COMMON LOON
I took these photos yesterday from the end of our pier. This Common Loon in non-breeding foliage was enjoying a crab it had plucked from the bottom. It tossed it around the same way that Eiders do. It tore off the claws and legs as it flung it so as not to get pinched until it reduced it to a crab Rangoon then gulped it. Sometimes it had to dive back down for the sinking remains. It's impressive how the loon's throat will expand to accommodate that big a bite! I think that's the same technique employed by professional speed eaters, the ones who are able to eat a thousand hot dogs in ten minutes.
"Boy, a beer would be great about now."
Thanks for visiting my blog, I always like hearing from fellow Mainers. I enjoyed your crab eating loon photos. I also checked out some of your other posts. I had a sharp shinned hawk hanging around my bird feeder last winter but I never got a decent photo of it, I haven't seen it yet this year. No time for photos today, I have to go dig out the driveway after yesterdays storm.
ReplyDeleteThanks, John! Our snow was followed up by monsoon rains and lightning and thunder along with 50+mph winds! A wild and wooly night of weather, indeed!
ReplyDeleteAs awesome as ever.......You are terrific!!!! What a great story.
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable photos- can't believe that last one of the loon gulping it down- I do believe he would have appreciated that beer!!
ReplyDeleteMs. Boo
Thank you, Ms. Boo! It's probably a Bud Lite drinker.
ReplyDeleteNow, I know why he is called a loon! Personally, I would rather devour the crab dipped in melted butter while savoring each succulent morsel...not to be enjoyed in one BIG gulp! By the way..."Hold the beer!", "Yuck!"
ReplyDeleteHG
OOoooooh! Yes, that sounds delicious, maybe baked in the shell with a little sherry cream sauce drizzled on top and buttered bread crumbs. Uh oh, I hope my cardiologist isn't reading this...
ReplyDeleteBrandon Joseph Darling commented on your post:
ReplyDelete"I tried to post a comment 3 different times on your blog the other day, but my smart phone was being dumb. I was commenting on the loon eating like a hotdog champ, and that you should give it a benjiman and send it up to the hotdog stand in spring!"