Common Loon
Snacking
April 6, 2008
 



According to my Peterson's field guide, common loons enjoy seafood: "small fish, crustaceans, other aquatic life."

To eat, the loon dives. I've noticed two different methods of diving. The first, shown below, the loon sticks its head (which is on the left) under water.

 
Common loon diving
 

And then the rest of the body follows. The other method (not shown) is for a loon to lay its head and neck flat on the water and then submerge. For either method the common loon spends a minute or so under water.

With luck the common loon returns with a catch (and I admit: the photos are out of sequence; the dive above wasn't successful).

It looks like a fish.

 
Common loon with snack
 

Whatever the loon caught, the loon appears satisfied as it swallows its meal.
 
Common loon swallowing
 

Dinner looks like a loon smile.

Photo note: I used a Pentax *ist D, with the SMC 1000mm reflex lens, on March 30, 2008, for these photos.




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