Bainsville - In the spring these large shorebirds normally fly to the Arctic without stopping in most of Eastern Canada. This rare encounter brought one down into a muddy field for several days. I've only seen a bird in breeding plumage once before. Normally we only see the occasional bird in the fall when they are pale gray.
Ottawa - The bird was hunting during the day to feed its young in a nearby nest about 20 metres up in an open treetop. Determining her sex was based on the bird's size, larger than a male. They will take large insects, worms, frogs, small fish and other prey as well as squirrels and rabbits. Several times the bird was quite close. We didn't approach it, it flew towards us as it continued the hunt.
Presqu'ile Provincial Park - It was a miserable day with steady rain and very high wind. That no doubt brought the gull down. The bird had a nice breeding season 'blush' on the underparts.