Common Loon and Chicks by Greg Downing

For the 5th year in a row I traveled to Kamloops, BC in Canada where I conduct a series of workshops each year. Along with a multitude of birds species, sweeping landscapes and other photographic opportunities, Common Loons are the primary target subjects of the workshops. Small lakes and ponds dot the local landscape, each providing potential nesting territory for Loons and other birds. While I generally don't have the opportunity to create my own images during my workshops, I always arrive early to scout the area and discover opportunities for my clients and I use part of the time to create my own images. This year, just a day before my workshops were to begin, I was treated to the discovery of a pair of adults with two freshly born chicks. As I sat still in my small boat this male Loon and his two chicks floated into the gold reflected water while the female was out in search of food. It remains one of my favorite images of this year's visit.

Equipment Used: EOS 1D Mark IV, 600mm f4 IS, 1.4x teleconverter, 1/1250th @ f5.6, ISO 400.

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