The loon lays her second egg after the otter raid, giving the damaged New Hampshire LPC nest a new chance after a difficult start. Earlier in the day, a nighttime raid by river otters cracked the first egg and left the floating platform damaged.
Late on May 24, 2026, the female loon returned to the nest and laid again.
Before laying, she moved around the nesting area and appeared to test nearby mud flats rather than settle immediately into the platform. However, in the final minutes, she returned to the deep nest bowl and laid the new egg inside the same nest that had been raided in the dark.
Watch the moment the loon returns to the nest and lays her second egg after the otter raid.
Will Incubation Begin Now?
Common loons usually begin full incubation after the second egg arrives. Once incubation begins, the adults typically spend more consistent time on the nest, taking turns keeping the egg warm and guarding it more closely.
However, this nest has not followed a simple path.
As of the latest live cam check on May 26, 2026, around 11:00 a.m., the pair did not appear to have started full incubation yet. That means the egg may still face a vulnerable stretch before the adults settle into a steady incubation rhythm and protect the nest.
The timing now matters again. If the loons begin steady incubation soon, the egg may become the center of the pair’s nesting attempt. If the nest remains unattended for longer periods, it could remain exposed.
Watch Live <— loon nest cam
The Nest Faces a New Test
The second egg gives the pair another chance, but it also brings the nest into a new test.
The otters have already found the platform once. The first egg did not survive. Now the new egg sits in the same bowl, waiting for the pair to decide how strongly they will commit to the nest.
This is the fragile turn in the season: the egg has arrived, but the next step may matter just as much as the laying itself.
Full incubation could shift the nest into a more guarded stage. Until that happens, the egg remains the focus of a tense waiting period.
Receive updates like this one in your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter. 🐣
Could the Loon Lay a Third Egg?
Most common loon clutches contain two eggs, so a third egg would be rare. It can happen, but it is not the most likely outcome.
Because the first egg was lost before the second egg arrived, the possibility naturally lingers. Still, the new egg is the main development now. Whether the pair begins full incubation may reveal more about the future of this nest than the possibility of a third egg.
For now, the nest does not need another twist. It needs stability.
The Second Egg Brings the Season Back to Life
The second egg changed the direction of the LPC nest after the otter raid. The first egg was lost, but the female returned to the platform and laid again.
The nest still carries the damage from the raid. The egg still faces risk. Incubation had not clearly begun as of the May 26 morning cam check.
Still, the nesting attempt continues. The platform holds a new egg, and the next turn depends on whether the loons settle into full incubation and keep it protected.
This live cam is provided by the loon preservation committee.
FAQ About the Loon’s Second Egg After the Otter Raid
Did the loon lay a second egg after the otter raid?
Yes. The female loon laid her second egg late on May 24, 2026, after the first egg was damaged during a nighttime otter raid earlier that day.
Will incubation begin now that the second egg has arrived?
Common loons usually begin full incubation after the second egg arrives. However, as of the May 26 live cam check around 11:00 a.m., the pair did not appear to have started full incubation yet.
What happened to the first egg?
River otters raided the nest during the early morning darkness, disturbed the platform, and cracked the first egg. LPC staff later removed it from the nest.
Why did the loon return to the same nest?
The deep nest bowl remained the prepared nesting site, even after the otter raid damaged the platform. As laying time approached, the female returned to that bowl and laid the second egg there.
Could the loon lay a third egg?
A third egg is rare for common loons, but possible. Most loon clutches contain two eggs, so the second egg remains the main focus unless another egg appears.
Is the second egg safe?
The second egg may remain vulnerable until the adults begin steady incubation and guard the nest more consistently. The otters have already found the platform once, so the nest still faces risk.
