[mou] Hyland Park Reserve - Loons and Great Horned Owls..

[Chris Fagyal]

Went to Hyland Lake Park Reserve this morning around 11am - 1:30pm.  The 
lake was filled with loons.  At one point I had 28 common loons in 
view.  Along with the ones around the corner I believe there were at 
least 31-33 common loons present.  Also amongst the waterfowl included 
Buffleheads, Ring-necked Ducks, Ruddy Ducks, Northern Shovelers, 
Pied-billed Grebes, Redheads, Canvasbacks and 1 Red-necked Grebe.  I 
also had a single Hermit Thrush, multiple Yellow-rumped Warblers and 
multiple Golden-crowned Kinglets flitting about me as I was 
photographing the loons (who were very calm and confiding, swiming right 
up the shore many times until a moron with a toy speedboat came and 
pushed the entire crew of loons to the opposite side of the lack for his 
selfish indulgences). 

I then went and checked out the Great-Horned Owl nest.  Mom was 
comfortably sitting on the nest when I got there.  A few minutes later, 
either the roller blader with very noisy ski-poles dragging along the 
ground scared her off the nest, or she got uncomfortable because of 
baby, and decided to move to a nearby tree.  She certainly had an evil 
look for the skater as she passed by that I was able to capture in images.

The concentration of loons is just amazing.  I've never seen such a 
thing in the spring before.

Chris Fagyal