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The only chance I’d have all weekend to get out on the lake was early, early Saturday morning.

Sleep in an extra hour . . . get out on the lake . . . sleep in . . . get out on the lake . . .

Yeah. There was no contest.

My first stop was to check on the nesting loon, as many campers mentioned hearing them  call Friday afternoon.  Just seeing her on the nest, had me breathing a sigh of relief.

I snapped a couple photos, and just when I’d decided to move along, she rose back to push the grasses up against her egg.

I sure hope this one hatches!!  It would be wonderful to have a loon chick on the lake again.

I dipped my paddle in the water and turned to head down by the state park area of the lake (there’s a cove down there that’s always humming with birds when the sun comes up) Suddenly, I noticed something splashing in the water on the shoreline.  Using my camera like binoculars, I zoomed in just as it took off . . .

Sure wish I’d seen it sooner to get photos of it bathing!

I followed .  . . at a respectful distance of course.  The eagle landed on a branch and hung its wings to dry.

He preened for quite awhile. As I looked around, I realized the nest was in sight from his  perch.

They are ever watchful of their little ones.

It was such a beautiful morning to be out on the lake, gliding along, listening to nature rising with the sun.  I’m looking forward to many more mornings just like this one . . .

I will be selling my wildlife calendars and notebooks through the Holiday Season for as long as supplies last.

In the past, I’ve used them for hostess and teacher gifts.  I’ve given the notebooks to kids with Storycubes or a writing prompt book.  Here are some pictures of the items I test printed.

Notebooks with line pages $15.00

Desk Calendars 8″ x 3″ $12.00

Wall Calendars 8×5″ x 11″ $17.00

The photos in both style calendars are as follows:

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

I’m also ordering 5.5″ x 4″  notecards, blank inside, with the bear, hummingbird, fox, eagle, and loon with chick, photos.  The price for 10 (2 of each image) will be $15.00.  Envelopes included.

For shipping, add $3.50.

To place an order:

1. Leave the Item(s), and number ordering in the comments below with your name only.
2. Tally your total due, remember to include shipping.  For more than 5 items shipping may be more.
3. I will reply to your comment when I’ve received payment and mailed your items, so you can expect delivery. Let me know if  you have any questions. And thank you for your orders!

For the last two years, the loons on our lake have lost their eggs after sitting on them for weeks.  This year, they picked an amazing nesting spot, in the shadows and under a fallen branch.

I’ve had my fingers crossed for weeks now!  Four to be exact.  And this weekend I got to witness the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.  A loon chick!

One of my lake neighbors told me the loons were off the nest, and had one chick in tow.  I  think I was afraid to believe it until I saw it with my own eyes.

Now I’m crossing my fingers again for this little one to grow up.  Chicks can be prey to pike, snapping turtles, foxes and eagles.

This pair was very protective, as they should be.  Whenever a boater came too close, they called out loud and long.  They do the same when the eagle flies overhead, too.  Giving them plenty of room, ensures they won’t panic and swim too far from their little one, leaving it unprotected.

The adult loons have only twelve weeks to teach the chicks all they know, before heading to the coast ahead of their little ones.   Chicks from the surrounding area will gather together before following a few weeks later.

The chicks  blackish-brownish coloring really make them blend into the colors of the water. Boaters should take caution on the lakes, giving loons a wide berth in case they have a chick in tow.

I have tons more photos to go through, I’ll post some more very soon! I’m hopeful my shots of them feeding are crisp and clear enough to catch the chick gobbling tiny fish.

Today, after teaching, and after starting a large order for the campground store, I grabbed my camera and headed to the lake.  No sooner had I pushed off shore, I spied a loon fishing halfway across the lake.

I drifted toward it, as I fiddled with my camera to get just the right settings for a slightly cloudy, slightly sunny day.  Suddenly, it popped up beside the kayak.

It stretched, and dove and stretched again.

And I must say, this is how I feel to finally feel the sun on my shoulders and the warm breezes on my face.

It took quite awhile, but I spied the nest, too.  Our loons have chosen a new nesting spot, and I must admit to being a bit relieved.

They haven’t had chicks in two years, and my fingers are crossed that this new nesting site will be a good one for them.

Only time will tell.

Yesterday, as I walked the red-blazed trail through the campground and along the shoreline of Lower Range Pond, I looked out over the water and gasped!

My loons were back!

The ice had only been out for a day!  Somehow, they always manage to time it perfectly.

The pair called back and forth, location calls.  My eyes got teary hearing them, I hadn’t realized just how much I’d missed it.

Whenever their call rings out, people stop what they’re doing to turn toward the sound.

Hopefully, we’ll have a successful nesting season this year, as the last two years did not yield chicks. ( If you click on the Random Loon Tag on the right of this post, you’ll find the blog posts describing why.)

I should be revising, channeling fox kits for book three, as the Mystery of the Missing Fox  is due to my editor next month.  But the sun has just poked its way through the clouds and I cannot resist going down to the lake to find these gorgeous birds and to hear their call again.

The manuscript will be there when I get back.

Cooper and Packrat  had the distinct honor of being the book chosen for Fisher Mitchell’s One Book, One School Project 2015.  Two hundred and sixty hardcover copies of Mystery of Pine Lake was distributed through the school, thanks to a generous grant from the Tabitha and Stephen King Foundation, and support from the Bath Elementary Schools PTA.

260 copies!  Whoa!

Joan Newkirk (my contact at Fisher Mitchell), and the rest of the teachers and librarians, had many wonderful activities planned to go along with the event.  Dress like a loon day, dress like your favorite character day, two breakfasts with read-alouds from the book, my two-day visit and a Pot Luck evening event, just to name a few.

And look at this bulletin board!

A poem by Mary Oliver – The Loon on Oak-Head Pond

I was very disappointed when after waiting months, my first day to visit was snowed out – but the second day was still a go!

When I arrived, I was given a fabulous space in the library and told to “make it my own for the day”.  Heaven!

As I waited patiently for students to arrive, several students and teachers poked their heads in the library to ask, “Are you Tamra Wight?” When I said yes, they’d grin and continue on their way.  A few brought their books in to have me sign.

There were four sessions in all, spanning grades 3 and 4. We talked about ideas, the inspiration behind Cooper and Packrat, and how my photography is my way of researching and documenting wildlife notes.  But mostly we talked about descriptive language and how important it is.

Playing What’s in Packrat’s Coat?: Descriptive Language Game

The students had wonderful comments, connections and questions.  One young lady, when asked where ideas come from, responded, “Your heart.”

She stole mine, with that answer.

Next Thursday, I’ll return to meet the fifth graders.  The snow better stay away!

We managed to squeeze in the Pot Luck Dinner and Author Presentation that same evening before the big Friday storm. Rather than go home between the classroom presentations and the Pot Luck, Cindy Lord and Mona Pease agreed to meet me for latte’s and chai at Cafe Creme.

The drinks were warm, and the conversation light.  I just love these two ladies and their readiness to keep me company, in spite of my last minute wanna-meet-up, shout out . Not only did they brave the cold to come see me, they returned to the school to watch my little presentation and take a few photos of it.

The line for the pot luck was long!  So many wonderful families came!  One young man told me it was “an amazing turn out. You never know how these things will go.”

While everyone ate, it was time for me to read from Cooper and Packrat.  Since many of the students had already begun the book, I chose Chapter 10:  a chapter about meeting and greeting around the campfire, old friends and new, coming together.  It felt appropriate, considering the meeting and greeting that was happening at the Pot Luck.

Being introduced by Principal Berkowitz

My little thank you speech

Reading Chapter 10

My favorite part, of course, was talking to parents, teachers, PTA members and of course the students themselves.

I signed many books, and I will get the rest next Thursday for sure.

Some students snuck a peek at Mystery of the Eagle’s Nest, while they had a chance.

This young lady, had a hard time giving it back to me.  She left happy though, when I told her the library had gained an extra copy for loaning that day.

And the frosting on the cake, in an already amazing day, was having this cool cake presented for desert.

None of the students would allow the servers to cut into Cooper and Packrat’s faces . . . so one Mom took Cooper home, and I took Packrat.

So glad those two are well loved!

