Hi Everyone,
Bill Sherman shared this interesting encounter with a Common Loon near Violette's Lock:
I thought you would enjoy hearing about a strange encounter that I experienced today.� Jim MacConnell and I were birding this morning on the C&O canal starting at Pennyfield Lock and ending up at Riley's
Lock (Seneca).� We reached Violette's lock and were heading toward
Riley's and were about 500 yards or so from Violettes.� I was walking on the towpath, noticing that the canal on my right was filled with tall
grass and just a little bit of water.� All of a sudden a large bird came shooting out of the grass in the canal directly toward me on the
towpath.� I thought at first it might have been a Canada Goose trying to protect its nest, but as I backtracked to get away from whatever it
was, I saw that it was a Common Loon in full breeding plumage.� I was
quickly moving backwards and the bird was coming at me moving using its
wings and feet.� I must have backed up about 25 feet when it finally
stopped.� It then began to vocalize while sitting on the towpath, making that Loon sound that I have only heard before in the movie On Golden Pond.� The
Loon stayed on the path calling and as we got closer to it, it began
coming at us again.� Because it was standing between us and our final
destination, Riley's Lock, we needed to do something to get by and not
get poked by its long sharp bill.� Jim found a leafy branch and held the Loon at bay while we both passed.� It then disappeared back into the
canal grass.
First, I have never seen a Common Loon in breeding
plumage and have never heard it call.� Second, I would have thought that
all of the Loons would already be on nest much further north than
here.� The bird did not seem to be injured because it was very good at
moving quickly using both its wings and feet.� Would you have any
thoughts as to why this bird might be behaving this way.� It was almost
as if it was trying to protect a nest, but I know they don't nest here.
I
have
attached a couple of photos of the Loon.� Unfortunately I didn't get
any photos of it attacking me because -- it was attacking me!!!
Now I know where the phrase CRAZY AS A LOON comes from!!
Bill Sherman
Photos are posted here:
http://www.photostockplus.com/home.php?tmpl=3&action=viewalbum&user_id=31821&album_id=1385854&event=.
Regards,
Bill
�
Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland
<bill_hubick...>
http://www.billhubick.com
http://www.marylandbiodiversity.com
http://www.facebook.com/MarylandBiodiversity
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