Loons
 

Saw a cluster of 10 Loons just N of Ragged last evening. They must be getting ready to leave☹️


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Very interesting. I don't know much about loons, but I thought they were very territorial, and therefore did not flock. Is this behavior only for migration?

Stopped in at the Loon Center in Moultonboro one rainy day this summer for a brief but informative visit and I can confirm that your thoughts are correct...mating loon pairs are indeed territorial but they will gather in groups for migration

And while that is true, I am still wondering why people posted so many pictures of the gathering this summer. That is very unusual. Did they think fall came early? :laugh:

Loony Toons
 

A parent and two young loons "fished" in front of our place on East Beat Island for more than an hour yesterday. Usually, they pass on by while seeking a tasty morsel or two. 🐻

They are deadly territorial during mating and nesting season, then can become best buddies later in the season and during migration. I have a picture from mid-November of a few years ago of a flock (right term?) of 19 of them floating together in a bay on Merrymeeting.

We've had anywhere from 4 to 6 in front of our place on occasion for the past month. They even cooperate while fishing and seem to circle their prey while fishing.

Never knew this but...

A group of loons has many collective nouns, including an "asylum", "cry", "loomery", "raft", and "water dance" of loons.

" boatload"?

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