LAUGHING GULL MOLTING FROM BREEDING TO NONBREEDING PLUMAGE, BUNCHE BEACH, FORT MYERS, FLORIDA, 2/13/18

   In the first two photos, the heads of the Laughing Gulls have turned almost all black, but there is still some white.  The bills and legs have not started to turn red.  In the third photo, the bills and legs of the two Laughing Gulls in front have started to turn red.  The head of the gull on the right still has quite a bit of white, while the head of the gull on the left has turned almost all black.

RING-BILLED GULL, BUNCHE BEACH, FORT MYERS, FLORIDA, 2/13/18

NONBREEDING ROYAL TERNS, BUNCHE BEACH, FORT MYERS, FLORIDA, 2/13/18

MALE LONG-TAILED DUCK IN WINTER PLUMAGE, BRONTE BEACH PARK, BRONTE, ONTARIO, 2/8/2018

FEMALE SNOWY OWL, FIFTH AVE LOUTH FIELD, ST. CATHERINES, NIAGARA, ONTARIO, 2/6/18

   Even though this owl was quite far away (see owl in center of third photo), we can ID it as a female Snowy Owl by its white face, dark barred crown and white body with dark bars.

   The Snowy Owl is native to the Arctic regions of North America and Eurasia, where it nests on the tundra.  In some years, some North American Snowy Owls remain in their breeding grounds year-round, while other migrate for the winter to southern Canada and the northern half of contiguous U.S.  In winter it can be found in open fields, marshes, coastal sand dunes, etc.  The Snowy Owl hunts mainly at night for a variety of prey, including ducks, grebes and gulls captured on open water.  It is one of our largest owls.

   The Snowy Owl is a new species to our Photographic Life List , which now stands at 774.

LONG-TAILED DUCKS, BURLINGTON CANAL, BURLINGTON, ONTARIO, 2/6/18

CANADA GEESE, HAMILTON BEACH, HAMILTON, ONTARIO, 2/6/18