Max function and group by getting differenet count
The first query returns the count of rows across a given load_date.
Whereas the second query gives you the count of rows for maximum load_date.
Say you have 2 dates. First query returns :

LoadDate.           Count(*)
03-04-2014.          12
03-05-2014.           11


Second query returns: 

Max(loadDate).      Count(*)
03-05-2014.             23


If you want that the count of just max row be found, then the query will be:

SELECT COUNT(*)
FROM &lt;table name&gt;
WHERE LoadDate = MAX(loadDate);