Judy Lewis sent this photo of our loon family. The chicks, at least in this photo, seem to be equal in size and perhaps both can survive. Great picture - thanks, Judy. Nice shot. You have a great vantage point right from your house!

Click to enlarge.

When I came back to the computer after supper, Evelyn Richer had sent me one of Ray's photos of the loon family, and this account of how they're doing:

Sorry to take so long to send this out to you… Ray took so very many shots, I have been sorting through them ever since… anywho… it was a good year for shooting… Just when you think you have every possible photo of a new family of loons… some new opportunity arises… this year it was the cooperation of the male loon giving Ray a clear view of the second chick hatching! We are thrilled with the photos and they will be incorporated into his loon show… This year a new version will be produced… it’s been about 4 years since the show was last updated. That time we couldn’t believe that the female loon gave Ray clear view of the actual laying of the egg…

These two chicks are apparently doing very well… they have been very well behaved whenever we have seen them… ever since the first day after their initial squabble things seem to be A-OK… let’s hope they stay that way… by the way the male loon this year is a terrific father!! He is super at feeding each chick… he seems to be careful that they both get to eat… but of course the size of the fish he is feeding them makes you wonder! The little guys were eating fish over 3” long their second day!! (And not just one… two!! One right after the other!!) But mostly, they were getting large doses of vegetation… They have a lot of growing to do in a short time… so these guys are doing well so far to meet that goal…

We saw a few disturbing boating behaviors since the chicks have been out on the pond… but thankfully the loons have been retreating to the cove after each event… they are so very vulnerable out there (on the main pond)… please … everyone watch for them… thanks… Thank you to the many boaters that are obviously keeping a watchful eye!! GOOD JOB!!

Blessings, Evelyn

The folks who live on the cove off Sandy Beach may have an advantage over the rest of us for loon watching, and I can appreciate that other people on the pond want to see the loons up close and in their natural state; but please don't go too close. Take binoculars and use the zoom on your cameras so you can stay far enough away from the loons so you don't harass them and worry the parents. Actually you can see them much better by going to visit Ray and Evelyn at the Gallery on Loon Cove and watch the video Evelyn has put together of Ray's photos. From his blind, Ray can take wonderful photos most of us would probably not get, no matter how close we were, and the loons aren't even aware he's there - or if they are, they are used to any small movement at the blind and don't panic. So go ask Evelyn to show you the photos like the one above that are on display and on the video.

We spent some time this afternoon at camp with the family, and watched ducks coming in for landings on the water and heard the frogs singing wildly, intermingled with an occasional pontoon boat passing and a couple of PWC's (personal water crafts), all of which we miss at our house here on the hill. We see the ducks and geese flying at eye level as they scope out the water, and hear the frogs at a distance mingling with the buzz of motorcraft, but it's remote from us, so it was fun to be more up close and personal.

Being lake side didn't allow us to escape the pesky black flies, though. I heard someone recently say black fly season runs from Mother's Day to Father's Day. I think the season stretches to about July 4th, or sometimes beyond here in Vermont, so it's best to take your favorite bug spray with you wherever you go. I've tried about everything from Avon's Skin So Soft to Old Woodsman, and it turns out it's a toss up which is worse, the bugs or the headaches that smelly stuff gives me.

Today Theresa asked me to pick up some Citronella spray for use at camp if I could find it. I asked Garey at Hastings Store, but he didn't have it. They had something called "Crocodile Herbal Insect Repellent" - no citronella and no DEET. The label listed rosemary, thyme, peppermint and castor oil in canola oil - nothing that would seem to be particularly effective against black flies, but at least it was all natural stuff that I have in my kitchen and could both pronounce and spell. That's always a plus, in my book. The nice young man behind the counter assured me several farm workers swore by it, and that convinced me. So I bought two bottles - they're small.

Back at camp, we discovered it's a roll-on, like deodorant. Cool. We rolled a little on our arms and spread it around to test. It smells good! Minty - not too strong, with a hint of menthol - must be the rosemary, or maybe the thyme - but really nice. Best of all, we weren't bothered by black flies the rest of the afternoon. I have to say, for us it worked really well, and none of us had any skin reactions or headaches. I don't know how it would hold up to swimming or perspiration, but the roll-on feature makes is easy to use and I bet it would even be safe to use on children. At least there were no warnings on the label, another plus. The motto on the label: Bite back with crocodile!

Thinking back, though, there were some small containers of after-bite in the same box with the Crocodile repellant. I figure that's sort of a merchandising oxymoron given that the Crocodile would prevent bites from ever happening, but I guess it was there for the folks who aren't using Crocodile . . .

Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there. I hope your progeny treat you well; and those of you fortunate enough to still have your father in your life, give him a call or pay him a visit tomorrow - and make time for him on other days, as well.