BREEDING RING-BILLED GULL CATCHING A SHELLFISH & OTHER PHOTOS, ASHBRIDGE'S BAY PARK,TORONTO, ON, 4/18/18

   The first three photos show a breeding Ring-billed Gull catching a shellfish.

LONG-TAILED DUCKS, ASHBRIDGE'S BAY PARK,TORONTO,ON,4/18/18

   The Long-tailed Duck in the first two photos is a male molting from winter plumage to spring plumage.  For example, you can still see some of the black on its breast of winter plumage as it molts to the complete white of spring plumage.  The Long-tailed Duck in the third photo is a male that has completely molted to spring plumage.

   The Long-tailed Ducks in the fourth and fifth photos are females in spring plumage.

   

LESSER SCAUPS, ASHBRIDGE'S BAY PARK,TORONTO,ON,4/18/18

   The duck on the left is breeding male Lesser Scaup and on the right a female.

GADWALLS, ASHBRIDGE'S BAY PARK,TORONTO,ON,4/18/18

   The duck in the first photo is a breeding male Gadwall.  The second photo shows a female Gadwall.

BREEDING MALE RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, ASHBRIDGE'S BAY PARK, TORONTO, ON, 4/18/18

COMMON LOON, ASHBRIDGE BAY PARK, TORONTO, ONTARIO, 4/18/18

    We can ID this waterbird as a breeding Common Loon (Gavis immer) by it's black head; thick black bill; extensive white and black checkering on back; black neck encircled by a white and black streaked neckband and white breast.
   The Common Loon swims underwater to catch fish and swallows most of its pray underwater. They are agile swimmers, but they move pretty fast in the air.  They have been clocked at 70 mph.  Loons need a long distance to takeoff, anywhere from 30 yds. to 1/4 of a mile, depending on the wind. In order to takeoff they flap their wings and run across the water to gain speed to takeoff.
   Loons only go onshore to mate and incubate eggs.  They generally have two chicks.  A Loon family can eat about 1/2 ton of fish over a 15 week period.
   The Common Loon is a new species to our Photographic Life List, which now stands at 776.
 

GREATER YELLOWLEGS, BOMBAY HOOK NWR,DOVER,DELAWARE, 4/5/18