Red-Throated Loon

Gallery: AvianPosted August 16, 201812,153 views9 comments

Alaska is the only place in North America where all 5 species of loons can be found.
The red-throated is the smallest and lightest - and, IMO, the most beautiful.

Nome, Alaska
2018:06:09 12:45:21
D850
500mm
1/2000 sec, f/11
Mode: Av
Metering: Multi-segment
Exp comp: -1/3
ISO: 1600
AF mode: AF-C
White balance: NATURAL AUTO
Flash: Off

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on August 16, 2018 at 1:05 PM

Very nice one, Sandy. I really like the alertly raised head.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Gary Minish on August 16, 2018 at 1:43 PM

Nice shot, Sandy. This must be what I saw in Valdez about 3 weeks ago. They were too far away to get a decent shot but they were obviously loons with gray head and necks. I was surprised to see them in Salt water. Usually we see loons at Robe Lake. They might have been Pacific Loons but they were much lighter gray, more like this one in your photo.

Registered on February 4, 2006, 625 Posts, 3583 Comments

Comment posted by Allen Brooks on August 16, 2018 at 1:50 PM

Nice look at the loon in breeding plumage. The blue of the water and red and green reflections adds to the quality of the image.

Registered on July 27, 2011, 262 Posts, 2597 Comments

Comment posted by David Schoen on August 16, 2018 at 4:31 PM

Very pleasing color and light. Terrific position for the bird. There seems to be some lack of detail in the gray feathers on the head and neck. Is this a large crop?

Registered on November 6, 2006, 1213 Posts, 4587 Comments

Comment posted by Bill Leggett on August 16, 2018 at 5:23 PM

I agree that it's a beautiful species, Sandy. I really like your comp, it seems a good choice of smaller aperture, and the BG reeds add a likable layer to the comp. The exposure and focus point look good, but in the larger view the bird's a little soft. So I'm guessing this is a pretty fair crop of the original (?)

Registered on July 21, 2004, 706 Posts, 3233 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on August 17, 2018 at 4:31 PM

No quarrel from me that this is the prettiest of the North American loons. Excellent image of the classic pose.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by Peter J. Morrissey on August 17, 2018 at 4:50 PM

Hi Sandy
Your Alaska photo shout is looking very nice. I like the framing, coloring and detail.
Peter

Registered on July 3, 2011, 188 Posts, 969 Comments

Comment posted by S Govindarajan on August 20, 2018 at 12:38 PM

Nice pose and very pleasant water colors. I particularly like the layered water colors.

Registered on April 19, 2008, 115 Posts, 1921 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on August 22, 2018 at 7:17 AM

Yes, quite a large crop - he was on the opposite side of the pond.
Sandy

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments