Having grown up in Minnesota, Brendan has seen his share of these hooting water birds, but it was only in the Spring of 2026 that we finally saw them for our bird list. Here are some pics of the Loons we saw in those weeks.

A juvenile Common Loon swims on Lake Opeka
A juvenile Common Loon swims on Lake Opeka, IL, 4 April 2026
A Common Loon swims on Axe Head Lake
A Common Loon swims on Axe Head Lake, IL, 4 April 2026
Four Common Loon on Axehead Lake
Four Common Loon on Axehead Lake, IL, 4 April 2026
Four Common Loons and three Red-Breasted Mergansers swim on a lake
Four Common Loons and three Red-Breasted Mergansers, Saganashkee Slough, Illinois, 27 March 2026
Four Common Loons and three Red-Breasted Mergansers swim on a lake
Four Common Loons and three Red-Breasted Mergansers, Saganashkee Slough, Illinois, 27 March 2026

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