Like most of you, I took advantage of the gorgeous sunshine and warm temps this weekend . . . .

sneaking out of the office and out of my writing duties to get on the lake both mornings.  Sunday morning, I managed to push off shore at 6:30am and the view looked like this.

Heavenly.

As I meandered through the cove next to our swimming area, I heard the soft hoot of a loon on the other side of the eagle’s island.  They were still here!

I paddled silently to find two of them, swimming around each other, hooting and fishing. Before I had a chance to raise my camera, one took off down the lake, circled above us, then flew off to another location.

The one remaining, looked at me curiously.

I remember the first time I saw a fall loon, with its white face and neck.  I thought it was sick. Or old.

Of course, it’s neither.  They are simply  molting, getting rid of worn and frayed feathers so they can grow stronger, new feathers.

This is why we see them preening so much in August.  These new feathers will keep them warm in the cold ocean waters, where they will spend the winter.

Oh, how I’ll hate to see them go . ..

But at least I have the thousand photos I took of them, while they were here, to help pass the time until they come back next May.

So much has happened in the month since I last posted.   The campground was super busy with our themed weekends, especially our Halloween ones!

And mid-month, Mystery of the Eagle’s Nest launched!  Over 200 people came to the campground, and sat on my front lawn to celebrate with me, my family and Islandport Press.  For a special treat, we invited Hope from Wind Over Wings to give a presentation on raptors and ravens.

Teddy – A Northern Saw-whet Owl

The crowd was enchanted with each and bird, and their hearts were touched by their stories and how they came to stay with Wind Over Wings.

Zachariah – Common Raven

Hope and Skywalker have a special bond, it was easy to see.  Sky sang to Hope, as Hope told Sky’s story on how he was shot out of the sky. He came close to death, but pulled through, only to find one wing had to be amputated.  Can you imagine being an eagle, only to find yourself grounded?

Angry, Sky turned his back on his caregivers. Literally.  It was only after much patience, love and special care on the part of Hope and her staff,  that Sky turned back to the world.

Hope with Sky – a golden eagle

Now he stars in many presentations each year to educate humans on the life and adventures of being an eagle.

The photo below shows Sky saluting me for my work on Mystery of the Eagle’s Nest.  I was very honored.

While my staff helped children make s’mores, and Maxwell Moose wandered around showing everyone who would listen about how he was a character in Mystery of the Eagle’s Nest, I signed books for my readers and campers and friends.

The campground was still in full swing, but I did find time for a few kayaking trips to see the loons

They are preening . . .

and gathering in preparation for their journey to the coast for the winter.

And I even caught the heron, who frequents the marshy area every Fall . . .

School has started as well, and it feels good to be back in the classroom, talking up books, and writing and helping students make the most of each and every day.  We are planning an event at the school which will include Hope, and Wind Over Wings.

Going through my photos tonight, I realized I’ve taken many, but posted few.  This is mainly due to the time involved in editing them.  But now that the campground is slowing down, I can start going through them and will be be able to post summer-time photos well into the winter months!

And you’re going to have to hear all about my research and writing ups and downs, while I tackle book 3:  Mystery of the Missing Fox!

Thanks to the reminder from a friend on Middle Range Pond, I finally remembered to join in on Maine’s Loon Count.  I’d always wanted to . . . planned to . . .  then the date would come and go and I’d  miss it.

Not this year!

As I dragged my kayak into knee-deep water,  6:35ish Saturday morning, I smiled to think of all the other Maine volunteers.   Some would take to boats and kayaks like me. Some would stand on the shoreline with binoculars.  But all would be watching, counting and documenting their findings from 7 – 7:30am on this day.

It felt kind of awesome to be a part of something that big.

Because I had to be back at the campground office to open it up at 8am, my plan was to kayak down to the state park end of the lake, and then slowly paddle back during the recording time, because I knew I couldn’t cover the whole lake in half an hour, but the loons seem to hang out on this end more than the firestation-end.

I’d barely dipped my paddle half a dozen times, when I saw a loon through the early morning fog.

I looked at the time on my phone.  6:40am.  Way too early to count.

But not too early to snap photos.

I stuck to my plan and headed toward the State Park.  To my surprise, the loon kept time with me.  I paddled slightly left to give some space between us, and it went left with me.  I slowed down, and it slowed down too.

