Just keep working at it. You will get it down eventually.

[Randy Stout]

• RANDY_STOUT
• Copyright 2022 Randy Stout
• NIKON Z 9 Ver.04.00

This 3 week old loon chick was given a very large fish by its parent and worked at it for at least ten minutes trying to get it down. Although it is amazing how big of fish a loon can swallow, this one was a no go from the start. After watching patiently, the adult ate the fish itself. Even it had to work at swallowing it a bit.

Northern Michigan, last week.

Z9 800 OF. f/7.1 1/1000s, hand held.

Post: LRCC and Photoshop.

I have been fortunate to get to spend some time with the loons, with two successful hatches. Shooting from a kayak instead of my usual Jon boat, as I can get into some spots with the kayak where I can't launch the boat. Pros and cons to both. Toughest issue with the kayak is take off and landing shots where I can't stand up to move as freely when they blast off or land in any direction. The other issue is it is hard to have several different rigs set up and to switch back and forth as needed.

 

[Jonathan Ashton]

Absolutely beautiful, both birds in good focus, the chick struggling with the fish really does have a job on there! The lighting and the still waters all make for a really interesting scene.

 

[Daniel Cadieux]

Oh boy, we can feel the struggle! I love the face-to-face poses. Good angle from the kayak. I'd love a touch more room at right, but no big deal and everything else is top notch.

 

[Andreas Liedmann]

What a great story ... poor little chick :bg3:.
A stunning behavior nicely captured ... all works for me here , only minor nit is the space on the RHS .

Very cool image

TFS Andreas

 

[Brian Sump]

Nice to see some Loons Randy!

Man, having both of these in plane is so nice. Nicely presented in terms of tones and colors.

That crappie.... WOW, what a mouthful.

It could work nicely to trade some room at left for a little at right IMO but def a sweet image. Might also evict that white spec at right.

Hoping for more!