr. (or Mrs?) Loon co-operated anyway, allowing me to get a couple of shots before I pushed back hurriedly, worried that I might be disturbing this magnificent creature by my presence.
© BCP 2010
1 comment