Although this loon has returned to his pond in New Hampshire for the summer, he has yet to fully grow into his breeding plumage. Over the next couple weeks, he’ll lose most of spots on his face and the green on his neck will become brighter.

I followed this pair of loons from 2012 to 2017, when this loon’s mate was killed defending her nest. This loon found a new mate and they successfully raised a chick in 2018.