“I guess you want to be counted,” I said, making conversation.

The loon just looked at me.

6:50am.

I couldn’t resist.  I snapped a few more pictures

and then the loon looked upward.

A second loon flew in and landed, before I could turn the lens on him.

I looked at the time . . .

7:01am.

“Well, who told you about the party?” I asked out loud.

The two loons didn’t pay me any mind.  They greeted each other, swimming in circles, hooting and dipping their bills into the water (not their heads, just the bills).  It looked to me as if one had been waiting for the other.

Not even five minutes later, one of the two looked toward the end of the lake and hooted softly.  A third loon had appeared!  I had just scanned that area with my long camera lens and hadn’t seen him. Perhaps he’d been under water.  Perhaps he flew in too.

But here he was.

7:08am

I watched for just a couple minutes more while sipping coffee.  The loons parted ways; the two staying together on the right side of the lake, while the last to arrive went off on his own to the left.

I dipped my paddle to begin the trek back to the campground.  Even though I poked into every little inlet and scanned the middle of the lake in front of the campground, no other loons appeared.

So ‘three’, was my answer on the paperwork.

Three adult loons on Lower Range Pond.

Have you ever seen a loon yawn??

I have!

The loon didn’t make a sound, as he gave the long, slow yawn, that ended with his closing his eyes and drifting away from me.

I kayaked away, as quietly as I could.

The reason it took me so long to post, is that I didn’t want to write this one.  I kept hoping I was wrong.  But I’m not.

There will be no loon chicks again this year.

That makes two years in a row.

How did I know?

Well, one day I was seeing this . . .

Two days later, I went out onto the lake to find this . . .

and three adults swimming about, not too far from the nesting site.

But still, it was hot and I thought, maybe she’s only gone in the water to cool off and the eggs will be fine. Maybe the third adult isn’t a threat.  Maybe one of the eggs had hatched and the fourth adult had taken it to a safe location.

But my gut told me the extra loon didn’t add up.  Normally, if a loon pair had a chick or unhatched eggs, they wouldn’t allow any other adults in their territory.

Two days after that, I went out on the lake again. Still no loon on the nest.  I kayaked all the way to the end of the lake where I knew they took their chicks.  On the way, I saw three pair.  None of them had chicks in tow.

It is possible one or two of the eggs hatched and the eagle snatched the young one.  The eagle does fly low over them every now and again, causing the loons to cry out in distress.

Oh, I was soooooo hoping for loon chicks to photograph this spring.

Sigh.

But three pair of loon on our lake is quite exciting too.

You can never have too many loon photos!

I snuck away from the camp office today and was basking in the glorious sunshine while kayaking the lake, when I found myself face to face with Steve Yenco, photographer!  We’ve chatted on-line over our wildlife photos, but had never met in person before.

We were talking about eagles, loons and our cameras, when suddenly, I saw a flash of white from the corner of my eye.  I raised the camera to snap a few quick photos.

“Two eggs!” I called to Steve.  Two.

Our chatting about the loon,  didn’t seem to bother her in the least.

A few days before, I captured the photo above and the ones below, of the loon pair checking in with each other.  The one on the nest seemed very interested in the little rock beside it. She picked it up and moved it a few times as I watched.

Only two more weeks to go before those chicks make an appearance.  I’m biting my nails, one by one, worried about the water level.  It’s gone up significantly since they first nested.  If you remember, last year they didn’t incubate the eggs successfully, in spite of the fact they tried twice; once with two eggs, and then again with one.

The year before that, one egg hatched, but the second was caught in the rising water of a rainy, rainy spring.   That one chick survived, though.  A very bright spot in the summer, indeed.

I will keep you all posted on my findings.  If that darned rain ever stops appearing in the forecast!

When I went out on Mother’s Day to check on the eagle family, I also did a paddle-by of all the loon’s favorite nesting spots.  I can’t put into words how disappointed and surprised I was not to see one, or even the traces of one, being built.   The loons had arrived somewhere around April 20th.  Why weren’t they on a nest by now?  They were last year.  And the year before that.

Or had they nested and failed already?  It was a good possibility.  I hadn’t been able to get out in the kayak before now due to high winds and very cold temps.  It was anybody’s guess.

