The loon is the Minnesota state bird and the Canadian national bird. 
When I was growing up in northern Minnesota I used to love to listen to its mournful call. So I was happy to see several loons on a lake near my mom’s house.
Loons are agile divers and can stay under water for a minute or more. Once they dive, you never know where they’ll pop out of the water again.
We also saw several herons, but they were a fair distance away so the photo isn’t quite sharp. I had to crop it quite a bit.
Maralee
Through My Lens 
I love loons! Too bad they are such ornery and solitary birds that won’t even associate with their own kind, it keeps their numbers low. I think that your heron is actually a great egret, it looks all white to me.
You’re probably right about the egret. The area I was at used to have a huge population of great blue herons but I guess they are no longer around.
“Your” herons may not be back yet, or they could be busy building nests, it’s that time of the year in the north country.
We used to vacation in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area every summer. I loved watching and listening to the loons. Great shots….brought back fond memories 🙂
I grew up in Grand Marais – one of the entry points to the BWCAW. I used to go up there every year with friends. One of my favorite places on earth.
Small world…..We always shopped in Grand Marais for supplies then headed up the Gunflint Trail to Gunflint Lake. We camped just down the road from the big lodge. We had an ultra lite canoe and would go up the Granite River….wow, brings back memories.
I love the sound of the loon …. it’s so hunting and still very comforting. When I visit my aunts beautiful summer place up in the North of Sweden – we heard the loon every evening.
Stunningly beautiful bird too – great gallery again, Maralee. Top one, my pick.
Thanks, Viveka. The sound of the loon is one of my favorite bird sounds. It evokes so many memories.
I would like a to agree with you … but it has a very lonely sound – but very comforting.