GREATER SCAUP, TOLLGATE POND, HAMILTON, ON

   We can ID these ducks as Greater Scaups, rather than Lesser Scaups as follows:

• Rounded head.  The Lesser Scaup has a corner at the rear of the head, while the Greater Scaup has a more rounded head.
• Prominent black nail on bill.  This can be seen in the first photo.

BIRDS ABOVE THE FALLS ON NIAGARA RIVER, NIAGARA FALLS, ON

   The birds on the various rocky islands in the Niagara River just upstream from Niagara Falls are Double-crested Cormorants and gulls, mostly Ring-billed Gulls.

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS ON WAVE TOWER, VAN WAGNERS BEACH, HAMILTON, ON

BREEDING & NONBREEDING CASPIAN TERNS, WINDERMERE BASIN, HAMILTON, ON

   In the first photo both Caspian Terns are in nonbreeding plumage, although the tern on the right is starting to get the more solid black crown and forehead of the breeding Caspian Tern.  In the second photo the tern that is the third from the right

has the completely black crown and forehead of a breeding Caspian Tern.

   Note the Kildeer in the upper left-hand corner of the second photo.

RAPIDS ABOVE THE FALLS ON THE NIAGARA RIVER, NIAGARA FALLS, ON

SPRAY ABOVE HORSESHOE FALLS, NIAGARA FALLS, ON

   These photos show the spray rising from above the Horseshoe Falls.  On the left side of the spray you can see a rainbow beginning to form.

GREAT BLUE HERONS, WINDERMERE BASIN, HAMILTON, ON