A Summer on Adirondack Lakes: 2026 Wildlife Photography Recap
Every summer on Adirondack lakes brings something different. From loon families and territorial disputes to nesting herons, elusive wetland birds, and unexpected mammal encounters, this year has provided some incredible opportunities to observe and photograph wildlife.
Loons remain my primary focus whenever I'm on the water, but spending so much time exploring Adirondack lakes also means encountering a wide variety of other wildlife. Here's a look back at some of my favorite observations and photographs from the summer of 2026.
Common Loons: The Heart of an Adirondack Summer
If you've spent any time on the water with me, you know that loons are my favorite birds to photograph. Their behavior is endlessly fascinating, and spending time with them throughout the breeding season provides opportunities to witness interactions that are easy to miss from shore.
One of the highlights of the summer was watching loon families raise their chicks. From tiny, downy chicks riding on their parents' backs to nearly full-grown juveniles learning to navigate the lake on their own, each stage of development offers something different to observe.
One of my favorite behaviors is chick back-riding. During their first weeks of life, loon chicks regularly climb onto their parents' backs, where they settle into the feathers and spend time resting. This behavior helps keep them warm and provides protection from potential predators in the water. It's always interesting to watch a chick climb aboard, tuck itself into its parent's feathers, and occasionally peek out to see what's happening around it.
Even as the chicks grow, they continue riding on their parents' backs, although these trips become less frequent as they get larger. I was fortunate enough to photograph this behavior throughout the summer, capturing everything from chicks tucked completely out of sight to little heads poking out from beneath an adult's wings. Some of these moments are featured in my 2027 Loon Calendar, now available on my website.
Another behavior I witnessed dozens of times was chick begging. Even when chicks are capable of catching fish on their own, they continue relying on their parents for food. A hungry chick will swim toward an adult, lower its body in the water, and nuzzle or gently nibble at the adult's neck. It's essentially asking for its next meal.
Territorial Disputes and Loons on the Move
As the breeding season winds down, loon behavior becomes particularly interesting. Loons without chicks begin moving between lakes, often congregating into larger groups. When these gatherings happen inside an established breeding territory, the resident adults aren't always
welcoming to visitors.
Pairs with chicks are especially protective of their territories and will defend them against intruding loons. I've witnessed these encounters several times this summer, both on solo paddles and during guided photography workshops.
These disputes can involve repeated diving, tremolo calls, and dramatic displays, sometimes ending with several birds taking flight one after another. Late summer also brings more opportunities to photograph loons taking off and landing as they move between lakes. Their flight tremolo is faster and more distinct than the tremolo they give while swimming, making it a great signal to look toward the sky.
I was fortunate enough to photograph dozens of takeoffs and landings across several Adirondack lakes this summer.
Changing into Winter Plumage
Toward the end of summer, adult loons begin transitioning out of their familiar black-and-white breeding plumage and into their more subdued gray and white winter appearance. The change is particularly noticeable around the face and bill, where the dark markings begin to disappear. Some of the birds I photographed looked almost as if they had grown little white beards!
I was also fortunate enough to photograph a loon shaking its feathers during this transition, capturing some of the loose feathers coming away from its body.
Great Blue Herons: A Busy Summer at the Rookery
One of my favorite places to visit is a little island that hosts the Great Blue Heron rookery. This summer, the island had three active nests, each producing approximately three to four young birds.
Watching these nests progress throughout the summer is fascinating. As the chicks grow, they're constantly stretching, flapping their wings, and competing for every meal. One of the coolest experiences isn't something you see—it's something you hear. Long before reaching the island, you can hear the unmistakable cackling of hungry young herons echoing across the lake as the adults return with food.
Rarer Wetland Birds and Other Visitors
Some of my most memorable sightings this summer came from birds that are much less frequently encountered. American Bitterns were among my favorite surprises. These birds are masters of camouflage, often standing motionless among cattails and wetland vegetation with their bills pointed toward the sky. I was fortunate enough to observe several, including one hunting and spearing a frog. A few of these photographs will be featured in my 2027 Wildlife of the Adirondacks Calendar.
Black-crowned Night Herons were another exciting sighting, along with several elusive shorebird species, many of which I had never encountered before. Watching shorebirds work their way around the edges of wetlands, probing through mud and shallow water for insects and other invertebrates, was a highlight in itself.
Smaller birds were also active along the shorelines and marshes. Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles were regular sights, while other songbirds provided plenty of opportunities for photographs between larger wildlife encounters.
Bald Eagles and Ospreys were also frequent visitors to several lakes. Watching these large birds patrol the water, fish, and interact with one another provided some great opportunities for flight photography.
Beyond the Birds: Otters, Beavers, and Deer
Although birds take up most of my attention on the water, this summer brought some incredible mammal encounters as well.
River otters are among the most difficult animals to photograph on Adirondack lakes. They're incredibly elusive and rarely stay in one place for long. On a handful of mornings, however, I was fortunate enough to observe several otters spending extended periods out of the water, sleeping, socializing, and grooming themselves. These encounters provided some photographic opportunities I never expected to get.
Beavers also provided a memorable encounter. One morning, I happened to be in the right place at the right time and witnessed a beaver actively adding mud and sticks to its lodge. As winter approaches, beavers reinforce their lodges with mud and vegetation, helping insulate them against the cold. Watching this animal work was an incredible experience.
White-tailed deer were another occasional sight along the shorelines. Whether feeding near the water's edge or briefly appearing through the trees, these encounters were a reminder that the lakes and wetlands support much more than just the wildlife we see on the water.
Join Me on the Water
Looking back, this summer has been filled with far more than just photographs. From loon chicks riding on their parents' backs to territorial disputes, nesting herons, elusive wetland birds, and unexpected mammal encounters, there have been countless moments worth remembering.
It's experiences like these that make me love photographing wildlife from the water. They're also what make my guided Adirondack wildlife photography outings so special. Each outing offers a different opportunity to observe wildlife, learn about animal behavior, and develop your photography skills.
If you'd like to experience these moments for yourself, I offer guided photography expeditions, open to photographers and nature enthusiasts of all experience levels.
Explore the 2027 calendars and upcoming photography workshops on my website, or email me at andrewhudnut247@gmail.com with questions about guided outings.
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