Later into the kayak ride, I watched the pair come down the lake, diving and preening together.

I admit, I really want chick pictures!  Cute, little, gray fluffball photos.  You know, to go along with Cooper and Packrat’s story, and to put on the big screen at school visits, which will make all the students say, “Awwwwww!”

It made me sad to think they might not nest, especially after having had no success with two nesting attempts last summer.

Then yesterday, as I was getting more eaglet photos, I heard their wail off the other side of our point.  Through my lens, I saw the pair floating slowly along their usual nesting area.  They were twice the distance away from me that the eagles were, and I knew from experience I wouldn’t capture clear photos. I wasn’t that good of a photographer. But using my lens like a pair of binoculars, I followed their progress.

They floated along together, separated, then came together again. They dove. They climbed up on land, and at first I thought they were adding to a nest site, but then I realized, they were mating.  Within minutes, they were back in the water, continuing on their way.

My heart soared at the thought of chicks!

After school the next day, I quickly checked in with my camp reservations clerk for any problems or messages, then grabbed my kayak key and paddle.   When I reached the shoreline, I stopped in my tracks.  White caps.  The wind was fiercer here than up by the office.  Waves rolled right to left in front of me without end.  The kayak would rock like crazy!  No optimal stabilizing whats-a-ma-jig in the camera was going to keep my images from blurring.

But through my lens, I saw a loon on the edge of the shoreline across the lake from me.

I took a deep breath, unlocked the kayak and muttered to myself the whole time I dragged it to the water’s edge.  So what if I didn’t get photos?  I’d still have visual confirmation they’d picked a nesting spot.  Or maybe I’d catch the pair mating again.

Oh heck. I’d just missed watching them over the last few cold winter months.  I *needed* to see them.

I dug the paddle deeply into the water on my left, then my right.  The kayak rocked back and forth just like I thought it would.  And not a gentle, baby-cradle-kind of rock either.  Good thing I wasn’t the seasick type.

When I reached the point where I knew the wind would push me past the loon, I rested my paddle in front of me to raise my lens.

Here was something I hadn’t witnessed before!

She was building her nest.

She dipped her head in the water to grab grasses with her beak, then tucked them into the banking behind her.

And then, before my eyes, she climbed up on it.

And so our journey of the loon family begins!  Fingers crossed that they’re successful this year.

A few weeks ago, I visited Ms. McPherson’s class in Buxton, Maine.  I gave them a presentation on descriptive writing, showed them how I research to get all the little details just right, and we played a game to illustrate why it’s so important in the stories we write and share.

The students gave *me*  amazing Thank You letters and illustrations inspired by Cooper and Packrat.

I love the rainy day details, and the soft hoot of the loon from off page

Why, yes!  I AM going to write more!  Mystery of the Eagle’s Nest will be out next August. A draft of it is sitting on my editors desk right now.

Where do I write these books?  Good question!  And one I don’t think I answered while I visited.  I write anywhere and everywhere I can! Sometimes in the backyard in the summer, hotel rooms (if I’m on the road), the living room if it’s quiet, in school with my students.  But mostly, at my desk, in my house . . .

Isn’t this adorable?  An origami loon.

I love books too!  I have piles of them in the house and have been known to sneak up to 10 books in my suitcase when we go on vacation.

” . . . nature, wildlife, friendship and family”.  Exactly!  That’s Cooper and Packrat in a nutshell.

I LOVE loons!  There are photos on my bathroom wall.  Statues sit on my desk.  Carl DiRocco’s lovely art hangs on my office wall. I giant loon photo hangs behind the campground registration desk.  I have a loon bedspread AND a loon cookie jar.

I’m a little loon crazy.

I

(Don’t you love how the loons are looking at the questions?)

Other outdoor books?  Have you read Hoot by Carl Hiaasen? It’s all about kids who save owls.  Or how about Touch Blue, by Cindy Lord, which is about Maine Island life and lobstering.

I HAVE seen loon chicks, and they are the most adorable things!  Sadly, our loons didn’t have babies last year, so I wasn’t able to take  photos personally, but here’s one taken by a camper friend of mine . . .

