The coots seen here were all photographed in the San Francisco Bay Area: Lafayette Reservoir, Del Valle Regional Park and Heather Farm. Their plain appearance hides a quite unusual beauty. The "third eye" above their ivory colored beak is quite intriguing.

Coot with young chick

Older cootling with Mom

Here we see them feeding their young, whose look is very peculiar. The parents dive for plant material and pass it on to their hungry cootlings. They nag their parents if they don't deliver fast enough.

notice the toes

 

From take-off

to

 

crash-landing

 

Common Loon

 

Common Loon

 

Common Loon

 

Red-throated Loon

 

Red-throated Loon