Upper Valley Photos

Upper Valley Photos Compelling images that tell a story with a realism that allows you to share an experience as if you were there.

Follow Ian's blog at http://blog.ianclark.com or buy prints at www.IanClark.com

This is one of a pair of loon chicks - the Eastons from my blog - that are just about 10 weeks old. I spent the morning ...
08/31/2026

This is one of a pair of loon chicks - the Eastons from my blog - that are just about 10 weeks old. I spent the morning with the family. The chicks are getting very independent, both were foraging on their own when I arrived. They eventually tracked Mom down and demanded to be fed. They're at the stage where they hound the parents to be fed. Mom would surface toss whatever she caught towards the chick and immediately dive again. The chicks were also practicing their calls. So far, they sound exactly unlike loons. I waited until the wind came up to see if they'd practice flying, but the showed no interest this morning. Common loon, Grafton County, NH August 31, 2026.

This loon chick - one of the Easton chicks from my blog - is now about nine and a half weeks old. The chicks should be t...
08/30/2026

This loon chick - one of the Easton chicks from my blog - is now about nine and a half weeks old. The chicks should be trying to fly by now, but I haven't been around to see it. They're trying to learn their calls. Both attempted wails when I visited. They still sound more like the squeal a subway car makes going around a sharp curve than a loon. But they'll get there. With their winter feathers grown in, they have to spend time preening. And they've learned to take a big stretch when they finish. Common loon, Grafton County, NH August 29, 2026.


bestnatureshots

This loon chick - one of the Easton loon family from my blog - is just over nine weeks old. His feathers have grown in a...
08/29/2026

This loon chick - one of the Easton loon family from my blog - is just over nine weeks old. His feathers have grown in and he's lost all his down. Down is waterproof, feathers aren't. Loons have to clean all their feathers regularly. They have a uropygial gland by the base of their tails that excretes a waxy waterproof substance. They spread that all over themselves to keep their feathers dry. The chick is getting some of the secretion on his head, he'll rub that on his back. Common loon, Grafton County, NH August 29, 2026.

This green heron has been regularly foraging along the eastern shore of the marsh for several days. This means there's g...
08/28/2026

This green heron has been regularly foraging along the eastern shore of the marsh for several days. This means there's great light on him as the day ends. I've been stalking him. Sometimes he hides in the brush, sometimes he's out working along the shore. Here, he's fully out in the open. He's just grabbed a large tadpole - likely either a bullfrog or green frog. It was a struggle for him to get it down but heroically, he was up to the task. Green heron Bradford, VT August 26, 2026.

08/27/2026

Court Street Arts at Alumni Hall in Haverhill NH will be hosting a show of work by Vermont North by Hand Artists featuring an opening reception on Friday August 28th 5-8 pm
The show runs Aug. 28th to September 28th -viewing during regular Alumni Hall hours.
www.vermontnorthbyhand.org

More action on the Easton's pond from last Friday. This time, Mrs. E is heading off to remove a female challenging her f...
08/24/2026

More action on the Easton's pond from last Friday. This time, Mrs. E is heading off to remove a female challenging her for the territory. This challenge has been ongoing for several weeks now. The first couple times I saw them skirmish, it looked like Mrs. E was getting the worst of it. The intruder was able to hit her with her wing knuckle several times, I didn't see Mrs. E get any hits in. She may have lost a couple battles, but she's still winning the war - she hasn't been driven off the pond. We have to sit by and let the loons sort this out, but I always root for the home team. Common loon, Grafton County, NH August 21, 2026.

Hank didn't have time to pose of photos Friday evening, he was off on some important heron business.
08/23/2026

Hank didn't have time to pose of photos Friday evening, he was off on some important heron business.

Taken just a few seconds after the photo in my last post, Mr. Easton from my blog is going after a challenger for his te...
08/23/2026

Taken just a few seconds after the photo in my last post, Mr. Easton from my blog is going after a challenger for his territory. He’s making good time as he passes close to my boat. Common loon, Grafton County, NH August 21, 2026.

Address

PO Box 51
West Newbury, VT
05085

Telephone

8487020774

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Upper Valley Photos posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Upper Valley Photos:

Shortcuts

Share

Category