The feelings came from deep down inside, which is why I don’t have a favorite character.  It’s kind of like asking a Mom which of her kids she loves best.  We love them all!

And yes, even Mr. Beakman, um, I mean, Mr. Bakeman.

Thank YOU for reading and studying Mystery on Pine Lake . . .

Happy Reading!

Over my Writer’s Camp ‘n Schmooze weekend, two of my friends, Cindy and Mona, went kayaking in the early morning hours to watch the sunrise.  They asked me to go too, but I was sooooo tired from juggling teaching, writing and camp, I decided to get the extra couple hours of sleep instead.

After seeing their photos and hearing about how they’d seen the fall loons . . . well, I’ve been regretting that decision ever since.

So when my friend Linda arrived for the weekend, I asked, “Want to see a sunrise tomorrow?”

Of course she said yes . . .

But there was no sunrise.  The fog was thick.  It danced across the water toward us, around us.  It clung to everything . . .

It made it hard to take photos of the ducks and geese, which have begun to gather for their trip south.

We followed the sound of the loons mournful cry to find them.

My how they’ve changed!

Loons molt in September, changing from their brilliant black and white colors to a gray, not unlike a juveniles.  After they fly to their winter home, they’ll molt again, this time becoming flightless for a time until their new feathers grow in and they return north.

We watched them for awhile . . . fishing and preening.  Then we continued  down toward the state park.

Right on the park’s shoreline, we saw a duck-like bird we didn’t recognize.  Five of them.  Diving, coming back up with little minnows, chasing each other.

It turns out it’s a common grebe!  I believe these are all females.  They were interesting to watch.  A new birding find!

As we headed for home, the fog lifted and the sun came out.

It was going to be a glorious day . . .

but we’d already seen the best part of it.

One of my campers surprised me with some amazing photos . . .



They knew the babies had hatched, when they saw the empty nest.

And sure enough they didn't just find one ~



They found two babies!





How awesome is that?   They're sooooo cute.  But soooo vulnerable.   Snapping turtles and large fish are predators from below; the eagles from above.  Mom and Dad are going to have to keep them very, very close.

For only the second time this summer - I grabbed my life jacket and a paddle and headed to the lake.  I had no other thought, than how wonderful it would be to kayak around, drinking up the sights and sounds of nature on the edge of Fall.





under the eagle nest


The lake was like glass, reflecting it's edges so clearly, it was sometimes hard to see where land ended and water began. 

I'd paddled all the way to the other end of the lake, down by the state park beach and had decided to turn around before Dave and B became worried. (I was only supposed to be gone an hour or so)

  But then I saw them . . .



Aren't they gorgeous??

And I immediately thought how much the main character in my loon/campground middle grade would give anything for this moment.  I must have floated there in the middle of the lake with Mom and her baby for  45 minutes, snapping photo after photo after photo . . .





I couldn't get enough of them!  They'd dive together, with the baby coming up first every time.  Mom would pop up silently seconds later, and thrash a fish around in the water for the baby. 

There was lots and lots of preening, until the water around them was littered with little white feathers.



The loons lost their first set of eggs this season, which would have hatched somewhere around Memorial Day.   I was relieved when they re-nested, and this adorable baby made it's appearance near the Fourth of July weekend.



He's still young, and the race is on for him to teach himself to fly before the ice starts forming on the lake's edges.  They need lots and lots of room for a running start, so it's important they be ready so they aren't hemmed in by the ice.   I didn't see him spread his wings once, or take a run across the water, both signs of learning to fly.  

Mom and Dad will leave long before this little one does. But for now, they're still fishing and hanging out together, like they have all the time in the world.  



I saw so many things!  Things I'd only seen photos of.  Like foot waggling, and preening

 I was able to watch the loons up close and personal last week, while they fished around a father and son fishing team just off shore



Loons are so graceful, diving and resurfacing silently.   I could hear them softly hooting to each other.  

I think they're nesting now, because I don't see two together out on the lake anymore.  But I do hear them calling back and forth.  They share nest duties you know . . . Mom and Dad equally.   They can't be off the eggs for too long, so they'll call out for their mate to come take their place.



I hope Mom gets Sunday off for Mother's Day!