Loon Fest 2025

Today is a brief calm, few of which we have had this month. The beginning of the month was windy as hell with repeated days of 30mph gusts. During that time the temperature dropped enough to start freezing up the fresh water. By the time we had a calm day or two, the only open waters were near the salt water of the sound.

I put in about 2 hours after low tide under the high bridge and head downstream to the Wheeler Marsh. A couple guys are pulling out their small oyster boat prior to a cold snap that is due to arrive tomorrow. It should be cold enough to freeze the calmer spots in the river.

Just down from the draw bridge there is a large Loon in midstream. It still has most of its summer colors.  Common Loons winter in this area. Many people don't know this because the Loons are rather silent in winter and they lose mush of their fancy coloring.  In fact, there are 4 Loons in sight as the pair of what I assumed were Mergansers on the far side of the river are actually Loons.

I head in for a clockwise circuit of the marsh. Ahead, a large bird crosses the river. Backlit by hazy sunlight, it's not easy to identify. It could be a Great Blue Heron or a Bald Eagle, but it rises up and sets its wings for a glide... almost for sure an Eagle. Then, a large number of birds flush from the river as the big bird begins a wide slow circle. That is an Eagle for sure, and those birds know that it is an Eagle on the hunt, for one of them.

I round the marsh, which has just enough water for me to coast over the shallowest section on the east side. A hundred Canada Geese come in from the sea, overfly me, and scatter off to who knows where. I don't think I could ever get tired of hearing the honking of Geese as they fly past. I spot several Harriers. It is probably 4 to 6 different birds, but it is impossible to tell - since Harriers skim the marsh hunting for prey, I can't see them once they are away from the channel that I am in, and they often skim all of the way across the mile wide marsh.

I find 2 more Common Loons in Nell's Channel. I collect an old liquor bottle from the east side of the side entrance to Nell's - 15 inches deep and by the embossing, before 1968.

I return upriver, counting 6 Loons, and a flock of a dozen or so Buffleheads.