The Ten Mile Loon Cam nest on Ten Mile Lake in northern Minnesota changed in the quietest and most important way on June 1, 2026, when the first egg hatched and a new loon chick entered the world beneath the sheltering body of its parent.

For weeks, the nest had been a place of waiting. Two eggs rested in the bowl, watched over through changing weather, long shifts of incubation, and the steady rhythm of life on the lake. Then, on the first day of hatch watch, the waiting finally gave way to movement.

The first chick reportedly hatched around midday, with the young loon later seen close to the adult on the nest. At first, there was only a hint of movement near the parent’s body. Then came the small confirmation everyone had been waiting for: the first Ten Mile chick had arrived.

It was the kind of hatch moment that did not need a wide-open reveal. The adult loon stayed low, carefully covering the chick and the remaining egg, while the nest shifted from quiet incubation to the first delicate hours of chick care.

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A Tiny Loon Chick Appears at Ten Mile

The first clear signs of the new chick came in brief, careful movements around the adult loon. A little head bobbed near the parent’s body. A small shape shifted against the bright white patterning of the adult’s feathers. Then the parent settled again, turning the nest back into a guarded bowl of feathers, moss, and lake grass.

That is often how loon hatch day unfolds. The reveal comes in pieces. A movement near a foot. A quick adjustment beneath the wing. A glimpse that lasts just long enough to confirm that the egg has hatched.

Newly hatched loon chicks are covered in soft down and begin life with an instinct for water, warmth, and cover. Even so, the first hours remain fragile. The chick is still gaining strength, and the adult’s job is to keep it warm while continuing to protect the second egg.

For the Ten Mile pair, the hatch marks a major turn in the nesting season. The nest is no longer only about incubation. Now it is about guarding one chick while waiting for the next egg to finish its own quiet work.

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The Second Egg Should Be Close Behind

Now attention turns to the second egg.

Because the eggs were laid approximately 48 hours apart in early May, a similar gap between the first and second hatch is possible. Common loon eggs often hatch after about 28 days of incubation, which means the second egg is now very close to the end of its journey.

That creates a watchful stretch at the nest. The adult must care for the newly hatched chick while continuing to incubate the remaining egg. The first chick may begin shifting more beneath the parent, peeping from cover, and tucking into warm spaces while the second egg remains protected.

It is a balancing act, and loons are built for it.

One chick has already crossed the threshold. The second egg may follow soon.

Calls From the Lake Add to the Hatch Day Drama

While the chick remained close to the adult, calls carried across the lake during the afternoon. Yodels and wails added a wild soundtrack to the first hatch day, reminding us that the nest is only one part of a much larger territory.

For common loons, vocalizations can signal contact, warning, location, or tension on the lake. On a hatch day, those sounds can feel especially sharp because the nest has suddenly become more vulnerable.

The adult on the nest stayed pressed low, panting at times in the sun and keeping the chick covered. The nest bowl, which can look shallow during incubation, suddenly seemed much larger with a brand-new chick moving inside it.

That is the magic of hatch day. The whole nest changes scale. The adult becomes enormous. The grass and moss become a little wilderness. One hatchling becomes the center of everything.

What Happens Next for the Ten Mile Loon Family

The next stage may come quickly. If the second egg hatches soon, the Ten Mile pair could have two chicks on the nest in a very short window.

Once both chicks are ready, loon families typically do not remain on the nest for long. The chicks often move to the water soon after hatching, where they begin life under close adult supervision. They may ride on an adult’s back, tuck beneath a wing, or float close beside a parent while learning the first rules of lake life.

The first chick has already crossed the biggest threshold. Now the nest holds both new life and unfinished waiting.

One loon chick has hatched at Ten Mile. The second egg is still there. And the next small movement beneath the parent could mean the family is about to change again.

FAQ

When did the first Ten Mile Loon Cam chick hatch?

The first Ten Mile Loon Cam egg hatched on June 1, 2026 at around noon. The chick was later seen close to the adult loon on the nest.

When was the second Ten Mile Loon Cam egg laid?

The second Ten Mile Loon Cam egg was laid on May 8, 2026, about two days after the first egg, which was laid on May 6.

When should the second Ten Mile Loon Cam egg hatch?

The second Ten Mile Loon Cam egg should be close to hatching soon. Since it was laid about two days after the first egg, it may hatch within the next day or two if development follows a similar timeline.

How long does it take loon eggs to hatch?

Common loon eggs usually hatch after about 28 days of incubation, though the exact timing can vary slightly depending on when full incubation began.

What do newly hatched loon chicks look like?

Newly hatched loon chicks are small and covered in soft down. They can be hard to see at first because they often remain sheltered close to the parent for warmth and protection.

Do loon chicks stay on the nest after hatching?

Loon chicks usually do not stay on the nest for very long. After hatching, they often move to the water with their parents, where they may ride on a parent’s back or stay close beside the adults.