October 25, 2026: A Farewell to Pip

It's been four weeks since I've seen either our loon chick Pip or its mom, so I'm going to assume that they have both left Wicwas for their winter home on the Atlantic Ocean.  Their departure is a full two months earlier than last year's chick Spangle, which stubbornly stayed on the lake until December 5th, only five days before Lake Wicwas was fully iced over.  This year the Wicwas northern pair started early, nesting on a tiny island in a well protected area sometime before May 24th.

One of the northern pair adults on nest-duty on May 31st.

Pip hatched right on schedule on June 17th and was immediately off the nest and in the lake with its parents. 

Pip on June 17th

The next day their second egg hatched and both chicks were safe and sound, seen off the nest and well protected by their parents.

Climbing up under dad's wing - note the leg band.

July 18th

But alas, the second, smaller chick didn't last long.  Its fate is unknown, but by June 19th, only one chick was still present.  Two parents with only once chick to care for meant that Pip was well fed and grew rapidly.

As fast at Pip grew, it still took a while for its body to catch up to the size of its feet.

By early August the baby fluff was mostly shed and Pip was looking like a young adolescent.  

Pip on August 7th.

By now Pip was diving well and starting to catch its own fish, though the parents continued to deliver the larger fish that helped Pip grow rapidly.  

Pip with mom on September 12th

The last time I saw Pip was on October 4th.  With no sightings since then, I assume Pip and mom have left Wicwas.  With a successful nesting, mom will likely return next year (she's not banded so we'll never know for sure).  And Pip?  We'll also never know what happens, but in four or five years, when a "rogue" loon appears on Lake Wicwas, we'll wonder if that's our Pip come home.

My farewell visit from Pip on October 4, 2026

The Lakes Region is now in the waning days of foliage season, and it has been a good one. 

Most of the bright red and orange maples leaves are now on the ground, letting the yellows and deep oranges of beech, aspen, oak, and birch take the leading role.

Blueberries and huckleberries lining the shore are playing an important supporting role with their crimson foliage contrasting against green needles and gray tree trunks.

The weather in October has been just as beautiful as the foliage, with good paddling conditions.  There are still surprises to be found hiding around the lake.

A Canada goose hides motionless as I paddle by.

I'll close with a few scenes from the top of West Rattlesnake Mountain just north of Squam Lake where a hiking buddy and I lingered to watch an October night unfold.  

Overlooking Squam Lake as the end of the day nears.

A peaceful, even romantic place.

It's a beautiful spot, with a wide, gentle trail to descend with headlamps after nightfall.