Common Loon
There were on and off thunderstorms yesterday from mid-afternoon through close to midnight, with rain forecasted for this afternoon through the end of the week. I decided to take a short hike here in Stoney Creek to see if the storms had forced any warblers to spend the night here. I only saw our common avian species, including some of the resident Pine Warblers, with one exception. As I started to cross the levy at the end of Sawmill Creek pond #3 on my way to Lake Monocan, I noticed a Common Loon in the pond. I have seen Common Loons here in Stoney Creek only one time in the past 10 years, and that was in May 2013 when a dozen of them were in Lake Monocan.
Common Loon
Common Loon
I assumed that the storms had separated this Common Loon from its flock. Sawmill Creek pond #3 is about 270 feet wide and 680 feet long, and was stocked a few months ago with 500 trout by the Wintergreen sport fishing club. The Common Loon slowly swam/drifted from the levy to the far end of the pond, turned around, got a running start, and flew back to the end of the pond where I was standing, shook off water, and then repeated this pattern three times.
Common Loon
Common Loon
Common Loon
Common Loon
Common Loon
Common Loon
Common Loon
Common Loon
Common Loon
Common Loon
On its third return flight, the Common Loon gained altitude and continued flying to the east. I don't know if was leaving to search for its flock, or to report that it had found a good place for a meal!
Common Loon
Common Loon
Common Loon
Common Loon
Common Loon
Common Loon
Common Loon
Common Loon