Six Images of nesting Common loons:

The following two sets of images show a pair of Loons alternately tending the eggs in their nest. I suspect that this is the same pair of Loons that have nested in this area of The Mississippi for the past several years. The first set of six images show one of the Loons (the female, I think) sitting on the nest, then after getting off, she does various stretching execises. Tomorrow, I propose to post the male ascending the nest, turning over the eggs and taking his turn to sit on the eggs.

On page 57 of " LOONS" by Aubrey Lang and Wayne Lynch, the following paragraph describes the Loon nesting habits:

""EGG LAYING

Loons normally lay two eggs, and the eggs of all species are remarkably similar in appearance, usually large, olive-brown, with dark spots and blotches. Loons incubate their eggs for about 30 days, with the male and female taking turns sitting on the nest. Every time they relieve each other from egg sitting duty (usually every two to three hours), the arriving Loon turns the eggs.""


Image No 1, shows the first Loon (I think the female?) sitting on the nest when I first arrived. She is trying to make herself less conspicuous by bending her head low. After about a half an hour, her somewhat larger partner (male) arrived and the female left the nest. The male swam around for a bit, perhaps somewhat tentative because of my presence some distance away. The female swam around and did wing and neck execises. This allowed me to get a quick shot or two of the nest.




Image # 2: Two large olive coloured, spotted eggs can be seen in the nest.



Image # 3: Female swimming around, not far from the nest.



Image # 4: Female doing extended wing-stretch.



Image # 5: More wing stretching.



Image # 6: Stretching those stiff neck muscles after sitting still on the nest for several hours.